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Trailer

A Woman Under the Influence

1974Movie2 h 35 minR

DramaRomance
84
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb8.0Metacritic887.8Rotten Tomatoes88%91%

A deeply moving, profoundly sad drama movie about everyday modern life and family, with standout direction and performances.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want fast pacing

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Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

A woman of today, her world, her passions.

Mabel Longhetti, desperate and lonely, is married to a Los Angeles municipal construction worker, Nick. Increasingly unstable, especially in the company of others, she craves happiness, but her extremely volatile behavior convinces Nick that she poses a danger to their family and decides to commit her to an institution for six months. Alone with a trio of kids to raise on his own, he awaits her return, which holds more than a few surprises.

Feels like

  • Raw Psychological Drama
  • Intense Character Study
  • Unflinching Realism
  • Family Breakdown
  • Mental Health Focus
  • Tour-de-Force Acting
  • Emotionally Devastating
  • Independent Cinema Landmark
  • Social Observation

Cast

17 of 17

Crew

Directed by
John Cassavetes
Written by
John Cassavetes
Produced by
Sam Shaw
Music by
Bo Harwood

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

November 18, 1974 · 2 h 35 min · R

Released
November 18, 1974
Runtime
2 h 35 min
Age rating
R
Content
Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Drama, Romance
Original language
English
Also spoken
Italian
Made in
United States
Budget
$1 million
Box office
$12 million
Available in
10 countries

Tropes

Time Skip, Establishing Character Moment, NO INDOOR VOICE +9

  • Time Skip
  • Establishing Character Moment
  • NO INDOOR VOICE
  • Self-Harm
  • No Ending
  • Awful Wedded Life
  • My Beloved Smother
  • Really Gets Around
  • Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other
  • The Shrink
  • Jerkass
  • I'll Kill You!

12 of 21 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream A Woman Under the Influence?"

Questions about A Woman Under the Influence

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream A Woman Under the Influence?

HBO Max

In the United States, A Woman Under the Influence streams on HBO Max. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 5 other countries.

Is A Woman Under the Influence worth watching?

84
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 84 (IMDb 8, Rotten Tomatoes 88%, and Metacritic 88).

Is A Woman Under the Influence good for date night?

Partner WatchAdultsFriends NightSolo Watch

It suits a quiet night in as a couple: romance is 3 of 10, but the viewing guide doesn't list it for date night.

Is A Woman Under the Influence plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (10 of 10) and pathos (10 of 10) more than on its plot.

Was A Woman Under the Influence a box office hit?

Budget$1 million
Box office$12 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $1 million to make and earned $12 million worldwide, 12.2 times its budget.

What tropes does A Woman Under the Influence use?

Time SkipEstablishing Character MomentNO INDOOR VOICESelf-HarmNo EndingAwful Wedded LifeMy Beloved SmotherReally Gets AroundAw, Look! They Really Do Love Each OtherThe ShrinkJerkassI'll Kill You!and 9 more

TV Tropes lists 21 tropes for it, including Time Skip, Establishing Character Moment, and NO INDOOR VOICE.