Poison

1991·Movie
1h 25min·NC-17
IMDb6.3Metacritic675.6

Where to watch

KanopyHooplaCriterionKino Film Collection

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

Poison fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, light on feelings.

Energy

Tense and violent

  • Tension7
  • Violence7
  • Scare6

Heart

Melancholic

  • Melancholy7
  • Pathos6
  • Catharsis4

Humor

Some dark humor and absurdist humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor7
  • Absurdist Humor6
  • Satire & Parody4

World

The mind, mystery, and society

  • Novelty8
  • World Immersion7
  • Dialogue Centrality7

Craft

Solid, not remarkable

  • Intrigue8
  • Non-linear Narrative8
  • Direction7

Style

Standout visual style

A distinctive visual signature.

  • Visual Stylization8
  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You need an uplifting moodYou want to half-watch while scrollingGraphic violence bothers you

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Suspense moviesPsychological movies

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

About

The whole world is dying of panicky fright.

A trio of interweaved transgressive tales, telling a bizarre stories of suburban patricide and a miraculous flight from justice, a mad sex experiment which unleashes a disfiguring plague, and the obsessive sexual relationship between two prison inmates.
Experimental CinemaTransgressiveNon-Linear NarrativeQueer CinemaSocial CommentaryPsychological HorrorGrotesqueAbsurdist HumorBleak

Crew

Directed by:
Todd Haynes, Christine Vachon, Mark Haffenreffer
Written by:
Todd Haynes
Produced by:
Jeffrey Schwarz, James Schamus, Karim Aïnouz
Composed by:
Reilly Steele, Mary Ellen Porto, Julie Lindner

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

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Questions about Poison

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Poison legally?

KanopyHooplaCriterionKino Film Collection

Poison is included with a subscription to Kino Film Collection in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy and Hoopla. 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 Poison worth watching?

63
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 63/100 (IMDb 6.3 and Metacritic 67). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Poison rated?

NC-17ViolenceNuditySexual contentDisturbing imagery

It's rated NC-17 in the United States. Content advisories: violence, nudity, sexual content, and disturbing imagery.

How long is Poison?

1 h 25 min

Poison runs 1 h 25 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Poison?

Critics67
Audiences60

Yes. Critics average 67 and audiences 60 out of 100, so both groups see Poison much the same way.

Was Poison a box office hit?

Budget$250,000
Box office$609,524

Yes. It cost about $250,000 to make and earned $609,524 worldwide, 2.4 times its budget.

What language is Poison in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch Poison?

2CAUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Poison in 2 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

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