Overview
A silent film star's world is turned upside down by the rise of talkies and a new starlet.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- nostalgic
- witty
- warm
- movie night
- classic cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly celebrated the film as a joyous, elegant, and technically accomplished tribute to silent cinema, powered by charming performances and visual invention.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film uses black-and-white photography, intertitles, expressive pantomime, and a largely silent presentation to mirror the medium George Valentin represents.
The arrival of talking pictures undermines George's silent-film career while reshaping the studio system and elevating Peppy's prospects.
Hollywood premieres, auditions, studio production, movie stardom, and the transition between film technologies drive the characters' lives.
Peppy's rise and George's decline continually alter the professional and emotional balance between the two performers.
Films like The Artist, and why
Singin' in the Rain
shared silent-cinema aesthetics, romantic comedy, and affection for filmmaking history
A Star Is Born
shared hollywood self-reflexivity, romantic drama, and tensions between artistic ambition and changing celebrity culture
Ed Wood
shared black and white visual style, film-industry setting, witty sentiment, and nostalgia for an earlier cinematic era
Movie Details
- Director
- Michel Hazanavicius
- Release Date
- 2011-10-12
- Runtime
- 100 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (3622)
Cast
- Jean Dujardin
- Bérénice Bejo
- John Goodman
- James Cromwell
- Penelope Ann Miller
- Missi Pyle
- Beth Grant
- Ed Lauter
- Joel Murray
- Elizabeth Tulloch
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Prime Video, 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 The Artist about?
- A fading silent-film idol and the rising performer he inspired navigate romance, pride, and Hollywood's disruptive leap into sound.
- What is The Artist like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Artist as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Artist violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Artist.
- What did critics think of The Artist?
- Critics broadly celebrated the film as a joyous, elegant, and technically accomplished tribute to silent cinema, powered by charming performances and visual invention.
- Which films are like The Artist?
- Films with a similar feel include Singin' in the Rain, A Star Is Born, and Ed Wood.
- How long is The Artist?
- The Artist runs 100 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Artist?
- In United States, The Artist streams on Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel.
