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Trailer

The Hospital

1971Movie1 h 43 minPG-13

ComedyDrama
78
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.1Metacritic727.0Rotten Tomatoes100%73%

A layered, moving comedy movie about society and everyday modern life, with standout dialogue.

Good for friends night · background watch · drop-in friendly

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Where to watch

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Not for warmth, comfort or scares.

Movies with

Story

Madness, Murder and Malpractice.

Dr. Bock, the chief of medicine at a Manhattan hospital, is suicidal after the collapse of his personal life. When an intern is found dead in a hospital bed, it appears to Bock to be a case of unforgivable malpractice. Hours later, another doctor, who happens to be responsible for another case of malpractice, is found dead. Despondent, Bock finds himself drawn to Barbara, the daughter of a comatose missionary.

Feels like

  • Medical Satire
  • Dark Comedy
  • Existential Crisis
  • Institutional Critique
  • Psychological Drama
  • Sharp Dialogue
  • Cynical Humor
  • Hospital Setting

Cast

24 of 36

Crew

Directed by
Arthur Hiller
Written by
Paddy Chayefsky
Produced by
Paddy Chayefsky, Howard Gottfried
Music by
Morris Surdin

Everyone

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

Facts

December 14, 1971 · 1 h 43 min · PG-13

Released
December 14, 1971
Runtime
1 h 43 min
Age rating
PG-13
Content
Strong Language
Genres
Comedy, Drama, Mystery
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
78 countries

Tropes

The Loins Sleep Tonight, Interrupted Suicide, Establishing Character Moment +9

  • The Loins Sleep Tonight
  • Interrupted Suicide
  • Establishing Character Moment
  • Shown Their Work
  • Affably Evil
  • Black Comedy
  • Realistic Diction Is Unrealistic
  • Anti-Hero
  • Parental Issues
  • Only Sane Man
  • Ignore the Fanservice
  • Empty Shell

12 of 34 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The Hospital?"

Questions about The Hospital

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Hospital?

fuboTVMGM+PhiloTubi TV

In the United States, The Hospital streams on fuboTV, MGM+, and Philo, and it is free with ads on Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 12 other countries.

Is The Hospital worth watching?

78
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 78 (IMDb 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes 100%, and Metacritic 72). Critics rate it higher (86 out of 100) than audiences (71).

Is The Hospital okay for kids?

PG-13Strong language

Better for older viewers: it's rated PG-13 in the United States for strong language, and the viewing guide lists it for adults.

Will The Hospital make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly satire (8 of 10) and sharp wit (7 of 10).

Is The Hospital plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on dialogue centrality (9 of 10) and character depth (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

What tropes does The Hospital use?

The Loins Sleep TonightInterrupted SuicideEstablishing Character MomentShown Their WorkAffably EvilBlack ComedyRealistic Diction Is UnrealisticAnti-HeroParental IssuesOnly Sane ManIgnore the FanserviceEmpty Shelland 22 more

TV Tropes lists 34 tropes for it, including The Loins Sleep Tonight, Interrupted Suicide, and Establishing Character Moment.