Hostel (2006)

Kernel Score: 54% · 4,114 ratings · Rated R

Genres: Horror

Released: 2006-01-06

Runtime: 94 minutes

Is Hostel worth watching?

Depends on your taste. A brutal, mean-spirited horror film about backpackers lured into a nightmare in Eastern Europe. It delivers extreme gore and a tense second half, but the first act is crude and the cruelty is the whole point.

Watch it if you

  • like extreme, gory horror
  • can handle graphic torture on screen
  • remember the early-2000s shock-horror wave

Skip it if you

  • dislike graphic violence or torture
  • want scares built on atmosphere rather than gore

Best for: Strong-stomach horror night

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

Where to watch Hostel

  • Stream: Peacock
  • Free with ads: Hoopla, Philo, Plex
  • Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

US availability, updated 2026-10-21.

Overview

Three backpackers head to a Slovakian city that promises to meet their hedonistic expectations, with no idea of the hell that awaits them.

Movies like Hostel

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

  • Saw (2004) — 83%: The defining torture-horror film, with a similar cruel streak.
  • From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) — 80%: Another Tarantino-adjacent horror that turns from sleaze to carnage.
  • Final Destination Bloodlines (2025) — 93%: Gory horror built on elaborately cruel set pieces.
  • The Conjuring (2013) — 90%: Far less graphic, but a well-made, tense modern horror.
  • The Thing (1982) — 93%: Gruesome, paranoid horror with strong practical effects.

Director

Eli Roth

Cast

  • Jay Hernandez as Paxton
  • Derek Richardson as Josh
  • Eythor Gudjonsson as Oli
  • Barbara Nedeljakova as Natalya
  • Jana Kaderabkova as Svetlana
  • Jennifer Lim as Kana
  • Jan Vlasák as The Dutch Businessman
  • Jana Havlickova as Vala
  • Keiko Seiko as Yuki
  • Paula Wild as Monique

Hostel FAQ

Is Hostel worth watching?

Depends on your taste. A brutal, mean-spirited horror film about backpackers lured into a nightmare in Eastern Europe. It delivers extreme gore and a tense second half, but the first act is crude and the cruelty is the whole point.

Where can I watch Hostel?

In the US you can stream Hostel on Peacock, watch it free with ads on Hoopla, Philo and Plex and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

What is Hostel rated?

Hostel is rated R.

What movies are like Hostel?

If you liked Hostel, try Saw, From Dusk Till Dawn, Final Destination Bloodlines and The Conjuring.