Babel (2006)
Kernel Score: 81% · 4,007 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama
Released: 2006-10-26
Runtime: 143 minutes
Is Babel worth watching?
Worth watching. A gunshot in Morocco connects strangers in four countries. It's tense and well made, though it shows its design a little, and the several stories vary in strength.
Watch it if you
- like interlocking stories across countries
- enjoy serious, emotional drama
- want a film about miscommunication
Skip it if you
- dislike downbeat endings
- want a single focused plot
Best for: Serious night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Babel
- Stream: Paramount+
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla
- Rent: JustWatch TV Free, Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
Tragedy strikes a married couple vacationing in the Moroccan desert, which jumpstarts an interlocking story involving four different families.
Babel parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Babel is an R-rated drama with interlocking stories involving a shooting, drug use, and illegal immigration across multiple countries.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — The plot involves a gun, a bullet wound, and a tragedy that ripples across families.
- Language: Some — As an R-rated drama, mature language is present though not detailed in the signals.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: Some — Ecstasy and drug use are depicted as part of one storyline.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Babel
If you liked Babel, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Amores Perros (2000) — 85%: Interlocking lives, with a crash at the centre
- 21 Grams (2003) — 81%: Same director's earlier tragedy told out of order
- Biutiful (2010) — 82%: Another bleak human drama from the same director
- Traffic (2000) — 79%: Several linked stories about one big problem
- Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014) — 86%: Same director in a more comic, daring mood
- The Revenant (2015) — 84%: Same director's brutal story of survival
Director
Cast
- Brad Pitt as Richard Jones
- Rinko Kikuchi as Chieko
- Adriana Barraza as Amelia
- Cate Blanchett as Susan Jones
- Satoshi Nikaido as Kenji Mamiya
- Said Tarchani as Ahmed
- Boubker Ait El Caid as Yussef
- Gael García Bernal as Santiago
- Nathan Gamble as Mike Jones
- Elle Fanning as Debbie Jones
Babel FAQ
Is Babel worth watching?
Worth watching. A gunshot in Morocco connects strangers in four countries. It's tense and well made, though it shows its design a little, and the several stories vary in strength.
Where can I watch Babel?
In the US you can stream Babel on Paramount+, watch it free with ads on Kanopy and Hoopla and rent it from JustWatch TV Free, Prime Video, Apple TV and Google Play.
Is Babel OK for kids?
Babel is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Babel is an R-rated drama with interlocking stories involving a shooting, drug use, and illegal immigration across multiple countries.
What movies are like Babel?
If you liked Babel, try Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Biutiful and Traffic.