Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
Kernel Score: 81% · 2,884 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama, Music
Released: 2013-10-18
Runtime: 105 minutes
Is Inside Llewyn Davis worth watching?
Worth watching. A bleak, wry week in the life of a struggling folk singer in early-1960s New York. It is funny, sad and beautifully shot, with a cat in the title role that you won't forget, but it is deliberately aimless.
Watch it if you
- like the Coen brothers
- enjoy music-led character studies
- can take a gloomy, wry mood
Skip it if you
- want a plot with a neat arc
- dislike downbeat stories
Best for: Solo night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Inside Llewyn Davis
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla
- Rent: JustWatch TV Free, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
In Greenwich Village in the early 1960s, gifted but volatile folk musician Llewyn Davis struggles with money, relationships, and his uncertain future.
Inside Llewyn Davis parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Inside Llewyn Davis is an R-rated drama about a struggling folk musician navigating poverty, depression, and self-inflicted setbacks in 1960s New York.
- Language: Some — R-rated drama likely includes some strong language typical of the genre.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: Some — Includes an overdose and depression-related struggles among the folk music scene's characters.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Inside Llewyn Davis
If you liked Inside Llewyn Davis, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- A Complete Unknown (2024) — 81%: Music biopic set in the same Greenwich Village scene
- The Big Lebowski (1998) — 89%: Coen brothers comedy about a lovable drifter
- The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) — 86%: Coen brothers' quiet, moody noir
- Barton Fink (1991) — 85%: Coen brothers on a struggling artist
- Fargo (1996) — 86%: Coen brothers' crime story with deadpan humour
- Sound of Metal (2020) — 87%: Powerful, music-centred drama about losing everything
Director
Cast
- Oscar Isaac as Llewyn Davis
- Carey Mulligan as Jean
- Justin Timberlake as Jim
- Ethan Phillips as Mitch Gorfein
- Robin Bartlett as Lillian Gorfein
- Max Casella as Pappi Corsicato
- Jerry Grayson as Mel Novikoff
- Jeanine Serralles as Joy
- Adam Driver as Al Cody
- Stark Sands as Troy Nelson
Inside Llewyn Davis FAQ
Is Inside Llewyn Davis worth watching?
Worth watching. A bleak, wry week in the life of a struggling folk singer in early-1960s New York. It is funny, sad and beautifully shot, with a cat in the title role that you won't forget, but it is deliberately aimless.
Where can I watch Inside Llewyn Davis?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on Kanopy and Hoopla and rent it from JustWatch TV Free, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Inside Llewyn Davis OK for kids?
Inside Llewyn Davis is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Inside Llewyn Davis is an R-rated drama about a struggling folk musician navigating poverty, depression, and self-inflicted setbacks in 1960s New York.
What movies are like Inside Llewyn Davis?
If you liked Inside Llewyn Davis, try A Complete Unknown, The Big Lebowski, The Man Who Wasn't There and Barton Fink.