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The Dresser

2015·Movie
1h 49min·R
IMDb6.8Rotten Tomatoes100%61%

Where to watch

PrimeStarzPlexLionsgate+

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

What's your score?

Your score

The Dresser fingerprint

Immersive world, strong craft.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension7
  • Fast Pace5
  • Spectacle5

Heart

Moving and cathartic

  • Pathos8
  • Catharsis8
  • Melancholy7

Humor

Some sharp wit and satire

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay7
  • Satire & Parody6
  • Situational Comedy4

World

A real life story, show business, and the mind

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • Dialogue Centrality9
  • World Immersion8
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout performances, characters, and direction

  • Acting9
  • Character Depth9
  • Direction8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensThought-Provoking

Find more like it

Psychological moviesBittersweet moviesAtmospheric movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

One fateful night in a small English regional theatre during World War II a troupe of touring actors stage a production of Shakespeares King Lear. Bombs are falling, sirens are wailing, the curtain is up in an hour but the actor/manager Sir who is playing Lear is nowhere to be seen. His dresser Norman must scramble to keep the production alive but will Sir turn up in time and if he does will he be able to perform that night? The Dresser is a wickedly funny and deeply moving story of friendship and loyalty as Sir reflects on his lifelong accomplishments and seeks to reconcile his turbulent friendships with those in his employ before the final curtain.
Backstage DramaWWII EnglandAging ActorLoyalty and FriendshipShakespearean ProductionPsychological InsightTouring TheatreWit and PathosCharacter-Driven

Crew

Directed by:
Richard Eyre
Written by:
Ronald Harwood
Produced by:
Nina Gold, Suzan Harrison, Theo Park
Composed by:
Adam Mendez, Stephen Warbeck, Andy Walker

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Dresser

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Dresser legally?

PrimeStarzPlexLionsgate+

The Dresser is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video, Starz, and Amazon Prime Video with Ads in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on YouTube Free and Plex. 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 The Dresser worth watching?

81
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 82/100 (IMDb 6.8 and Rotten Tomatoes 100%). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Dresser rated?

RStrong language

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: strong language.

How long is The Dresser?

1 h 49 min

The Dresser runs 1 h 49 min.

Is The Dresser based on a true story?

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

Do critics and audiences agree on The Dresser?

Critics100
Audiences65

Not quite. Critics rate The Dresser higher (100) than audiences (65). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is The Dresser in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United Kingdom.

In how many countries can I watch The Dresser?

70AEARATAUBEBGBOBRBYBZCACHCLCO+56

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Dresser in 70 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Dresser use?

All Take and No GiveArc WordsBlackfaceCamp GayDowner EndingDuring the WarFilm Within a FilmFreudian SlipThe GhostInspired by…Performance AnxietyIt's All About Meand 9 more

TV Tropes lists 21 storytelling tropes for The Dresser, including All Take and No Give, Arc Words, Blackface.