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Frances

1982·Movie
2h 20min·R

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

Frances fingerprint

Strong craft, striking style, light on feelings.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension7
  • Violence5
  • Spectacle4

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

  • Pathos9
  • Melancholy8
  • Catharsis7

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay4
  • Dark Humor3
  • Situational Comedy2

World

A real life story, the mind, and show business

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout performances, characters, and direction

  • Acting9
  • Character Depth9
  • Direction8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsSolo WatchThought-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

Her story is shocking, disturbing, compelling... and true.

The true story of Frances Farmer's meteoric rise to fame in Hollywood and the tragic turn her life took when she was blacklisted.
Biographical DramaHollywoodMental IllnessTragicStrong Female Lead1930s-1940sMethod ActingSocial Commentary

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Frances

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Frances legally?

You can watch it free with ads on Tubi TV. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Frances worth watching?

65
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 66/100 (IMDb 7.2, Rotten Tomatoes 68%, and Metacritic 48). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Frances rated?

RStrong languageDisturbing imagerySuicide themes

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: strong language, disturbing imagery, and suicide themes.

How long is Frances?

2 h 20 min

Frances runs 2 h 20 min.

Is Frances based on a true story?

Yes. It's based on real events or a real person's life.

Do critics and audiences agree on Frances?

Critics58
Audiences75

Not quite. Audiences rate Frances higher (75) than critics (58). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

Was Frances a box office hit?

Budget$8 million
Box office$5 million

No. It cost about $8 million to make and earned $5 million worldwide, 63% of its budget.

What language is Frances in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United Kingdom, United States.

In how many countries can I watch Frances?

11AUBECACHDKFIFRNONZSEUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Frances in 11 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Frances use?

LobotomyThe AlcoholicDouble StandardCatch-22 DilemmaDowner EndingHarmful HealingVery Loosely Based on a True StoryWhere Are They NowRage Breaking PointDying as YourselfDriven to MadnessStage Momand 9 more

TV Tropes lists 21 storytelling tropes for Frances, including Lobotomy, The Alcoholic, Double Standard.