Overview
A powerful tale of humanity's resilience during one of history's darkest times.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- harrowing
- oppressive
- somber
- serious viewing
- historical film study
What critics said
Critics broadly regard Steven Spielberg's Holocaust drama as a masterful, emotionally direct, visually audacious, and humanistic historical epic.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Schindler's changing conduct and the survival of Jewish workers frame compassion against systematic Nazi extermination.
The predominantly black-and-white cinematography gives the Kraków ghetto, factories, camps, and deportations an austere testimonial quality.
Oskar Schindler begins as a vain, greedy industrialist and gradually risks his wealth and safety to protect Jewish workers.
The film places scenes of Nazi brutality beside focused attention to relationships, fear, sacrifice, and survival.
Films like Schindler's List, and why
The Pianist
shared historical drama form, wartime moral courage, and emotionally devastating treatment of genocide
Son of Saul
shared world war ii setting, Holocaust subject matter, survival under Nazi persecution, and harrowing realism
Life Is Beautiful
shared biographical historical drama, resistance to fascism, and morally urgent humanism
The Counterfeiters
shared anti-war drama, occupation-era brutality, and stark black-and-white visual language
Movie Details
- Director
- Steven Spielberg
- Release Date
- 1993-12-15
- Runtime
- 195 min
- Rating
- 8.6 / 10 (17965)
Cast
- Liam Neeson
- Ben Kingsley
- Ralph Fiennes
- Caroline Goodall
- Jonathan Sagall
- Embeth Davidtz
- Małgorzata Gebel
- Shmuel Levy
- Mark Ivanir
- Béatrice Macola
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- 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 Schindler's List about?
- A self-serving German industrialist risks everything to protect Jewish workers as Nazi persecution turns wartime Kraków into a landscape of terror.
- What is Schindler's List like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Schindler's List as measured, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Schindler's List violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Schindler's List as graphic.
- What did critics think of Schindler's List?
- Critics broadly regard Steven Spielberg's Holocaust drama as a masterful, emotionally direct, visually audacious, and humanistic historical epic.
- Which films are like Schindler's List?
- Films with a similar feel include The Pianist, Son of Saul, Life Is Beautiful, and The Counterfeiters.
- How long is Schindler's List?
- Schindler's List runs 195 minutes.
- Where can I watch Schindler's List?
- In United States, Schindler's List is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling.
