Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- brooding
- cerebral
- oppressive
- historical film night
- serious weekend viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film ambitious, cerebral, and anchored by Rachel Weisz, but hampered by a muddled script, uneven acting, and choppy editing.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Hypatia's astronomical and philosophical investigations conflict with the growing authority of militant religious factions.
Hypatia teaches mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy while resisting both romantic pressure and imposed faith.
Alexandria's institutions and governance destabilize as Christians gain political power and target Jews and nonbelievers.
The production presents Alexandria, its public institutions, religious crowds, and political unrest on an epic scale.
Films like Agora, and why
The Name of the Rose
Shared historical drama, religious conflict, moral seriousness, and focus on intellectual life under social upheaval.
The Last Temptation of Christ
Shared sword-and-sandal setting, political factionalism, persecution, and an idealistic protagonist confronting institutional power.
Elizabeth
Shared historical epic scale, female intellectual agency, and conflict between reason, authority, and religious dogmatism.
The Seventh Seal
Shared cerebral historical drama, persecution of belief systems, and emphasis on ideas over spectacle.
Movie Details
- Director
- Alejandro Amenábar
- Release Date
- 2009-05-17
- Runtime
- 127 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (1617)
Cast
- Rachel Weisz
- Max Minghella
- Oscar Isaac
- Ashraf Barhom
- Michael Lonsdale
- Rupert Evans
- Homayoun Ershadi
- Sami Samir
- Richard Durden
- Omar Mostafa
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix Standard with Ads, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Agora about?
- In late-antique Alexandria, an astronomer’s devotion to reason is tested by political religion, social upheaval, and the people who love her.
- What is Agora like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Agora as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Agora violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Agora as brutal.
- What did critics think of Agora?
- Critics broadly found the film ambitious, cerebral, and anchored by Rachel Weisz, but hampered by a muddled script, uneven acting, and choppy editing.
- Which films are like Agora?
- Films with a similar feel include The Name of the Rose, The Last Temptation of Christ, Elizabeth, and The Seventh Seal.
- How long is Agora?
- Agora runs 127 minutes.
- Where can I watch Agora?
- In United States, Agora streams on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix Standard with Ads, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
