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Trailer

Carnal Knowledge

1971Movie1 h 38 min

DramaRomance
76
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb6.9Letterboxd3.6/5Metacritic777.1Rotten Tomatoes89%72%

A sensual, layered drama movie about society and history.

Good for date night · friends night · drop-in friendly

Skip it if you want to half-watch while scrolling · you're watching with family

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

Its time has come.

Two lifelong friends navigate complex sexual encounters and emotional entanglements, wrestling with societal norms and personal desires.

Feels like

  • Sexual Revolution
  • Coming-of-Age
  • Male Friendship
  • Social Commentary
  • Character Study
  • Nostalgic
  • Complex Relationships
  • Psychological Drama
  • 1970s America

Cast

8 of 8

Crew

Directed by
Mike Nichols
Written by
Jules Feiffer
Produced by
Mike Nichols
Music by
Richard Portman, Dan Wallin, Larry Jost

Everyone

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

Facts

June 30, 1971 · 1 h 38 min · Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language

Released
June 30, 1971
Runtime
1 h 38 min
Content
Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language
Genres
Drama, Romance, Comedy
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$5 million
Box office
$29 million
Available in
16 countries

Tropes

Censor Steam, The Voiceless, Villain Protagonist +9

  • Censor Steam
  • The Voiceless
  • Villain Protagonist
  • Minimalist Cast
  • Buxom Beauty Standard
  • Embarrassing Slide
  • Ambiguously Jewish
  • Bungled Suicide
  • Porn Stache
  • Red Oni, Blue Oni
  • Love Triangle
  • The Loins Sleep Tonight

12 of 25 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Carnal Knowledge?"

Questions about Carnal Knowledge

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Carnal Knowledge?

KanopyFandango at Home FreePlexFawesomeLionsgate+BFI PlayerTubi TVHowdy

In the United States, Carnal Knowledge streams on Lionsgate+, BFI Player, and Howdy, and it is free with ads on Kanopy, Fandango at Home Free, Plex, Fawesome, and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 8 other countries.

Is Carnal Knowledge worth watching?

76
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 76 (IMDb 6.9, Letterboxd 3.6 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 89%, and Metacritic 77). Critics rate it higher (83 out of 100) than audiences (71).

Will Carnal Knowledge make me laugh?

Light

Now and then: the humor is mostly sharp wit (6 of 10) and dark humor (5 of 10).

Is Carnal Knowledge good for date night?

Date NightPartner WatchAdultsFriends NightSolo Watch

Yes: romance is 7 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for date night.

Was Carnal Knowledge a box office hit?

Budget$5 million
Box office$29 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $5 million to make and earned $29 million worldwide, 5.7 times its budget.

What tropes does Carnal Knowledge use?

Censor SteamThe VoicelessVillain ProtagonistMinimalist CastBuxom Beauty StandardEmbarrassing SlideAmbiguously JewishBungled SuicidePorn StacheRed Oni, Blue OniLove TriangleThe Loins Sleep Tonightand 13 more

TV Tropes lists 25 tropes for it, including Censor Steam, The Voiceless, and Villain Protagonist.