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Trailer

Elling

2001Movie1 h 29 minR

ComedyDrama
75
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.4Metacritic705.4Rotten Tomatoes85%91%

A moving, wholesome comedy movie about everyday modern life and family.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Where to watch

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Not for scares.

Movies with

Story

They're packed and ready for the greatest adventure of their lives. All they have to do is get out of the house.

40-year-old Elling, sensitive, would-be poet, is sent to live in a state institution when his mother, who has sheltered him his entire life, dies. There he meets Kjell Bjarne, a gentle giant and female-obsessed virgin, also in his 40s.

Feels like

  • Norwegian Cinema
  • Mental Health
  • Black Comedy
  • Coming-of-Age
  • Social Isolation
  • Friendship
  • Character Study
  • Quirky
  • Melancholy

Cast

11 of 11

Crew

Directed by
Petter Næss
Written by
Axel Hellstenius, Ingvar Ambjørnsen
Produced by
Dag Alveberg
Music by
Lars Lillo-Stenberg

Everyone

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

Facts

March 16, 2001 · 1 h 29 min · R

Released
March 16, 2001
Runtime
1 h 29 min
Age rating
R
Genres
Comedy, Drama
Original language
Norwegian
Made in
Norway
Available in
36 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

Off-into-the-Distance Ending, Brutal Honesty, Stress Vomit +9

  • Off-into-the-Distance Ending
  • Brutal Honesty
  • Stress Vomit
  • Fan Disservice
  • Love Informant
  • Right Through the Wall
  • The Pig-Pen
  • Momma's Boy
  • Babies Ever After
  • Meet Cute
  • Odd Couple
  • Plot-Triggering Death

12 of 15 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Elling?"

Questions about Elling

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Elling?

Viaplay

In the United States, Elling streams on Viaplay. It also streams in 35 other countries.

Is Elling worth watching?

75
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 75 (IMDb 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes 85%, and Metacritic 70).

Is Elling okay for kids?

R

Yes: it's rated R in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Will Elling make me laugh?

Light

Now and then: the humor is mostly situational comedy (6 of 10) and sharp wit (5 of 10).

Is Elling plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (8 of 10) and pathos (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is Elling in English?

Norwegian

No, it was made in Norwegian.