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When a Stranger Calls

1979·Movie
1h 37min·R
53
MediocreGoodWatch score
IMDb6.4Metacritic585.9Rotten Tomatoes38%48%

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When a Stranger Calls fingerprint

A , horror movie: , but gripping, .

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

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Story

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About

Every babysitter's nightmare becomes real...

A student babysitter has her evening disturbed when the phone rings. So begins a series of increasingly terrifying and threatening calls that lead to a shocking revelation.
Classic HorrorPsychological ThrillerHome InvasionIntense SuspenseStalker StoryDisturbing & UnsettlingSlow Burn DreadIconic Opening SceneUrban Legend Horror

Crew

Directed by:
Fred Walton
Written by:
Fred Walton, Steve Feke
Produced by:
Doug Chapin, Steve Feke
Composed by:
Dana Kaproff

Sequels and Prequels

When a Stranger Calls
When a Stranger Calls (1979)
GoodWatch score 53
When a Stranger Calls Back
When a Stranger Calls Back (1993)
GoodWatch score 61

Media

Questions about When a Stranger Calls

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream When a Stranger Calls?

PrimePhiloKanopyHooplaShudderScreamboxPlexAmazon Prime Video Free with Ads

In the United States, When a Stranger Calls streams on Prime, Shudder, Screambox, and Shout! Factory, and it is free with ads on Philo, Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads, Fawesome, Cineverse, Tubi TV, and Amazon MX Player. You can rent or buy it from Fandango At Home. It also streams in 40 other countries.

Is When a Stranger Calls worth watching?

53
MediocreGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 53 (IMDb 6.4, Rotten Tomatoes 38%, and Metacritic 58).

Is there a sequel to When a Stranger Calls?

  1. When a Stranger Calls (1979)
  2. When a Stranger Calls Back (1993)

Yes: it's movie 1 of 2 in its series, followed by When a Stranger Calls Back (1993).

Will When a Stranger Calls scare me?

Not scaryTerrifying

Yes, it's frightening: scares are rated 8 of 10.

Will I feel good after watching When a Stranger Calls?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 7 of 10 for bleakness and 4 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Was When a Stranger Calls a box office hit?

Budget$2 million
Box office$25 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $2 million to make and earned $25 million worldwide, 16.7 times its budget.

What tropes does When a Stranger Calls use?

ExpyNightmare SequenceWhat Happened to the Mouse?Trailers Always SpoilNamed by the AdaptationMirror ScareSerial KillerBittersweet EndingImpaled PalmStalker Without a CrushShort-Distance Phone CallMonster Misogynyand 63 more

TV Tropes lists 75 tropes for it, including Expy, Nightmare Sequence, and What Happened to the Mouse?.