Death in Venice (1971)
Kernel Score: 81% · 530 ratings
Genres: Drama
Released: 1971-03-05
Runtime: 131 minutes
Where to watch Death in Venice
- Free with ads: YouTube Free
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Composer Gustav von Aschenbach travels to Venice for health reasons. There, he becomes obsessed with the stunning beauty of an adolescent Polish boy named Tadzio who is staying with his family at the same Grand Hôtel des Bains on the Lido as Aschenbach.
Death in Venice parents' guide: ages 14+
Parents need to know that this classic drama centers on an older composer's obsession with a teenage boy's beauty, involving homoeroticism and disease.
- Violence & scariness: A little — Depicts a cholera epidemic and its toll rather than physical violence.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Moderate — Explores an older man's unspoken romantic obsession with an adolescent boy, with homoerotic undertones.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Death in Venice
If you liked Death in Venice, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Goddess of Fortune (2019) — 79%
- Aftersun (2022) — 88%
- Perfect Strangers (2016) — 88%
- The Great Beauty (2013) — 85%
- The Miracle Season (2018) — 82%
- The Normal Heart (2014) — 88%
- August Rush (2007) — 85%
- Dangerous Beauty (1998) — 78%
Director
Cast
- Dirk Bogarde as Gustav von Aschenbach
- Björn Andrésen as Tadzio
- Romolo Valli as Hotel Manager
- Mark Burns as Alfred
- Nora Ricci as Tadzio's Governess
- Silvana Mangano as Tadzio's Mother
- Marisa Berenson as Aschenbach's Wife
- Carole André as Esmeralda, Brothel Prostitute
- Leslie French as Travel Agent
- Franco Fabrizi as Barber
Death in Venice FAQ
Is Death in Venice good?
Death in Venice has an 81% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 530 audience ratings.
Where can I watch Death in Venice?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on YouTube Free and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Death in Venice OK for kids?
Fresh Kernels suggests ages 14+. Parents need to know that this classic drama centers on an older composer's obsession with a teenage boy's beauty, involving homoeroticism and disease.
What movies are like Death in Venice?
If you liked Death in Venice, try The Goddess of Fortune, Aftersun, Perfect Strangers and The Great Beauty.