Gattaca (1997)
Kernel Score: 86% · 6,805 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Thriller, Science Fiction, Mystery, Romance
Released: 1997-07-09
Runtime: 107 minutes
Is Gattaca worth watching?
Must-watch. A calm, intelligent sci-fi thriller about a man who fights a system built on genetic destiny. It's more about identity and effort than spectacle, and it has aged better than most of its genre.
Watch it if you
- like thoughtful sci-fi
- enjoy stories about outsiders beating the system
- want a cool, stylish thriller
Skip it if you
- want big action
- dislike slow, measured pacing
Best for: Solo night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Gattaca
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
Vincent is an all-too-human man who dares to defy a system obsessed with genetic perfection. He is an "In-Valid" who assumes the identity of a member of the genetic elite to pursue his goal of traveling into space with the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation.
Gattaca parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Gattaca is a PG-13 sci-fi drama about genetic discrimination and one man's fight to overcome it.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Gattaca
If you liked Gattaca, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Moon (2009) — 87%: Quiet, human sci-fi about identity and isolation.
- Twelve Monkeys (1995) — 87%: Time-twisting thriller about fate and the system.
- Source Code (2011) — 82%: Compact sci-fi thriller with a clever central idea.
- Interstellar (2014) — 95%: Large-scale sci-fi with a human core.
- Solaris (1972) — 89%: Slow, philosophical sci-fi about memory and identity.
- In Time (2011) — 78%: Near-future thriller about a rigged system and a man who fights it.
Director
Cast
- Ethan Hawke as Vincent Freeman
- Uma Thurman as Irene Cassini
- Jude Law as Jerome Eugene Morrow
- Alan Arkin as Detective Hugo
- Loren Dean as Adult Anton Freeman
- Gore Vidal as Director Josef
- Tony Shalhoub as "German"
- Ernest Borgnine as Caesar
- Blair Underwood as Geneticist
- Xander Berkeley as Dr. Lamar
Gattaca FAQ
Is Gattaca worth watching?
Must-watch. A calm, intelligent sci-fi thriller about a man who fights a system built on genetic destiny. It's more about identity and effort than spectacle, and it has aged better than most of its genre.
Where can I watch Gattaca?
In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Gattaca OK for kids?
Gattaca is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Gattaca is a PG-13 sci-fi drama about genetic discrimination and one man's fight to overcome it.
What movies are like Gattaca?
If you liked Gattaca, try Moon, Twelve Monkeys, Source Code and Interstellar.