Sign up
Trailer

The Master

2012Movie2 h 17 minR

Drama
77
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.1Metacritic867.3Rotten Tomatoes85%62%

A slow-burning, open-ended drama movie about the mind and mystery, with standout performances and characters.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

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

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

Haunted by his past, a World War II veteran crosses paths with a mysterious movement called The Cause.

Freddie, a volatile, heavy-drinking veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, finds some semblance of a family when he stumbles onto the ship of Lancaster Dodd, the charismatic leader of a new "religion" he forms after World War II.

Feels like

  • Psychological Drama
  • Character Study
  • Post-War America
  • Cult Dynamics
  • Master-Disciple Relationship
  • Moral Ambiguity
  • Alcoholism
  • Cinematic Storytelling
  • Subtle Tension

Cast

24 of 52

Crew

Directed by
Paul Thomas Anderson
Written by
Paul Thomas Anderson
Produced by
Paul Thomas Anderson, Megan Ellison, JoAnne Sellar
Music by
Jonny Greenwood

Everyone

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

Facts

September 14, 2012 · 2 h 17 min · R

Released
September 14, 2012
Runtime
2 h 17 min
Age rating
R
Content
Strong Language, Sexual Content, Drug Use
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$32 million
Box office
$28 million
Available in
67 countries

Tropes

The Artifact, Age-Gap Romance, I'll Be in My Bunk +9

  • The Artifact
  • Age-Gap Romance
  • I'll Be in My Bunk
  • Shout-Out
  • Shell-Shocked Veteran
  • Lady Macbeth
  • Flashback
  • Sophomore Slump
  • Jerkass Realization
  • Curb-Stomp Battle
  • Title Drop
  • Ambiguous Situation

12 of 51 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The Master?"

Questions about The Master

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Master?

The RokuKanopyHooplaFandango at Home FreePlexFawesomeLionsgate+MovieSphere+

In the United States, The Master streams on Lionsgate+ and MovieSphere+, and it is free with ads on The Roku, Kanopy, Hoopla, Fandango at Home Free, Plex, Fawesome, and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 14 other countries.

Is The Master worth watching?

77
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 77 (IMDb 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes 85%, and Metacritic 86). Critics rate it higher (86 out of 100) than audiences (69).

Can I half-watch The Master?

Easy watchDemanding

No, it needs your attention: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for ambiguity and 8 for complexity.

Is The Master plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (10 of 10) and dialogue centrality (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

Was The Master a box office flop?

Budget$32 million
Box office$28 million

Yes: it cost about $32 million to make and earned $28 million worldwide, 88% of its budget.

What tropes does The Master use?

The ArtifactAge-Gap RomanceI'll Be in My BunkShout-OutShell-Shocked VeteranLady MacbethFlashbackSophomore SlumpJerkass RealizationCurb-Stomp BattleTitle DropAmbiguous Situationand 39 more

TV Tropes lists 51 tropes for it, including The Artifact, Age-Gap Romance, and I'll Be in My Bunk.