Eraserhead (1977)

Kernel Score: 82% · 2,687 ratings · Rated NR

Genres: Horror, Science Fiction

Released: 1977-09-28

Runtime: 89 minutes

Is Eraserhead worth watching?

Depends on your taste. A black-and-white nightmare about a nervous man and his deformed baby, made with strange sound and images instead of plot. It is hugely influential and unforgettable, but deliberately off-putting and slow.

Watch it if you

  • like surreal, art-house cult cinema
  • are curious about David Lynch's roots
  • enjoy films that feel like dreams

Skip it if you

  • need a clear story
  • dislike body horror and unsettling noise

Best for: Late-night weird cinema

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

Where to watch Eraserhead

US availability, updated 2026-10-22.

Overview

First-time father Henry Spencer tries to survive his industrial environment, his angry girlfriend, and the unbearable screams of his newly born mutant child.

Eraserhead parents' guide: ages 15+

Parents need to know that this NR horror classic contains disturbing body horror, surreal nightmarish imagery, and torture themes.

  • Violence & scariness: Strong — Contains body horror, torture imagery, and disturbing surreal nightmare sequences.
  • Sex, romance & nudity: Some — Reviews note sexual undertones and unsettling content involving intimate relationships.

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

Movies like Eraserhead

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

  • Blue Velvet (1986) — 87%: Lynch's twisted look at hidden darkness beneath ordinary life.
  • Mulholland Drive (2001) — 87%: Lynch's dreamlike puzzle that refuses to explain itself.
  • Lost Highway (1997) — 85%: Lynch at his most nightmarish and disorienting.
  • The Elephant Man (1980) — 90%: Lynch's gentler, black-and-white story of deformity and humanity.
  • Videodrome (1983) — 83%: Cronenberg's body-horror nightmare, similarly disturbing.
  • Hour of the Wolf (1968) — 81%: Black-and-white art-house horror about a tormented man.

Director

David Lynch

Cast

  • Jack Nance as Henry Spencer
  • Charlotte Stewart as Mary X
  • Allen Joseph as Mr. X
  • Jeanne Bates as Mrs. X
  • Judith Roberts as Beautiful Girl Across the Hall
  • Laurel Near as Lady in the Radiator
  • Jack Fisk as Man in the Planet
  • Jean Lange as Grandmother
  • Thomas Coulson as The Boy
  • John Monez as Bum

Eraserhead FAQ

Is Eraserhead worth watching?

Depends on your taste. A black-and-white nightmare about a nervous man and his deformed baby, made with strange sound and images instead of plot. It is hugely influential and unforgettable, but deliberately off-putting and slow.

Where can I watch Eraserhead?

In the US you can stream Eraserhead on Fubo and HBO Max, watch it free with ads on Philo, Fandango at Home, YouTube Free, Plex and Tubi and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is Eraserhead OK for kids?

Eraserhead is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that this NR horror classic contains disturbing body horror, surreal nightmarish imagery, and torture themes.

What movies are like Eraserhead?

If you liked Eraserhead, try Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, Lost Highway and The Elephant Man.