Arena

1975·Show
696Episodes in5Seasons·NR
74
GoodGoodWatch score

Where to watch

No stream option in US yet.

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

Arena fingerprint

Strong craft, low-key.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Tension4
  • Fast Pace4
  • Adrenaline3

Heart

Nostalgic

  • Nostalgia7
  • Hopefulness6
  • Wholesome5

Humor

Some sharp wit

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay6
  • Satire & Parody4
  • Absurdist Humor3

World

Everyday modern life, a real life story, and show business

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • Dialogue Centrality9
  • World Immersion8
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout direction, dialogue, and characters

  • Direction8
  • Dialogue Quality8
  • Character Depth8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition6

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightIntergenerationalPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensBackground WatchBinge-FriendlyComfort WatchDrop-in FriendlyThought-Provoking

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

About

Arena is a British television documentary series, made and broadcast by the BBC. Voted by leading TV executives in Broadcast as one of the top 50 most influential programmes of all time, it has run since 1 October 1975 with over five hundred episodes made, directed by the likes of Martin Scorsese, Alan Yentob, Roly Keating, Frederick Baker, Volker Schlondorff and Vikram Jayanti. Arena's subjects are a roll-call of the world's best known cultural figures from the 20th and 21st centuries, from singers Bob Dylan and Amy Winehouse to academics Edward Said and Eric Hobsbawm, from writers Jean Genet and V S Naipaul to artists Francis Bacon and Louise Bourgeois. The current series editor is Anthony Wall.
British Documentary SeriesCultural IconsBiographical ProfilesArtistic ExplorationIntellectual DiscourseThought-ProvokingHistorical ContextEclectic SubjectsInformative & Insightful

Crew

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Arena

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Arena legally?

GoodWatch doesn't know of a legal streaming option for Arena in the United States right now. Pick another country in the Where to Watch section to check elsewhere.

Is Arena worth watching?

74
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 75/100 (IMDb 7.7). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Arena rated?

NR

It's rated NR in the United States.

How many seasons does Arena have?

5 seasons

It has 5 seasons with 696 episodes and is still in production.

Is Arena based on a true story?

Yes. It's based on real events or a real person's life.

When did Arena air?

It started in 1975 and is still in production.

What language is Arena in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United Kingdom.

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