Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- grim
- tense
- intimate
- classic thriller night
- wartime cinema viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded it as an effective, downbeat World War II thriller praised for its atmosphere and performances, despite a measured pace.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Faber becomes trapped at a remote coastal home with Lucy and David while attempting to reach Germany.
Faber's relationship with Lucy develops while he remains a German operative carrying vital D-Day information.
The audience knows Faber is a German spy as he navigates Lucy's household and evades British authorities.
Faber tries to escape Britain with information about the D-Day landings and Operation Overlord.
Films like Eye of the Needle, and why
The Eagle Has Landed
World War II espionage, a ruthless infiltrator, and tense cat-and-mouse suspense
The Last Detail
Contained wartime thriller built around betrayal, moral uncertainty, and psychological pressure
The 39 Steps
British wartime espionage, quiet dread, and a compromised intimate relationship
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
Period spy suspense shaped by isolation, deception, and grim emotional stakes
Movie Details
- Director
- Richard Marquand
- Release Date
- 1981-07-24
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (266)
Cast
- Donald Sutherland
- Kate Nelligan
- Ian Bannen
- Christopher Cazenove
- Faith Brook
- Barbara Ewing
- David Hayman
- Alex McCrindle
- Philip Martin Brown
- Stephen MacKenna
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, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Eye of the Needle about?
- A cold-blooded German spy carrying D-Day intelligence becomes trapped in a remote British household where desire, deception, and survival collide.
- What is Eye of the Needle like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Eye of the Needle as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Eye of the Needle violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Eye of the Needle as brutal.
- What did critics think of Eye of the Needle?
- Critics broadly regarded it as an effective, downbeat World War II thriller praised for its atmosphere and performances, despite a measured pace.
- Which films are like Eye of the Needle?
- Films with a similar feel include The Eagle Has Landed, The Last Detail, The 39 Steps, and The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.
- How long is Eye of the Needle?
- Eye of the Needle runs 108 minutes.
- Where can I watch Eye of the Needle?
- In United States, Eye of the Needle streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus.
