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Trailer

The Shape of Water

2017Movie2 h 3 minR

Drama
81
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.3Letterboxd3.7/5Metacritic877.1Rotten Tomatoes92%73%

A deeply romantic, awe-inspiring drama movie about fantasy and history, with standout score and direction.

Good for date night · friends night · teens

Skip it if you want dark or edgy material

Where to watch

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Not for laughs.

Movies with

Story

A fairy tale for troubled times.

An other-worldly story, set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1962, where a mute janitor working at a lab falls in love with an amphibious man being held captive there and devises a plan to help him escape.

Feels like

  • Romantic Fantasy Fable
  • Visually Sumptuous
  • Emotional & Heartbreaking
  • Cold War Noir Atmosphere
  • Outstanding Musical Score
  • Unique Love Story
  • Guillermo del Toro Style
  • Whimsical yet Dark
  • Cinematic Masterpiece

Cast

24 of 31

Crew

Directed by
Guillermo del Toro
Written by
Guillermo del Toro, Vanessa Taylor
Produced by
Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale
Music by
Alexandre Desplat

Everyone

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

Facts

December 1, 2017 · 2 h 3 min · R

Released
December 1, 2017
Runtime
2 h 3 min
Age rating
R
Content
Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Original language
English
Also spoken
Russian
Made in
United States
Budget
$20 million
Box office
$195 million
Available in
90 countries

Tropes

Man-Made House Flood, Commonality Connection, Fractured Fairy Tale +9

  • Man-Made House Flood
  • Commonality Connection
  • Fractured Fairy Tale
  • Freeze-Frame Bonus
  • The Oner
  • Face Death with Dignity
  • Show, Don't Tell
  • Left Hanging
  • Tastes Like Friendship
  • Do Not Call Me "Paul"
  • Magic Kiss
  • Sorry to Interrupt

12 of 172 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The Shape of Water?"

Questions about The Shape of Water

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Shape of Water?

HBO MaxCinemax

In the United States, The Shape of Water streams on HBO Max and Cinemax. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Spectrum On Demand. It also streams in 68 other countries.

Is The Shape of Water worth watching?

81
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 81 (IMDb 7.3, Letterboxd 3.7 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 92%, and Metacritic 87). Critics rate it higher (90 out of 100) than audiences (73).

Is The Shape of Water good for date night?

and 2 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFriends NightPublic Viewing Safe

Yes: romance is 9 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for date night.

Will I feel good after watching The Shape of Water?

BleakHopeful

Yes, it's an uplifting movie: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for hopefulness and 8 for wholesome.

Was The Shape of Water a box office hit?

Budget$20 million
Box office$195 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $20 million to make and earned $195 million worldwide, 10.0 times its budget.

What tropes does The Shape of Water use?

Man-Made House FloodCommonality ConnectionFractured Fairy TaleFreeze-Frame BonusThe OnerFace Death with DignityShow, Don't TellLeft HangingTastes Like FriendshipDo Not Call Me "Paul"Magic KissSorry to Interruptand 160 more

TV Tropes lists 172 tropes for it, including Man-Made House Flood, Commonality Connection, and Fractured Fairy Tale.