Carol (2015)
Kernel Score: 86% · 3,918 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Romance, Drama
Released: 2015-11-20
Runtime: 118 minutes
Is Carol worth watching?
Worth watching. A shop assistant and an older, married woman fall in love in 1950s New York. It's beautifully made and restrained, with two excellent performances, but it's quiet and slow.
Watch it if you
- like restrained, beautifully shot romance
- enjoy period dramas
- want two strong lead performances
Skip it if you
- want a fast plot
- dislike slow, understated films
Best for: Quiet date night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Carol
- Stream: Prime Video
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla, Fawesome, Prime Video (free with ads), Tubi
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
In 1950s New York, a department-store clerk who dreams of a better life falls for an older, married woman.
Carol parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Carol is an R-rated romantic drama about a lesbian relationship in 1950s New York.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Moderate — Includes a lesbian romantic relationship with sexual content per its keywords and R rating.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Carol
If you liked Carol, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) — 90%: Another painterly, restrained love story between two women
- Far from Heaven (2002) — 78%: Same director's 1950s story of forbidden love
- The Bridges of Madison County (1995) — 86%: Mature, secret love story with restraint
- The World to Come (2021) — 79%: Quiet period romance between two women
- Tell It to the Bees (2019) — 85%: Gentle, period love story with a tender touch
- The Way We Were (1973) — 78%: Romance shaped by politics and bad timing
Director
Cast
- Cate Blanchett as Carol Aird
- Rooney Mara as Therese Belivet
- Kyle Chandler as Harge Aird
- Jake Lacy as Richard Semco
- Sarah Paulson as Abby Gerhard
- John Magaro as Dannie McElroy
- Cory Michael Smith as Tommy Tucker
- Kevin Crowley as Fred Haymes
- Nik Pajic as Phil McElroy
- Carrie Brownstein as Genevieve Cantrell
Carol FAQ
Is Carol worth watching?
Worth watching. A shop assistant and an older, married woman fall in love in 1950s New York. It's beautifully made and restrained, with two excellent performances, but it's quiet and slow.
Where can I watch Carol?
In the US you can stream Carol on Prime Video, watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, Fawesome, Prime Video (free with ads) and Tubi and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Carol OK for kids?
Carol is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Carol is an R-rated romantic drama about a lesbian relationship in 1950s New York.
What movies are like Carol?
If you liked Carol, try Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Far from Heaven, The Bridges of Madison County and The World to Come.