Overview
A sweeping tale of love and loss amidst the chaos of revolution.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- romantic
- sweeping
- wistful
- classic film night
- historical drama marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly admire the film's sweeping cinematography, performances, score, and romantic grandeur while finding its treatment of Pasternak's complex novel and the revolution dramatically reductive.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Yuri and Lara's love story is set against the Russian Revolution and Civil War, presented through David Lean's expansive visual style.
Zhivago's divided loyalties and relationship with Lara unfold as war and revolution repeatedly disrupt ordinary life.
Alec Guinness's General Yevgraf provides the framing perspective that leads into the story of Yuri and Lara.
The film emphasizes sweeping snowbound landscapes, vast trains, wartime movement, and meticulously designed historical environments.
Films like Doctor Zhivago, and why
Gone with the Wind
sweeping historical romance, wartime upheaval, and grand-scale visual filmmaking
Reds
epic romantic melodrama shaped by revolution, political violence, and sumptuous period imagery
Lawrence of Arabia
David Lean's expansive historical storytelling, conflicted love, and spectacular landscapes
The English Patient
forbidden romance unfolding amid war and social collapse in a literary period epic
Movie Details
- Director
- David Lean
- Release Date
- 1965-12-22
- Runtime
- 200 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (1321)
Cast
- Omar Sharif
- Julie Christie
- Geraldine Chaplin
- Rod Steiger
- Alec Guinness
- Tom Courtenay
- Siobhán McKenna
- Ralph Richardson
- Rita Tushingham
- Adrienne Corri
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- 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 Doctor Zhivago about?
- A sweeping, bittersweet romance follows a Russian physician whose devotion to Lara survives war, revolution, and the collapse of his world.
- What is Doctor Zhivago like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Doctor Zhivago as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Doctor Zhivago violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Doctor Zhivago as moderate.
- What did critics think of Doctor Zhivago?
- Critics broadly admire the film's sweeping cinematography, performances, score, and romantic grandeur while finding its treatment of Pasternak's complex novel and the revolution dramatically reductive.
- Which films are like Doctor Zhivago?
- Films with a similar feel include Gone with the Wind, Reds, Lawrence of Arabia, and The English Patient.
- How long is Doctor Zhivago?
- Doctor Zhivago runs 200 minutes.
- Where can I watch Doctor Zhivago?
- In United States, Doctor Zhivago is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
