Overview
A haunting tale of innocence lost amidst the chaos of fear and betrayal.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- foreboding
- oppressive
- harrowing
- historical drama night
- literary adaptation viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the handsome period production and sturdy, powerful performances while finding the adaptation staid and less politically angry or thematically deep than Miller's play.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Arthur Miller's Salem trials explicitly parallel the congressional Communist witch hunts of 1950s America.
The Salem authorities transform adolescent lies and religious fear into legally sanctioned persecution.
John Proctor must choose between preserving himself through confession and resisting the court's demands.
Abigail Williams's infatuation with John Proctor drives her campaign against Elizabeth and helps fuel the accusations.
Films like The Crucible, and why
A Man for All Seasons
period political drama examining institutional hysteria, moral courage, and persecution
The Trial of the Chicago 7
serious historical drama centered on ideological coercion, accusation, and individual conscience
The Scarlet Letter
intense literary adaptation about sexual repression, social judgment, and destructive accusation
Goya's Ghosts
ensemble historical drama portraying a community consumed by fear and collective punishment
Movie Details
- Director
- Nicholas Hytner
- Release Date
- 1996-11-27
- Runtime
- 123 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (578)
Cast
- Daniel Day-Lewis
- Winona Ryder
- Paul Scofield
- Joan Allen
- Bruce Davison
- Rob Campbell
- Jeffrey Jones
- Peter Vaughan
- Karron Graves
- Charlayne Woodard
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- BroadwayHD, Broadway HD Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Crucible about?
- In a tightly controlled Salem community, private desire and political greed turn superstition into a deadly machinery of accusation.
- What is The Crucible like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Crucible as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Crucible violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Crucible as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Crucible?
- Critics broadly praised the handsome period production and sturdy, powerful performances while finding the adaptation staid and less politically angry or thematically deep than Miller's play.
- Which films are like The Crucible?
- Films with a similar feel include A Man for All Seasons, The Trial of the Chicago 7, The Scarlet Letter, and Goya's Ghosts.
- How long is The Crucible?
- The Crucible runs 123 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Crucible?
- In United States, The Crucible streams on BroadwayHD, Broadway HD Amazon Channel.
