Carnage (2011)

Kernel Score: 82% · 3,099 ratings · Rated R

Genres: Comedy, Drama

Released: 2011-09-16

Runtime: 80 minutes

Is Carnage worth watching?

Worth watching. Two couples meet to settle a fight between their sons, and the polite conversation slowly falls apart. It's short, stagey and sharp, with four fine actors, and it's funny mostly because everyone is so awful.

Watch it if you

  • like single-room comedies that run on dialogue
  • enjoy watching good actors bicker

Skip it if you

  • want plot and variety
  • dislike stagey, play-like films

Best for: Date night

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch Carnage

  • Free with ads: Fawesome
  • Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

Two pairs of parents hold a cordial meeting after their sons are involved in a fight, though as their time together progresses, increasingly childish behavior throws the discussion into chaos.

Carnage parents' guide: ages 13+

Parents need to know that Carnage is an R-rated dark comedy about two couples whose civil meeting devolves into chaotic, childish adult behavior, including vomiting and insults.

  • Violence & scariness: A little — No physical violence beyond a schoolyard fight referenced before the story begins; adult conflict is verbal.
  • Language: Moderate — Sharp insults and adult language drive much of the comedic tension, fitting its R rating.
  • Drinking, drugs & smoking: Some — Alcohol consumption escalates tensions and leads to a vomiting scene.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like Carnage

If you liked Carnage, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • Rosemary's Baby (1968) — 88%: Polanski again, with growing unease in an apartment
  • Repulsion (1965) — 85%: Polanski's claustrophobic study of someone cracking up
  • The Tenant (1976) — 87%: Polanski's strange, tense apartment thriller
  • The Apartment (1960) — 91%: Sharp, bittersweet comedy about people behaving badly

Director

Roman Polanski

Cast

  • Jodie Foster as Penelope Longstreet
  • Kate Winslet as Nancy Cowan
  • Christoph Waltz as Alan Cowan
  • John C. Reilly as Michael Longstreet
  • Elvis Polanski as Zachary Cowan
  • Eliot Berger as Ethan Longstreet
  • Joseph Rezwin as Walter (voice)
  • Nathan Rippy as Dennis (voice)
  • Tanya Lopert as Michael's Mother (voice)
  • Julie Adams as Secretary (voice)

Carnage FAQ

Is Carnage worth watching?

Worth watching. Two couples meet to settle a fight between their sons, and the polite conversation slowly falls apart. It's short, stagey and sharp, with four fine actors, and it's funny mostly because everyone is so awful.

Where can I watch Carnage?

In the US you can watch it free with ads on Fawesome and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is Carnage OK for kids?

Carnage is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 13+. Parents need to know that Carnage is an R-rated dark comedy about two couples whose civil meeting devolves into chaotic, childish adult behavior, including vomiting and insults.

What movies are like Carnage?

If you liked Carnage, try Rosemary's Baby, Repulsion, The Tenant and The Apartment.