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Trailer

The Rules of the Game

1939Movie1 h 50 minNR

ComedyDrama
88
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.9Metacritic997.2Rotten Tomatoes97%89%

A melancholic, layered drama movie about history and society, with standout direction and cinematography.

Good for date night · friends night · teens

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Not for warmth, scares or comfort.

Movies with

Story

The Marquis de la Chesnaye and his wife host a weekend gala where a variety of complicated romantic and social entanglements between guests and servants lead to tragedy, all against the backdrop of a looming war.

Feels like

  • French Cinema
  • Satire
  • Social Commentary
  • WWII Era
  • Aristocracy
  • Character Study
  • Melancholic
  • Cynical
  • Class Conflict
  • Romantic Entanglements

Cast

24 of 27

Crew

Directed by
Jean Renoir
Written by
Jean Renoir, Carl Koch
Produced by
Jean Renoir
Music by
Joseph Kosma

Everyone

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

Facts

July 9, 1939 · 1 h 50 min · NR

Released
July 9, 1939
Runtime
1 h 50 min
Age rating
NR
Content
Sexual Content
Genres
Drama, Comedy, Romance
Original language
French
Made in
France
Budget
$9 million
Box office
$273,520
Available in
19 countries

Tropes

Like Brother and Sister, Hyperlink Story, Dramatic Irony +9

  • Like Brother and Sister
  • Hyperlink Story
  • Dramatic Irony
  • Crazy Cultural Comparison
  • Collector of the Strange
  • Downer Ending
  • Deadpan Snarker
  • Single Woman Seeks Good Man
  • Foreshadowing
  • One True Love
  • Deconstruction
  • Love Dodecahedron

12 of 33 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The Rules of the Game?"

Questions about The Rules of the Game

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Rules of the Game?

KanopyCriterion

In the United States, The Rules of the Game streams on Criterion, and it is free with ads on Kanopy. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 15 other countries.

Is The Rules of the Game worth watching?

88
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 88 (IMDb 7.9, Rotten Tomatoes 97%, and Metacritic 99). Critics rate it higher (98 out of 100) than audiences (80).

Will The Rules of the Game make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly satire (9 of 10) and sharp wit (7 of 10).

Is The Rules of the Game good for date night?

and 1 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFriends NightSolo Watch

Yes: romance is 6 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for date night.

Is The Rules of the Game in English?

French

No, it was made in French.

What tropes does The Rules of the Game use?

Like Brother and SisterHyperlink StoryDramatic IronyCrazy Cultural ComparisonCollector of the StrangeDowner EndingDeadpan SnarkerSingle Woman Seeks Good ManForeshadowingOne True LoveDeconstructionLove Dodecahedronand 21 more

TV Tropes lists 33 tropes for it, including Like Brother and Sister, Hyperlink Story, and Dramatic Irony.