Serena
A Depression-era timber empire becomes the battleground for a marriage consumed by ambition, corruption, and obsession.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- brooding
- tragic
- oppressive
- dark romance night
- historical drama viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film's impressive cast and production talent undermined by an uneven, poorly controlled melodrama.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
George and Serena's marriage is inseparable from their struggle over the timber empire and each other's authority.
The North Carolina logging country and Smoky Mountain wilderness frame the story's isolation, danger, and corruption.
George's timber empire, debt, corruption, and Serena's determination to secure power drive the central conflict.
Critics specifically noted Serena's movement from steely feminist presence toward crazed femme fatale, alongside vintage Hollywood styling.
Films like Serena, and why
The English Patient
shared period melodrama, obsessive marriage, wilderness setting, and corrosive ambition
Cold Mountain
shared romantic tragedy, psychologically unstable central relationship, and lush historical atmosphere
The Painted Veil
shared gothic period romance, moral corruption, and a marriage threatened by hidden violence
Movie Details
- Director
- Susanne Bier
- Release Date
- 2014-10-12
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 5.6 / 10 (1081)
Cast
- Bradley Cooper
- Jennifer Lawrence
- Rhys Ifans
- Toby Jones
- Blake Ritson
- Sean Harris
- Sam Reid
- Charity Wakefield
- Douglas Hodge
- Kim Bodnia
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, fuboTV, Netflix Standard with Ads, Magnolia Selects 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 Serena about?
- A Depression-era timber empire becomes the battleground for a marriage consumed by ambition, corruption, and obsession.
- What is Serena like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Serena as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Serena violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Serena as moderate.
- What did critics think of Serena?
- Critics broadly found the film's impressive cast and production talent undermined by an uneven, poorly controlled melodrama.
- Which films are like Serena?
- Films with a similar feel include The English Patient, Cold Mountain, and The Painted Veil.
- How long is Serena?
- Serena runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch Serena?
- In United States, Serena streams on Netflix, fuboTV, Netflix Standard with Ads, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel.
