GoodWatchSign up

Wake in Fright

1971·Movie
1h 49min·R
IMDb7.5Metacritic857.2Rotten Tomatoes97%83%

Where to watch

fuboTVThe RokuFandorShout! Factory TVPlex

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

Wake in Fright fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, emotionally cool.

Energy

Tense and violent

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension8
  • Violence7
  • Adrenaline6

Heart

Melancholic and moving

  • Melancholy8
  • Pathos7
  • Coming of Age4

Humor

Some dark humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor6
  • Cringe Humor3
  • Satire & Parody3

World

The mind, everyday modern life, and society

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion9
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Ambiguity6

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and characters

  • Direction8
  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8

Style

Standout cinematography

  • Cinematography8
  • Editing7
  • Visual Stylization7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You need an uplifting mood

Find more like it

Suspense moviesMelancholic movies

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

About

Have a drink, mate? Have a fight, mate? Have some dust and sweat, mate? There's nothing else out here.

A young schoolteacher descends into personal moral degradation after finding himself stranded in a brutal, menacing town in outback Australia.
Psychological DescentAustralian Outback NoirExistential CrisisBrutal Social CommentaryIntense AtmosphereLoss of InnocenceGritty RealismMoral DegradationIsolation and Alienation

Crew

Directed by:
Ted Kotcheff, Howard Rubie, Howard Rubie
Written by:
Ted Kotcheff, Evan Jones, Kenneth Cook
Produced by:
Peter Weir, John Merrick, Howard G. Barnes
Composed by:
Vic Flick, John Shakespeare, Hugh Strain

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Wake in Fright

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Wake in Fright legally?

fuboTVThe RokuFandorShout! Factory TVPlexFawesomeShout! FactoryTubi TV

Wake in Fright is included with a subscription to fuboTV and Fandor in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Shout! Factory TV, Plex, and Fawesome. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Wake in Fright worth watching?

83
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 83/100 (IMDb 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes 97%, and Metacritic 85). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Wake in Fright rated?

RViolenceDisturbing imageryStrong language

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: violence, disturbing imagery, and strong language.

How long is Wake in Fright?

1 h 49 min

Wake in Fright runs 1 h 49 min.

Is Wake in Fright based on a true story?

No. It's adapted from a novel.

Do critics and audiences agree on Wake in Fright?

Critics91
Audiences77

Not quite. Critics rate Wake in Fright higher (91) than audiences (77). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was Wake in Fright a box office hit?

Budget$750,000
Box office$371,717

No. It cost about $750,000 to make and earned $371,717 worldwide, 50% of its budget.

What language is Wake in Fright in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in Australia, United Kingdom, United States.

In how many countries can I watch Wake in Fright?

11AUCAESFRGBGGIENLNZPLUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Wake in Fright in 11 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Wake in Fright use?

The AlcoholicKick the DogOnly Sane ManFaux Affably EvilAnti-VillainTwisted ChristmasDriven to SuicideBreak the HaughtyOne Dialogue, Two ConversationsHope SpotBittersweet EndingAmbiguously Biand 2 more

TV Tropes lists 14 storytelling tropes for Wake in Fright, including The Alcoholic, Kick the Dog, Only Sane Man.