7.1
Where can I stream Timbuktu legally?
You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy and Tubi TV. 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.
Timbuktu
2014·Movie
Timbuktu fingerprint
Strong craft, striking style, light on feelings.
Energy
Tense
Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.
- Tension7
- Violence6
- Spectacle5
Heart
Moving and melancholic
- Pathos8
- Melancholy7
- Catharsis5
Humor
A little humor
Not a comedy at heart.
- Dark Humor4
- Satire & Parody3
- Wit & Wordplay2
World
Everyday modern life, society, and politics
Lived-in and easy to get lost in.
- World Immersion8
- Dialogue Centrality7
- Novelty6
Craft
Standout direction, performances, and characters
- Direction8
- Acting8
- Character Depth8
Style
Standout cinematography
- Cinematography8
- Editing7
- Music Composition7
Energy
MediumTense
Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.
Timbuktu is tense. The story builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.
All energy traits
- Tension7Edge-of-your-seat suspense and pressure.
- Violence6Physical conflict and intensity.
- Spectacle5Scale and set-piece grandeur.
- Adrenaline3High-energy, pulse-pounding intensity.
- Fast Pace3Quick tempo and momentum.
- Scare2Frightening moments and scares.
Related traits
- Bleakness9Grim, stark outlooks.
- Slow Burn8Gradual build with payoff.
Heart
LowMoving and melancholic
Emotionally, it's moving and melancholic.
All heart traits
- Pathos8Deeply moving, empathetic emotion.
- Melancholy7Bittersweet, reflective sadness.
- Catharsis5Emotional release and payoff.
- Nostalgia3Warmth of memory and retro vibes.
- Family Dynamics3Relationships and generational ties.
- Romance2Love stories and emotional connections.
- Wonder2Awe, discovery, and amazement.
- Wholesome1Heartwarming, uplifting feelings.
- Hopefulness1Optimism and uplifting resolve.
- Coming of Age1Personal growth and self-discovery.
Related traits
- Bleakness9Grim, stark outlooks.
- Character Depth8Rich, complex characterization.
- Spiritual7Faith, meaning, and transcendence.
- Philosophical7Ideas about life and existence.
Humor
LowA little humor
Not a comedy at heart.
Expect a little humor.
All humor traits
- Dark Humor4Humor from taboo or grim topics.
- Satire & Parody3Sharp critique and playful imitation.
- Wit & Wordplay2Clever dialogue and verbal humor.
- Cringe Humor2Awkward, uncomfortable laughs.
- Situational Comedy1Humor from everyday scenarios and setups.
- Physical Comedy1Slapstick and visual gags.
- Absurdist Humor1Surreal, nonsensical comedy.
World
MediumEveryday modern life, society, and politics
Lived-in and easy to get lost in.
Its world is built around everyday modern life, society, and politics. The setting feels lived-in and easy to get lost in.
All world traits
- World Immersion8Depth and sensory richness of setting.
- Dialogue Centrality7Stories driven by conversation.
- Novelty6Fresh ideas and invention.
- Rewatchability5Invites repeat viewing.
- Ambiguity5Open-endedness and uncertainty.
Related traits
- Contemporary Realism9Modern, grounded storytelling.
- Social Commentary9Perspectives on society and norms.
- Politics8Thought-provoking works exploring political themes.
- Spiritual7Faith, meaning, and transcendence.
- Psychological6Inner worlds and mind games.
- Class & Capitalism6Wealth, power, and inequality.
Craft
HighStandout direction, performances, and characters
The direction, performances, and characters stand out.
All craft traits
- Direction8Vision and command behind the camera.
- Acting8Performance craft and presence.
- Character Depth8Rich, complex characterization.
- Narrative Structure7Story architecture and form.
- Dialogue Quality7Sharp writing and memorable lines.
- Intrigue7Curiosity and investigative pull.
- Complexity7Layered plots and ideas.
- Non-linear Narrative1Time-shifts and structure play.
- Meta Narrative1Stories about storytelling.
Related traits
- Slow Burn8Gradual build with payoff.
- Philosophical7Ideas about life and existence.
- Novelty6Fresh ideas and invention.
Style
HighStandout cinematography
Look and sound: the cinematography stand out.
All style traits
- Cinematography8Visual composition and camera work.
- Editing7Pacing and structure through cuts.
- Music Composition7Score and musical identity.
- Visual Stylization7Distinctive aesthetic signature.
- Sound Centrality6Sound design as core element.
- Music Centrality5The score or soundtrack shapes the emotional experience.
Related traits
- Dialogue Centrality7Stories driven by conversation.
- Spectacle5Scale and set-piece grandeur.
Who it's for
AdultsSolo WatchDrop-in FriendlyThought-Provoking
Skip it if
You need an uplifting moodYou want fast pacing
Find more like it
Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.
About
A song for freedom.
Just outside of the Malian city of Timbuktu, now occupied by militant Islamic rebels who impose the Sharia on civilians and inconvenience their daily life, a cattleman kills a fisherman.
Malian ConflictIslamic ExtremismSocial InjusticeCultural ClashReligious HypocrisyBleakPolitical CommentaryAfrican Cinema
Actors
Crew
Directed by:
Written by:
Produced by:
Composed by:
Titles like Timbuktu
nearer = more alike
8
You are here: Timbuktu
Tap a poster to move
You are herePreview
vscompared with Timbuktu
Timbuktu2014
Point at a poster to compare itHold a poster to compare it
This pageTap it to move here
A chip fills to its level. Tap a full one for titles without that trait, a low one for titles with it.
Open a page:Cairo Conspiracy (2022)The Club (2015)First Reformed (2018)Biutiful (2010)Secret Sunshine (2007)The Insult (2017)The Fool (2014)The Sabarmati Report (2024)House of Sand and Fog (2003)Priest (1995)The Salesman (2016)The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005)Holy Spider (2022)The Hunt (2012)The Seed of the Sacred Fig (2024)Viduthalai: Part I (2023)L'Argent (1983)The Crime of Padre Amaro (2002)Foxcatcher (2014)Taste of Cherry (1997)Happy End (2017)Time of the Wolf (2003)Homebound (2025)Night Moves (2014)Calvary (2014)The Chase (1966)Heaven (2002)Article 15 (2019)The Believer (2001)A Fantastic Woman (2017)Babel (2006)Visaranai (2016)Law of Tehran (2019)Burning Days (2022)Seven Seconds (2018)Rampart (2011)About Dry Grasses (2023)Dead Man Walking (1995)Breaking (2022)Winter Light (1963)Wind River (2017)Guzaarish (2010)The Assistant (2020)Primal Fear (1996)La Haine (1995)In a Better World (2010)Michael Clayton (2007)The Beasts (2022)Trapped (2015)Late Shift (2025)7 Prisoners (2021)The Apostle (1997)The Old Oak (2023)Elena (2011)Red (2008)The Road to Guantanamo (2006)Oslo, August 31st (2011)A Hijacking (2012)Queen & Slim (2019)Accattone (1961)Metro Manila (2013)Prince of the City (1981)Stateless (2020)Conclave (2024)
Sequels and Prequels
No sequels or prequels available
Media
Questions about Timbuktu
Quick answers from GoodWatch data.
Is Timbuktu worth watching?
83
GreatGoodWatch scoreYes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 84/100 (IMDb 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes 98%, and Metacritic 92). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.
What is Timbuktu rated?
Violence
Content advisories: violence.
How long is Timbuktu?
1 h 36 min
Timbuktu runs 1 h 36 min.
Do critics and audiences agree on Timbuktu?
Critics95
Audiences74
Not quite. Critics rate Timbuktu higher (95) than audiences (74). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.
What language is Timbuktu in?
FrenchBambaraEnglishArabic
It was made in French, with some Bambara, English, Arabic. Produced in France.
In how many countries can I watch Timbuktu?
30
+16
+16GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Timbuktu in 30 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.
What tropes does Timbuktu use?
Blood from the MouthSand NecktieEstablishing Character MomentDay of the JackbootReasonable Authority FigurePunch-Clock VillainA Taste of the LashThe FundamentalistFor the EvulzScrew the Rules, I Make Them!Determined HomesteaderMoral Guardiansand 6 more
TV Tropes lists 18 storytelling tropes for Timbuktu, including Blood from the Mouth, Sand Necktie, Establishing Character Moment.