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To Be or Not to Be

1983·Movie
1h 47min·PG

Where to watch

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

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Your score

To Be or Not to Be fingerprint

Funny, strong craft, light on feelings.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Tension6
  • Fast Pace6
  • Spectacle3

Heart

Emotionally reserved

  • Hopefulness6
  • Catharsis5
  • Romance4

Humor

Plenty of sharp wit and satire

  • Wit & Wordplay9
  • Satire & Parody8
  • Situational Comedy7

World

History, show business, and politics

Lived-in and easy to get lost in. Holds up on a rewatch.

  • Dialogue Centrality9
  • World Immersion8
  • Rewatchability8

Craft

Standout performances, dialogue, and direction

  • Acting9
  • Dialogue Quality9
  • Direction8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition6

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightParty VibeIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensComfort WatchPure EscapismThought-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

THAT is the movie!

A bad Polish actor is just trying to make a living when Poland is invaded by the Germans in World War II. His wife has the habit of entertaining young Polish officers while he's on stage, which is also a source of depression to him. When one of her officers comes back on a Secret Mission, the actor takes charge and comes up with a plan for them to escape.
WWII FarceSatirical ComedyIntelligent WitTheatrical IntrigueDark HumorHistorical SettingDialogue-DrivenCharacter-DrivenSpy Thriller Elements

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about To Be or Not to Be

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream To Be or Not to Be legally?

GoodWatch doesn't know of a legal streaming option for To Be or Not to Be in the United States right now. Pick another country in the Where to Watch section to check elsewhere.

Is To Be or Not to Be worth watching?

64
DecentGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 65/100 (IMDb 6.9 and Metacritic 61). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is To Be or Not to Be rated?

PGStrong language

It's rated PG in the United States. Content advisories: strong language.

How long is To Be or Not to Be?

1 h 47 min

To Be or Not to Be runs 1 h 47 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on To Be or Not to Be?

Critics61
Audiences70

Not quite. Audiences rate To Be or Not to Be higher (70) than critics (61). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

Was To Be or Not to Be a box office hit?

Budget$9 million
Box office$13 million

Roughly broke even. It cost about $9 million to make and earned $13 million worldwide, 1.4 times its budget.

What language is To Be or Not to Be in?

EnglishPolish

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

What tropes does To Be or Not to Be use?

Mistaken for an ImposterWorkplace-Acquired AbilitiesRunning GagRunning GagAnalogy BackfireYes-ManAnachronism StewBavarian Fire DrillDead Person ImpersonationHitler Ate SugarJumped at the CallAttack! Attack... Retreat! Retreat!and 84 more

TV Tropes lists 96 storytelling tropes for To Be or Not to Be, including Mistaken for an Imposter, Workplace-Acquired Abilities, Running Gag.