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The Pillow Book

1995·Movie
2h 6min·NC-17

Where to watch

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

What's your score?

Your score

The Pillow Book fingerprint

Strong craft, low-key.

Energy

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension5
  • Fast Pace4
  • Adrenaline3

Heart

Romantic

  • Romance7
  • Pathos6
  • Nostalgia6

Humor

Some sharp wit

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay7
  • Satire & Parody4
  • Absurdist Humor3

World

Society

  • Dialogue Centrality8
  • World Immersion7
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout dialogue

  • Dialogue Quality8
  • Direction7
  • Acting7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition6

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchPure EscapismThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You're watching with family

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

About

Nagito has a fetish for calligraphy on the human body and meets her ideal soulmate Jerome, an English translator sent to Japan. However, once Nagiko's father's gay publisher rejoins the scene, the story is overtaken by treachery and bloodlust.
Body WritingCalligraphySensualEroticArtistic ExpressionJapanese CultureRelationship DynamicsPhilosophical Undertones

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Pillow Book

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Pillow Book legally?

You can watch it free with ads on Hoopla, Plex, and Fawesome. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Pillow Book worth watching?

67
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 67/100 (IMDb 6.5, Rotten Tomatoes 68%, and Metacritic 64). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Pillow Book rated?

NC-17NuditySexual content

It's rated NC-17 in the United States. Content advisories: nudity and sexual content.

How long is The Pillow Book?

2 h 6 min

The Pillow Book runs 2 h 6 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Pillow Book?

Critics66
Audiences71

Yes. Critics average 66 and audiences 71 out of 100, so both groups see The Pillow Book much the same way.

What language is The Pillow Book in?

EnglishItalianJapaneseChineseFrenchcn

It was made in English, with some Italian, Japanese, Chinese, French, cn. Produced in France, United Kingdom, Luxembourg.

In how many countries can I watch The Pillow Book?

13ATBRCHDEFRGBGGIEITNLPTSEUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Pillow Book in 13 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Pillow Book use?

Everybody Has Lots of SexShrines and TemplesBest Served ColdUpper-Class TwitHuman NotepadNo Name GivenHotter and SexierAlpha BitchBut Not Too ForeignFangirlUnlimited WardrobeReally Gets Aroundand 10 more

TV Tropes lists 22 storytelling tropes for The Pillow Book, including Everybody Has Lots of Sex, Shrines and Temples, Best Served Cold.