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Trailer

Fanny and Alexander

1982Movie3 h 8 minR

Drama
91
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.1Metacritic1008.2Rotten Tomatoes100%94%

A deeply moving, nostalgic fantasy movie about history and family, with standout performances and cinematography.

Good for date night · friends night · teens

Skip it if you want fast pacing · you want to half-watch while scrolling

Where to watch

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Not for laughs.

Movies with

Story

As children in the loving Ekdahl family, Fanny and Alexander enjoy a happy life with their parents, who run a theater company. After their father dies unexpectedly, however, the siblings end up in a joyless home when their mother, Emilie, marries a stern bishop. The bleak situation gradually grows worse as the bishop becomes more controlling, but dedicated relatives make a valiant attempt to aid Emilie, Fanny and Alexander.

Feels like

  • Epic Family Saga
  • Visually Stunning
  • Historical Drama
  • Coming-of-Age
  • Theatrical World
  • Melancholy & Touching
  • Spirituality & Faith
  • Complex Characters
  • Swedish Cinema Classic

Cast

24 of 42

Crew

Directed by
Ingmar Bergman
Written by
Ingmar Bergman
Produced by
Jörn Donner, Daniel Toscan du Plantier
Music by
Benjamin Britten, Robert Schumann, Marianne Jacobs

Everyone

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

Facts

December 17, 1982 · 3 h 8 min · R

Released
December 17, 1982
Runtime
3 h 8 min
Age rating
R
Content
Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Fantasy, Drama, Mystery
Original language
Swedish
Also spoken
English, German, Yiddish
Made in
Sweden, Germany, France
Budget
$6 million
Box office
$7 million
Available in
26 countries

Tropes

Evil Wears Black, Karmic Death, Magic Realism +9

  • Evil Wears Black
  • Karmic Death
  • Magic Realism
  • Riddle for the Ages
  • Our Ghosts Are Different
  • Divorce Requires Death
  • Good Cop/Bad Cop
  • Nostalgic Music Box
  • Corporal Punishment
  • Innocent Blue Eyes
  • Beta Couple
  • Bourgeois Bohemian

12 of 82 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Fanny and Alexander?"

Questions about Fanny and Alexander

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Fanny and Alexander?

HBO MaxKanopyCriterionShout! Factory TVPlexTubi TV

In the United States, Fanny and Alexander streams on HBO Max and Criterion, and it is free with ads on Kanopy, Shout! Factory TV, Plex, and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 20 other countries.

Is Fanny and Alexander worth watching?

91
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 91 (IMDb 8.1, Rotten Tomatoes 100%, and Metacritic 100). Critics rate it higher (100 out of 100) than audiences (86).

Can I half-watch Fanny and Alexander?

Easy watchDemanding

No, it needs your attention: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for complexity and 7 for philosophical.

Is Fanny and Alexander good for date night?

and 3 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFriends NightIntergenerational

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

Is Fanny and Alexander in English?

SwedishEnglishGermanYiddish

No, it was made in Swedish, with some English, German, and Yiddish.

What tropes does Fanny and Alexander use?

Evil Wears BlackKarmic DeathMagic RealismRiddle for the AgesOur Ghosts Are DifferentDivorce Requires DeathGood Cop/Bad CopNostalgic Music BoxCorporal PunishmentInnocent Blue EyesBeta CoupleBourgeois Bohemianand 70 more

TV Tropes lists 82 tropes for it, including Evil Wears Black, Karmic Death, and Magic Realism.