Lost Highway (1997)
Kernel Score: 85% · 2,887 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama, Thriller, Mystery
Released: 1997-01-15
Runtime: 134 minutes
Is Lost Highway worth watching?
Depends on your taste. David Lynch at his most baffling, a nightmare about identity, jealousy and murder that doesn't explain itself. If you like mood and mystery over answers, it's compelling; if you want a plot that resolves, it's maddening.
Watch it if you
- love David Lynch
- enjoy dreamlike, puzzle-box films
- can accept not getting all the answers
Skip it if you
- want a clear storyline
- dislike unsettling, ambiguous films
Best for: Late-night art-house
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Lost Highway
- Rent: Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy: Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A tormented jazz musician finds himself lost in an enigmatic story involving murder, surveillance, gangsters, doppelgängers, and an impossible transformation inside a prison cell.
Lost Highway parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Lost Highway is a dark, surreal thriller with disturbing sexual content, violence, and mature psychological themes.
- Violence & scariness: Strong — Includes murder, a violent husband, and disturbing psychological tension throughout.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Strong — Contains pornography references, eroticism, and sexual frustration as recurring plot elements.
- Language: Moderate — Rated R with adult dialogue typical of a David Lynch thriller.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Lost Highway
If you liked Lost Highway, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Mulholland Drive (2001) — 87%: Lynch's richer film about dreams and identity
- Blue Velvet (1986) — 87%: Lynch's twisted small-town mystery
- Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992) — 84%: Lynch's deeper dive into Twin Peaks
- The Straight Story (1999) — 89%: Lynch's gentle, straight-forward opposite
- The Elephant Man (1980) — 90%: Lynch's moving, humane drama
- Black Swan (2010) — 86%: Psychological thriller about a mind coming apart
Director
Cast
- Patricia Arquette as Renee Madison / Alice Wakefield
- Bill Pullman as Fred Madison
- Balthazar Getty as Pete Dayton
- Robert Blake as Mystery Man
- Robert Loggia as Mr. Eddy / Dick Laurent
- Michael Massee as Andy
- Natasha Gregson Wagner as Sheila
- Richard Pryor as Arnie
- Gary Busey as Bill Dayton
- Lucy Butler as Candace Dayton
Lost Highway FAQ
Is Lost Highway worth watching?
Depends on your taste. David Lynch at his most baffling, a nightmare about identity, jealousy and murder that doesn't explain itself. If you like mood and mystery over answers, it's compelling; if you want a plot that resolves, it's maddening.
Where can I watch Lost Highway?
In the US you can rent it from Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango At Home.
Is Lost Highway OK for kids?
Lost Highway is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Lost Highway is a dark, surreal thriller with disturbing sexual content, violence, and mature psychological themes.
What movies are like Lost Highway?
If you liked Lost Highway, try Mulholland Drive, Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me and The Straight Story.