Melancholia
At a lavish wedding overshadowed by a rogue planet, two sisters confront depression, fear, and the limits of human composure.
Overview
A wedding day spirals into chaos as a planet threatens to collide with Earth, reflecting the inner turmoil of the bride.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- melancholic
- surreal
- foreboding
- quiet evening
- arthouse film night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a visually visionary, psychologically profound apocalypse elevated by Kirsten Dunst's exceptional performance, despite occasional obviousness and unevenness.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Melancholia's collision course parallels Justine's depression and the film's emotional movement toward annihilation.
The film opens with highly composed images of planetary destruction and ominous tableaux before the wedding story begins.
Justine's wedding reception progressively reveals the failure of wealth, etiquette, marriage, and family authority to contain her distress.
The palatial estate and manicured grounds frame the sisters' private fear and psychological estrangement from the surrounding social world.
Films like Melancholia, and why
The Tree of Life
shares apocalyptic science fiction, existential dread, and emotionally devastating arthouse intensity
Antichrist
shares surreal visual grandeur, psychological instability, and a female-centered descent into emotional crisis
Take Shelter
shares end-of-the-world fatalism, intimate family drama, and contemplative catastrophe
The Turin Horse
shares bleak cosmic themes, formal ambition, and an art-film approach to impending disaster
Movie Details
- Director
- Lars von Trier
- Release Date
- 2011-03-16
- Runtime
- 136 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (3947)
Cast
- Kirsten Dunst
- Charlotte Gainsbourg
- Kiefer Sutherland
- Alexander Skarsgård
- Cameron Spurr
- Stellan Skarsgård
- John Hurt
- Brady Corbet
- Jesper Christensen
- Charlotte Rampling
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel, Monsters and Nightmares Amazon Channel
- 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, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Melancholia about?
- At a lavish wedding overshadowed by a rogue planet, two sisters confront depression, fear, and the limits of human composure.
- What is Melancholia like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Melancholia as measured, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Melancholia violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Melancholia as moderate.
- What did critics think of Melancholia?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a visually visionary, psychologically profound apocalypse elevated by Kirsten Dunst's exceptional performance, despite occasional obviousness and unevenness.
- Which films are like Melancholia?
- Films with a similar feel include The Tree of Life, Antichrist, Take Shelter, and The Turin Horse.
- How long is Melancholia?
- Melancholia runs 136 minutes.
- Where can I watch Melancholia?
- In United States, Melancholia streams on fuboTV, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel, Monsters and Nightmares Amazon Channel.
