Overview
A haunting tale of love and obsession unfolds within the walls of a grand estate.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- brooding
- eerie
- oppressive
- classic movie night
- gothic film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard Rebecca as a masterfully atmospheric Gothic romance and psychological mystery, distinguished by Hitchcock’s suspense, strong performances, and polished production.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Rebecca never appears, yet her reputation, belongings, and influence govern the emotional life of Manderley and the second Mrs. de Winter.
Manderley’s scale, routines, rooms, and servants make the estate an active source of intimidation for the new bride.
The unnamed second Mrs. de Winter measures herself against Rebecca’s seemingly perfect legacy and struggles to establish her own identity.
The marriage and household depend on rigid English estate customs, deference, and the authority of servants and family insiders.
Films like Rebecca, and why
Gaslight
shared gothic romance, psychological suspense, oppressive domestic atmosphere, and an idealized past haunting a marriage
The Spiral Staircase
shared psychological mystery, brooding romantic tension, haunted domestic spaces, and black-and-white expressionistic mood
The Innocents
shared gothic melodrama, secrets surrounding a wealthy household, and suspense built through an intimidating estate
The Lodger
shared romantic mystery, class anxiety, emotional repression, and an outsider entering a threatening aristocratic world
Movie Details
- Director
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Release Date
- 1940-03-23
- Runtime
- 130 min
- Rating
- 7.9 / 10 (2037)
Cast
- Laurence Olivier
- Joan Fontaine
- George Sanders
- Judith Anderson
- Gladys Cooper
- Nigel Bruce
- Reginald Denny
- C. Aubrey Smith
- Melville Cooper
- Florence Bates
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Brew
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Rebecca about?
- A nameless young bride enters her husband’s imposing estate and finds her marriage overshadowed by the memory of his first wife.
- What is Rebecca like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Rebecca as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Rebecca violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Rebecca as mild.
- What did critics think of Rebecca?
- Critics broadly regard Rebecca as a masterfully atmospheric Gothic romance and psychological mystery, distinguished by Hitchcock’s suspense, strong performances, and polished production.
- Which films are like Rebecca?
- Films with a similar feel include Gaslight, The Spiral Staircase, The Innocents, and The Lodger.
- How long is Rebecca?
- Rebecca runs 130 minutes.
- Where can I watch Rebecca?
- In United States, Rebecca streams on Brew.
