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They Live by Night

1949Movie1 h 36 minNR

CrimeRomance
81
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.4Letterboxd3.9/5Metacritic827.3Rotten Tomatoes96%80%

A romantic, melancholic crime movie about history and crime.

Good for date night · friends night · teens

Where to watch

Set your services

Not streaming in United States. Where it is:

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Not for laughs, scares or warmth.

Movies with

Story

Cops or no cops I'm going through!

An escaped convict, injured during a robbery, falls in love with the woman who nurses him back to health, but their relationship seems doomed from the beginning.

Feels like

  • Film Noir
  • Romantic Drama
  • Crime Thriller
  • Escaped Convict
  • Forbidden Love
  • 1940s Setting
  • Tragic Romance
  • Atmospheric
  • Classic Cinema

Cast

14 of 14

Crew

Directed by
Nicholas Ray
Written by
Edward Anderson, Charles Schnee
Produced by
John Houseman
Music by
Leigh Harline

Everyone

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

Facts

November 1, 1949 · 1 h 36 min · NR

Released
November 1, 1949
Runtime
1 h 36 min
Age rating
NR
Content
Violence
Genres
Crime, Romance, Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
11 countries

Tropes

The Alcoholic, Outlaw Couple, The Trope Kid +9

  • The Alcoholic
  • Outlaw Couple
  • The Trope Kid
  • Alcoholic Parent
  • Missing Mom
  • Bank Robbery
  • No Honour Among Thieves
  • Someone to Remember Him By
  • Fiery Cover-Up
  • Crowbar Combatant
  • Screaming Plane Baby
  • Cigar Chomper

12 of 20 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream They Live by Night?"

Questions about They Live by Night

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream They Live by Night?

It streams in 3 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is They Live by Night worth watching?

81
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 81 (IMDb 7.4, Letterboxd 3.9 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 96%, and Metacritic 82). Critics rate it higher (89 out of 100) than audiences (76).

Is They Live by Night good for date night?

and 1 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFriends NightSolo Watch

Yes: romance is 8 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for date night.

Is They Live by Night plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (7 of 10) and pathos (7 of 10) more than on its plot.

What tropes does They Live by Night use?

The AlcoholicOutlaw CoupleThe Trope KidAlcoholic ParentMissing MomBank RobberyNo Honour Among ThievesSomeone to Remember Him ByFiery Cover-UpCrowbar CombatantScreaming Plane BabyCigar Chomperand 8 more

TV Tropes lists 20 tropes for it, including The Alcoholic, Outlaw Couple, and The Trope Kid.