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Celluloid
DramaMystery Cannes 2009 · Palme d'Or

The White Ribbon

Directed by Michael Haneke · 2009 ·

Short answer

Is The White Ribbon worth watching?

Yes. The White Ribbon (2009) earns an 82% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

82%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

86% Editorial Rating
82% Audience snapshot · excluded
82 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4.1
7.8 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
2h 24m
Age rating
R (US) · MA15+ (Australia) · 15 (South Korea) · G (Japan)
Cast
Christian Friedel , Ernst Jacobi , Leonie Benesch
Country
Germany
Language
German

Also known as Das weiße Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte La cinta blanca Le Ruban blanc A Fita Branca 白いリボン 하얀 리본 白丝带 白色緞帶

Where to watch

Streaming availability varies by region — our catalogue lists BFI Player in the United Kingdom. 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 White Ribbon by country

Country Streaming on
Indonesia KlikFilm
South Korea Wavve
Turkey TV+, HBO Max
United Kingdom BFI Player

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

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (86/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (82%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (82/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.1/5).
  • Celluloid Score 82% combines 4 rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately. Consult the source notes for verification dates where recorded.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded drama, mystery 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 White Ribbon worth watching?

    Yes — The White Ribbon earns an 82% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded drama, mystery pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    Haneke's austere monochrome puzzle links private sin to historical catastrophe with icy precision.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is The White Ribbon about?

    Strange punishments torment a Protestant village on the eve of World War I, suggesting the roots of fascism in obedience and cruelty.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English The White Ribbon

    The White Ribbon (2009) Review: Cruelty Taught in Silence

    The White Ribbon is Michael Haneke's chilling black-and-white mystery about strange crimes in a German village before the First World War, and his Palme d'Or winner.

    Yes. It is a haunting, masterfully made moral mystery for patient viewers who like cinema that unsettles rather than explains; not for a casual night in.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    The White Ribbon stills

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

    The White Ribbon production still 1
    The White Ribbon production still 2
    The White Ribbon production still 3
    The White Ribbon production still 4
    The White Ribbon production still 5
    The White Ribbon 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 White Ribbon: frequently asked questions

    Is The White Ribbon worth watching?

    Yes. The White Ribbon (2009) has a Celluloid Score of 82%, 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 White Ribbon?

    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: KlikFilm in Indonesia; Wavve in South Korea; TV+, HBO Max in Turkey; BFI Player in the United Kingdom. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is The White Ribbon?

    The White Ribbon runs 2 hours 24 minutes (144 minutes).

    What is The White Ribbon rated?

    The White Ribbon is rated R in the United States, MA15+ in Australia, 15 in South Korea and G in Japan. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in The White Ribbon?

    The White Ribbon is directed by Michael Haneke and stars Christian Friedel, Ernst Jacobi, Leonie Benesch.

    What is the Metascore for The White Ribbon?

    Metacritic's Metascore for The White Ribbon is 82 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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