Overview
A diamond heist spirals into chaos as betrayal and seduction intertwine in a comedic caper.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- witty
- irreverent
- sardonic
- comedy night
- heist movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a smartly written, smoothly directed crime comedy elevated by its eccentric ensemble and sharply timed performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Wanda, Otto, and Georges each plan to betray the others while pursuing the missing diamonds.
The murder plot, attempted killings, and violent mishaps are framed through absurd timing and farcical escalation.
The seductive American Wanda and her aggressively self-styled intellectual lover Otto disrupt the routines of British criminals and institutions.
The relocated diamonds become the central object of pursuit after Georges refuses to reveal where he moved them.
Films like A Fish Called Wanda, and why
The Ladykillers
eccentric crime caper, escalating betrayals, and darkly absurd British humor
Ruthless People
ensemble heist plotting, criminal incompetence, and farcical reversals
The Trouble with Harry
black comedy, elaborate criminal schemes, and sharply dysfunctional characters
The Lavender Hill Mob
British eccentricity, verbal wit, and comic criminal chaos
Movie Details
- Director
- Charles Crichton
- Release Date
- 1988-07-15
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (2524)
Cast
- Jamie Lee Curtis
- John Cleese
- Kevin Kline
- Michael Palin
- Maria Aitken
- Tom Georgeson
- Cynthia Cleese
- Patricia Hayes
- Geoffrey Palmer
- Mark Elwes
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- 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 A Fish Called Wanda about?
- A brilliantly tangled London diamond heist turns a gallery of treacherous eccentrics into a mercilessly funny battle of seduction, incompetence, and betrayal.
- What is A Fish Called Wanda like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of A Fish Called Wanda as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is A Fish Called Wanda violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in A Fish Called Wanda as moderate.
- What did critics think of A Fish Called Wanda?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a smartly written, smoothly directed crime comedy elevated by its eccentric ensemble and sharply timed performances.
- Which films are like A Fish Called Wanda?
- Films with a similar feel include The Ladykillers, Ruthless People, The Trouble with Harry, and The Lavender Hill Mob.
- How long is A Fish Called Wanda?
- A Fish Called Wanda runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch A Fish Called Wanda?
- In United States, A Fish Called Wanda streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus.
