Eastern Promises (2007)
Kernel Score: 84% · 3,637 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Thriller, Crime, Mystery
Released: 2007-09-14
Runtime: 100 minutes
Is Eastern Promises worth watching?
Worth watching. A midwife in London finds a diary that leads her into a Russian crime family. David Cronenberg's thriller is cold, violent and tense, anchored by a great Viggo Mortensen and a famous bathhouse fight.
Watch it if you
- like grim crime thrillers
- enjoy Viggo Mortensen
- want brutal, controlled filmmaking
Skip it if you
- dislike graphic violence
- want a lot of warmth
Best for: Dark thriller night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Eastern Promises
- Stream: Prime Video
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A Russian teenager living in London dies during childbirth but leaves clues in her diary that could tie her child to a rape involving a violent Russian mob family.
Eastern Promises parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Eastern Promises is a brutal crime thriller involving rape, human trafficking, and mafia violence.
- Violence & scariness: Intense — Rated R with graphic brutality, murder, and a notorious violent fight scene central to the plot.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Strong — The plot centers on statutory rape and human trafficking of a teenage girl, with a prostitute character and explicit thematic content.
- Language: Moderate — Rated R crime drama likely containing strong language consistent with its gangster setting.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Eastern Promises
If you liked Eastern Promises, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- A History of Violence (2005) — 80%: Same director and star, about violence beneath a quiet life.
- Cape Fear (1991) — 84%: A menacing, violent thriller around a family.
- Mystic River (2003) — 89%: A bleak crime story with great performances.
- Chinatown (1974) — 87%: A slow, bleak investigation of power and corruption.
- L.A. Confidential (1997) — 89%: Violent, layered crime story with sharp performances.
- The Fly (1986) — 86%: Cronenberg's earlier, more bodily brand of horror.
Director
Cast
- Viggo Mortensen as Nikolai Luzhin
- Naomi Watts as Anna Ivanovna Khitrova
- Vincent Cassel as Kirill
- Armin Mueller-Stahl as Semyon
- Sinéad Cusack as Helen
- Donald Sumpter as Yuri
- Jerzy Skolimowski as Stepan
- Josef Altin as Ekrem
- Mina E. Mina as Azim
- Aleksandar Mikic as Soyka
Eastern Promises FAQ
Is Eastern Promises worth watching?
Worth watching. A midwife in London finds a diary that leads her into a Russian crime family. David Cronenberg's thriller is cold, violent and tense, anchored by a great Viggo Mortensen and a famous bathhouse fight.
Where can I watch Eastern Promises?
In the US you can stream Eastern Promises on Prime Video and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Eastern Promises OK for kids?
Eastern Promises is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Eastern Promises is a brutal crime thriller involving rape, human trafficking, and mafia violence.
What movies are like Eastern Promises?
If you liked Eastern Promises, try A History of Violence, Cape Fear, Mystic River and Chinatown.