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Perfect Obedience

2014·Movie
1h 30min·NR

Where to watch

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

What's your score?

Your score

Perfect Obedience fingerprint

Strong craft, striking style, a touch of humor.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension7
  • Fast Pace4
  • Violence4

Heart

Moving and melancholic

Much of it is about growing up.

  • Pathos8
  • Coming of Age8
  • Melancholy7

Humor

Some dark humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor5
  • Cringe Humor3
  • Satire & Parody3

World

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

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality8
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout characters, performances, and dialogue

  • Character Depth9
  • Acting8
  • Dialogue Quality8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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You need an uplifting mood

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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

The story that shook the church

The fictional Father Ángel de la Cruz is based on Legion of Christ founder Marcial Maciel, whose long history of child abuse was not addressed until 2006 and only publicly acknowledged in 2009. But director Luis Urquiza chooses to structure his film through the largely uncomprehending, wondering eyes of 13-year-old Julián, who travels from the arms of his loving pastoral family into the austere, hallowed halls of the seminary. Singling out the boy as his intimate disciple, installing him in his palatial private quarters and redubbing him “Sacramento Santos,” Father Ángel begins Julian’s instruction into the mysteries of “perfect obedience,” whose cardinal rule is: Never question a superior’s actions.
Religious Abuse DramaPsychological ManipulationComing-of-Age TragedyMorality and ObedienceIntense Character StudyBleak RealismSocial CommentaryCatholicismExploitation of Innocence

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Perfect Obedience

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Perfect Obedience legally?

Perfect Obedience is included with a subscription to Disney+ and Hulu in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Pluto TV, Plex, and Fawesome. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Perfect Obedience worth watching?

76
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 77/100 (IMDb 6.4 and Rotten Tomatoes 88%). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Perfect Obedience rated?

NRDisturbing imagerySexual content

It's rated NR in the United States. Content advisories: disturbing imagery and sexual content.

How long is Perfect Obedience?

1 h 30 min

Perfect Obedience runs 1 h 30 min.

Is Perfect Obedience based on a true story?

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

Do critics and audiences agree on Perfect Obedience?

Critics88
Audiences66

Not quite. Critics rate Perfect Obedience higher (88) than audiences (66). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is Perfect Obedience in?

Spanish

It was made in Spanish. Produced in Mexico.

In how many countries can I watch Perfect Obedience?

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GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Perfect Obedience in 34 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.