Overview
In a world torn apart by war, the struggle for freedom ignites a deadly game of cat and mouse.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- oppressive
- tense
- solemn
- classic cinema night
- war history viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a forceful, visually distinctive, and deeply felt anti-fascist war thriller, though some find its propaganda heavy-handed and its characterization dated.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The killing of Reinhard Heydrich initiates a manhunt, reprisals, concealment, and shifting trust among resistance figures.
The plot focuses not only on the assassin but also on civilians, hostages, surgeons, and underground collaborators confronting Nazi terror.
The film presents Gestapo intimidation, hostage-taking, torture, and reprisals through Fritz Lang's emphatic, politically charged direction.
Contemporary criticism specifically noted the use of brutality and American gangster idiom to convey the anti-Nazi message.
Films like Hangmen Also Die!, and why
The Mortal Storm
shared anti-fascist war drama, resistance network, political propaganda, and morally pressured civilians
To Be or Not to Be
shared wartime occupation setting, resistance suspense, sacrifice, and stark political melodrama
The Ministry of Fear
shared Fritz Lang atmosphere, noir-inflected thriller mechanics, paranoia, and authoritarian menace
Army of Shadows
shared World War II resistance themes, hostage reprisals, and emotionally charged political drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Fritz Lang
- Release Date
- 1943-04-01
- Runtime
- 134 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (144)
Cast
- Brian Donlevy
- Walter Brennan
- Anna Lee
- Gene Lockhart
- Dennis O'Keefe
- Margaret Wycherly
- Nana Bryant
- William Roy
- Hans Heinrich von Twardowski
- Alexander Granach
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- 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 Hangmen Also Die! about?
- Fritz Lang turns the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich into a tense, politically charged portrait of Czech resistance under Nazi terror.
- What is Hangmen Also Die! like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Hangmen Also Die! as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Hangmen Also Die! violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Hangmen Also Die! as graphic.
- What did critics think of Hangmen Also Die!?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a forceful, visually distinctive, and deeply felt anti-fascist war thriller, though some find its propaganda heavy-handed and its characterization dated.
- Which films are like Hangmen Also Die!?
- Films with a similar feel include The Mortal Storm, To Be or Not to Be, The Ministry of Fear, and Army of Shadows.
- How long is Hangmen Also Die!?
- Hangmen Also Die! runs 134 minutes.
- Where can I watch Hangmen Also Die!?
- In United States, Hangmen Also Die! streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
