Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- melancholic
- theatrical
- volatile
- reflective evening
- period drama night
What critics said
Critics found the period setting and cast appealing, especially Kate Winslet's intense performance, but generally felt the writing and theatrical melodrama never fully cohere.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Coney Island boardwalk, ocean light, and carnival attractions frame Ginny's emotional volatility and collapsing fantasies.
Ginny is a former actress whose stalled career and unhappy marriage shape her longing for escape.
Ginny, Humpty, Carolina, and Mickey pursue new futures while remaining bound to Coney Island livelihoods and family obligations.
The film uses the vivid lights and attractions of 1950s Coney Island as an expressive backdrop for shifting desire and disappointment.
Films like Wonder Wheel, and why
Blue Jasmine
Shared tragicomic relationship drama, theatrical dialogue, romantic betrayal, and emotionally volatile central female performance.
A Streetcar Named Desire
Shared period setting, doomed romance, literary self-consciousness, and a heightened blend of drama and melancholy.
The Last Picture Show
Shared Coney Island setting, working-class family tensions, faded dreams, and intimate period melodrama.
Movie Details
- Director
- Woody Allen
- Release Date
- 2017-12-01
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (1377)
Cast
- Kate Winslet
- Juno Temple
- Jim Belushi
- Justin Timberlake
- Max Casella
- Jack Gore
- David Krumholtz
- Robert C. Kirk
- Tommy Nohilly
- Tony Sirico
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, 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 Wonder Wheel about?
- At a brightly lit 1950s Coney Island, a frustrated former actress, her troubled stepfamily, and an aspiring playwright become entangled in desire, betrayal, and fading dreams.
- What is Wonder Wheel like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Wonder Wheel as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Wonder Wheel violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Wonder Wheel.
- What did critics think of Wonder Wheel?
- Critics found the period setting and cast appealing, especially Kate Winslet's intense performance, but generally felt the writing and theatrical melodrama never fully cohere.
- Which films are like Wonder Wheel?
- Films with a similar feel include Blue Jasmine, A Streetcar Named Desire, and The Last Picture Show.
- How long is Wonder Wheel?
- Wonder Wheel runs 101 minutes.
- Where can I watch Wonder Wheel?
- In United States, Wonder Wheel streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
