Melancholia (2011)
Kernel Score: 79% · 3,760 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama, Science Fiction
Released: 2011-05-26
Runtime: 130 minutes
Is Melancholia worth watching?
Depends on your taste. Lars von Trier sets a family wedding and a planet heading for Earth side by side. It's slow, strange and very sad, but the second half has a haunting calm. Know what you're getting into.
Watch it if you
- like slow, moody, art-house films
- want a film about depression and the end of the world
- enjoy Kirsten Dunst's performance
Skip it if you
- want a thriller or disaster film
- dislike bleak, slow-moving drama
Best for: Quiet, reflective night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Melancholia
- Stream: Fubo, Peacock
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Fandango at Home, Tubi
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Two sisters find their already strained relationship challenged as a mysterious new planet threatens to collide with Earth.
Melancholia parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Melancholia is an R-rated drama about two sisters facing the end of the world as a planet threatens to collide with Earth, with themes of depression and suicide.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Depicts the looming destruction of the planet and includes suicide and mental health themes.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: A little — A wedding reception setting implies some drinking.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Melancholia
If you liked Melancholia, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Dancer in the Dark (2000) — 87%: Von Trier at his most emotionally devastating.
- Breaking the Waves (1996) — 86%: Another von Trier study of devotion and suffering.
- Stalker (1979) — 90%: Slow, haunting journey full of dread and meaning.
- Solaris (1972) — 89%: Slow, meditative sci-fi about grief and the unknown.
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) — 90%: A bittersweet look at love, loss and memory.
- Synecdoche, New York (2008) — 85%: A strange, sad film about life and death.
Director
Cast
- Kirsten Dunst as Justine
- Charlotte Gainsbourg as Claire
- Kiefer Sutherland as John
- Alexander Skarsgård as Michael
- Cameron Spurr as Leo
- Stellan Skarsgård as Jack
- John Hurt as Dexter
- Brady Corbet as Tim
- Jesper Christensen as Little Father
- Charlotte Rampling as Gaby
Melancholia FAQ
Is Melancholia worth watching?
Depends on your taste. Lars von Trier sets a family wedding and a planet heading for Earth side by side. It's slow, strange and very sad, but the second half has a haunting calm. Know what you're getting into.
Where can I watch Melancholia?
In the US you can stream Melancholia on Fubo and Peacock, watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Fandango at Home and Tubi and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Melancholia OK for kids?
Melancholia is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Melancholia is an R-rated drama about two sisters facing the end of the world as a planet threatens to collide with Earth, with themes of depression and suicide.
What movies are like Melancholia?
If you liked Melancholia, try Dancer in the Dark, Breaking the Waves, Stalker and Solaris.