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The Wrong Man

1956·Movie
1h 45min·NR

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

The Wrong Man fingerprint

Strong craft, striking style, no humor.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension8
  • Adrenaline4
  • Fast Pace4

Heart

Moving

Much of it is about family.

  • Pathos7
  • Family Dynamics7
  • Melancholy6

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Cringe Humor2
  • Dark Humor2

World

Everyday modern life, a real life story, and the mind

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and storytelling

  • Direction9
  • Acting8
  • Narrative Structure8

Style

Standout cinematography

  • Cinematography8
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

HITCHCOCK'S FIRST REAL-LIFE THRILLER!

In 1953, an innocent man named Christopher Emmanuel "Manny" Balestrero is arrested after being mistaken for an armed robber.
Hitchcockian SuspenseWrongful AccusationPsychological DramaBased on True Events1950s New YorkNoir ElementsBleak RealismEmotional IntensityMasterful Direction

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Wrong Man

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Wrong Man legally?

The Wrong Man is included with a subscription to TCM and HBO Max in the United States. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Wrong Man worth watching?

80
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 81/100 (IMDb 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes 93%, and Metacritic 83). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Wrong Man rated?

NR

It's rated NR in the United States.

How long is The Wrong Man?

1 h 45 min

The Wrong Man runs 1 h 45 min.

Is The Wrong Man based on a true story?

Yes. It's based on real events or a real person's life.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Wrong Man?

Critics88
Audiences74

Not quite. Critics rate The Wrong Man higher (88) than audiences (74). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was The Wrong Man a box office hit?

Budget$1 million
Box office$2 million

Roughly broke even. It cost about $1 million to make and earned $2 million worldwide, 1.7 times its budget.

What language is The Wrong Man in?

EnglishItalianSpanish

It was made in English, with some Italian, Spanish. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Wrong Man?

40ARATAUBEBOBRCACHCLCOCRDEDKEC+26

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Wrong Man in 40 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Wrong Man use?

Jitter CamCreator CameoHard Truth AesopDespair Event HorizonClear My NamePolice Are UselessBittersweet EndingIn the Style ofChristianity Is CatholicDo Not Call Me "Paul"Guilt by CoincidenceCriminal Doppelgänger

TV Tropes lists 12 storytelling tropes for The Wrong Man, including Jitter Cam, Creator Cameo, Hard Truth Aesop.