Ivan the Terrible, Part I (1944)
Kernel Score: 82% · 222 ratings · Rated NR
Genres: Drama, History
Released: 1944-11-11
Runtime: 95 minutes
Where to watch Ivan the Terrible, Part I
- Stream: FlixFling, HBO Max
- Rent: FlixFling
- Buy: FlixFling
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Set during the early part of his reign, Ivan faces betrayal from the aristocracy and even his closest friends as he seeks to unite the Russian people. Sergei Eisenstein's final film, this is the first part of a three-part biopic of Tsar Ivan IV of Russia, which was never completed due to the producer's dissatisfaction with Eisenstein's attempts to use forbidden experimental filming techniques and excessive cost overruns. The second part was completed but not released for a decade after Eisenstein's death and a change of heart in the USSR government toward his work; the third part was only in its earliest stage of filming when shooting was stopped altogether.
Ivan the Terrible, Part I parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Ivan the Terrible is a historical drama about betrayal, exile, and treason among Russian nobility.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Depicts treason, exile, and political intrigue in a medieval court, with implied violence rather than graphic depiction.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Ivan the Terrible, Part I
If you liked Ivan the Terrible, Part I, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Andrei Rublev (1966) — 89%
- Munich – The Edge of War (2021) — 77%
- The Two Popes (2019) — 87%
- Marie Antoinette (2006) — 71%
- Braveheart (1995) — 95%
- Mamma Roma (1962) — 88%
- Raise the Red Lantern (1991) — 88%
- Get Married If You Can (2014) — 80%
Director
Cast
- Nikolai Cherkasov as Czar Ivan IV
- Lyudmila Tselikovskaya as Czarina Anastasia Romanovna
- Serafima Birman as Boyarina Efrosinia Staritskaya
- Mikhail Nazvanov as Prince Andrei Kurbsky
- Mikhail Zharov as Czar's Guard Malyuta Skuratov
- Amvrosii Buchma as Czar's Guard Aleksei Basmanov
- Mikhail Kuznetsov as Fyodor Basmanov
- Pavel Kadochnikov as Vladimir Andreyevich Staritsky
- Andrei Abrikosov as Boyar Fyodor Kolychev
- Alexander Mgebrov as Novgorod's Archbishop Pimen
Ivan the Terrible, Part I FAQ
Is Ivan the Terrible, Part I good?
Ivan the Terrible, Part I has an 82% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 222 audience ratings.
Where can I watch Ivan the Terrible, Part I?
In the US you can stream Ivan the Terrible, Part I on FlixFling and HBO Max and rent it from FlixFling.
Is Ivan the Terrible, Part I OK for kids?
Ivan the Terrible, Part I is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Ivan the Terrible is a historical drama about betrayal, exile, and treason among Russian nobility.
What movies are like Ivan the Terrible, Part I?
If you liked Ivan the Terrible, Part I, try Andrei Rublev, Munich – The Edge of War, The Two Popes and Marie Antoinette.