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The Lives of Others

Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck · 2006 ·

Short answer

Is The Lives of Others worth watching?

Yes. The Lives of Others (2006) earns an 89% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

89%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

93% Editorial Rating
94% Audience snapshot · excluded
89 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4.4
8.4 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
2h 17m
Age rating
R (US) · 15 (UK) · MA15+ (Australia) · 14A (Canada) · 15 (South Korea)
Cast
Ulrich Mühe , Martina Gedeck , Sebastian Koch
Country
Germany
Language
German

Also known as Das Leben der Anderen La vida de los otros La Vie des autres A Vida dos Outros 善き人のためのソナタ 타인의 삶 窃听风暴 竊聽風暴

🏆 2 award wins — Won Best Foreign Language Film, Academy Awards 2007

Where to watch

Streaming availability varies by region — our catalogue lists Wavve, TVING in South Korea. Check local listings for your region.

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch The Lives of Others by country

Country Streaming on
Japan U-NEXT
South Korea Wavve, TVING

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (93/100).
  • Audiences widely enjoyed it (94%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (89/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.4/5).
  • IMDb users score it 8.4/10.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded drama, thriller pick

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is The Lives of Others worth watching?

    Yes — The Lives of Others earns an 89% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded drama, thriller pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    A surveillance-state thriller that humanizes both watcher and watched with devastating restraint.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is The Lives of Others about?

    A Stasi officer assigned to spy on a playwright in East Berlin becomes unexpectedly moved by the art and love he is meant to destroy.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English The Lives of Others

    The Lives of Others (2006) Review: A Spy Learns to Listen

    The Lives of Others is a gripping East German surveillance drama about a Stasi officer bugging a playwright, anchored by Ulrich Mühe's masterly, restrained lead.

    Yes. It is a tense, humane political thriller and an ideal entry point into modern German cinema for anyone drawn to Cold War stories and moral drama.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    The Lives of Others stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    The Lives of Others production still 1
    The Lives of Others production still 2
    The Lives of Others production still 3
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    The Lives of Others production still 5
    The Lives of Others production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    The Lives of Others: frequently asked questions

    Is The Lives of Others worth watching?

    Yes. The Lives of Others (2006) has a Celluloid Score of 89%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch The Lives of Others?

    In the United States you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: U-NEXT in Japan; Wavve, TVING in South Korea. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is The Lives of Others?

    The Lives of Others runs 2 hours 17 minutes (137 minutes).

    What is The Lives of Others rated?

    The Lives of Others is rated R in the United States, 15 in the UK, MA15+ in Australia, 14A in Canada and 15 in South Korea. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in The Lives of Others?

    The Lives of Others is directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck and stars Ulrich Mühe, Martina Gedeck, Sebastian Koch.

    What is the Metascore for The Lives of Others?

    Metacritic's Metascore for The Lives of Others is 89 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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