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The State of Things

1982·Movie
2h 1min
56
DecentGoodWatch score

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Not streaming in United States. Where it is:

The State of Things fingerprint

Immersive world, strong craft, low-key.

Energy

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension6
  • Adrenaline2
  • Spectacle2

Heart

Melancholic and nostalgic

  • Melancholy8
  • Nostalgia7
  • Pathos5

Humor

Some satire

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Satire & Parody6
  • Absurdist Humor4
  • Wit & Wordplay3

World

Show business, everyday modern life, and the mind

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality8
  • Ambiguity8

Craft

Standout direction and storytelling

  • Meta Narrative10
  • Direction9
  • Narrative Structure8

Style

Standout cinematography and editing

  • Cinematography9
  • Editing8
  • Visual Stylization7

Who it's for

AdultsPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You 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

They didn't want to kill him. They just wanted a story.

On location in Portugal, a film crew runs out of film while making their own version of Roger Corman's The Day the World Ended (1956). The producer is nowhere to be found and director Munro attempts to find him in hopes of being able to finish the film.
Meta-Cinematic MeditationNew German Cinema ClassicExistential Filmmaking CrisisSlow-Burn Atmospheric DramaHomage to B-Movie Sci-FiMelancholic & ReflectiveWenders' Visual PoeticsDeconstruction of Hollywood Narrative

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The State of Things

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The State of Things legally?

GoodWatch doesn't know of a legal streaming option for The State of Things in the United States right now. Pick another country in the Where to Watch section to check elsewhere.

Is The State of Things worth watching?

56
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 56/100 (IMDb 6.9 and Rotten Tomatoes 40%). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

How long is The State of Things?

2 h 1 min

The State of Things runs 2 h 1 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on The State of Things?

Critics40
Audiences76

Not quite. Audiences rate The State of Things higher (76) than critics (40). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

What language is The State of Things in?

GermanFrenchPortugueseEnglish

It was made in German, with some French, Portuguese, English. Produced in Germany, United Kingdom, United States, Portugal, France, Spain, Netherlands.

In how many countries can I watch The State of Things?

16ATAUBRCHDEDKESFIFRGBGGIEITJP+2

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The State of Things in 16 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.