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Trailer

Possession

2002Movie1 h 42 minPG-13

DramaMystery
59
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb6.3Metacritic526.3Rotten Tomatoes64%58%

A deeply romantic, slow-burning drama movie about history and mystery.

Good for date night · friends night · teens

Skip it if you want fast pacing

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for laughs, scares or comfort.

Movies with

Story

The past will connect them. The passion will possess them.

Maud Bailey, a brilliant English academic, is researching the life and work of poet Christabel La Motte. Roland Michell is an American scholar in London to study Randolph Henry Ash, now best-known for a collection of poems dedicated to his wife. When Maud and Roland discover a cache of love letters that appear to be from Ash to La Motte, they follow a trail of clues across England, echoing the journey of the couple over a century earlier.

Feels like

  • Literary Mystery Romance
  • Dual Narrative
  • Academic Setting
  • Victorian Era
  • Forbidden Love
  • Poetry & Passion
  • Intense Performances
  • Atmospheric
  • Emotional Complexity

Cast

22 of 22

Crew

Directed by
Neil LaBute
Written by
Neil LaBute, Laura Jones, A.S. Byatt
Produced by
Barry Levinson, Paula Weinstein
Music by
Gabriel Yared

Everyone

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

Facts

August 16, 2002 · 1 h 42 min · PG-13

Released
August 16, 2002
Runtime
1 h 42 min
Age rating
PG-13
Content
Sexual Content
Genres
Drama, Mystery, Romance
Original language
English
Made in
United Kingdom, United States
Budget
$25 million
Box office
$10 million
Available in
26 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

Private Detective, Mess of Woe, Emasculated Cuckold +9

  • Private Detective
  • Mess of Woe
  • Emasculated Cuckold
  • Cruel and Unusual Death
  • Surreal Horror
  • Get Out!
  • Blame the Paramour
  • Laughing Mad
  • In Love with Your Carnage
  • Psychosexual Horror
  • Dub-Induced Plotline Change
  • Third-Option Love Interest

12 of 92 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Possession?"

Questions about Possession

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Possession?

In the United States, you can rent or buy Possession from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It streams in 1 other country, but not in the United States.

Is Possession worth watching?

59
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 59 (IMDb 6.3, Rotten Tomatoes 64%, and Metacritic 52).

Is Possession okay for kids?

PG-13Sexual content

Not for young kids: it's rated PG-13 in the United States for sexual content, and the viewing guide lists it for teens and adults.

Is Possession good for date night?

and 2 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFriends NightPublic Viewing Safe

Yes: romance is 9 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for date night.

Was Possession a box office flop?

Budget$25 million
Box office$10 million

Yes: it cost about $25 million to make and earned $10 million worldwide, 40% of its budget.

What tropes does Possession use?

Private DetectiveMess of WoeEmasculated CuckoldCruel and Unusual DeathSurreal HorrorGet Out!Blame the ParamourLaughing MadIn Love with Your CarnagePsychosexual HorrorDub-Induced Plotline ChangeThird-Option Love Interestand 80 more

TV Tropes lists 92 tropes for it, including Private Detective, Mess of Woe, and Emasculated Cuckold.