House of Sand and Fog (2003)
Kernel Score: 81% · 833 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama
Released: 2003-12-19
Runtime: 126 minutes
Where to watch House of Sand and Fog
- Free with ads: Hoopla
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Behrani, an Iranian immigrant buys a California bungalow, thinking he can fix it up, sell it again, and make enough money to send his son to college. However, the house is the legal property of former drug addict Kathy. After losing the house in an unfair legal dispute with the county, she is left with nowhere to go. Wanting her house back, she hires a lawyer and befriends a police officer. Neither Kathy nor Behrani have broken the law, so they find themselves involved in a difficult moral dilemma.
House of Sand and Fog parents' guide: ages 13+
Parents need to know that House of Sand and Fog is a drama about a bitter legal and moral dispute over a house between an Iranian immigrant family and a recovering addict.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Includes intimidation and escalating tension between the disputing parties.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: Some — A central character is a former drug addict, with her past addiction relevant to the plot.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like House of Sand and Fog
If you liked House of Sand and Fog, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Beautiful Boy (2018) — 86%
- The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019) — 77%
- Requiem for a Dream (2000) — 89%
- Life as a House (2001) — 79%
- The Towering Inferno (1974) — 78%
- Nights of Cabiria (1957) — 88%
- Reprise (2006) — 81%
- Looking: The Movie (2016) — 79%
Director
Cast
- Jennifer Connelly as Kathy
- Ben Kingsley as Behrani
- Ron Eldard as Lester
- Frances Fisher as Connie Walsh
- Kim Dickens as Carol Burdon
- Shohreh Aghdashloo as Nadi
- Jonathan Ahdout as Esmail
- Navi Rawat as Soraya
- Kia Jam as Ali
- Carlos Gómez as Lt. Alvarez
House of Sand and Fog FAQ
Is House of Sand and Fog good?
House of Sand and Fog has an 81% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 833 audience ratings.
Where can I watch House of Sand and Fog?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on Hoopla and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is House of Sand and Fog OK for kids?
House of Sand and Fog is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 13+. Parents need to know that House of Sand and Fog is a drama about a bitter legal and moral dispute over a house between an Iranian immigrant family and a recovering addict.
What movies are like House of Sand and Fog?
If you liked House of Sand and Fog, try Beautiful Boy, The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Requiem for a Dream and Life as a House.