Metropolis (1927)
Kernel Score: 90% · 3,048 ratings · Rated NR
Genres: Drama, Science Fiction
Released: 1927-01-10
Runtime: 148 minutes
Is Metropolis worth watching?
Must-watch. Fritz Lang's silent sci-fi epic about a city of rich thinkers above and workers below. Its sets and imagery shaped nearly every sci-fi film since, and the story is simple but striking.
Watch it if you
- are curious about film history
- love big, bold visual design
Skip it if you
- dislike silent films
- want modern pacing
Best for: Film-lover night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Metropolis
- Stream: Fubo, Brew, FlixFling, Eternal Family, Kino Film Collection, Artiflix
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Darkroom, Fawesome, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
In a futuristic city sharply divided between the rich and the poor, the son of the city's mastermind meets a prophet who predicts the coming of a savior to mediate their differences.
Metropolis parents' guide: ages 8+
Parents need to know that Metropolis is a 1927 silent science-fiction classic depicting a dystopian, class-divided future city.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Includes dystopian destruction and unsettling imagery like a mad scientist and robot, though largely bloodless by modern standards.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Metropolis
If you liked Metropolis, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) — 90%: Another landmark of silent-era German cinema
- M (1931) — 90%: Fritz Lang's tense, influential thriller
- Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler (1922) — 85%: Lang's silent criminal mastermind epic
- Blade Runner (1982) — 94%: The sci-fi city film Metropolis helped inspire
- The Matrix (1999) — 96%: Sci-fi world of systems and hidden control
- The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933) — 85%: Lang's follow-up with a sinister mastermind
Director
Cast
- Gustav Fröhlich as Freder Fredersen
- Brigitte Helm as Maria / The Machine Man
- Alfred Abel as Johann 'Joh' Fredersen
- Rudolf Klein-Rogge as C.A. Rotwang
- Theodor Loos as Josaphat
- Fritz Rasp as The Thin Man
- Erwin Biswanger as No. 11811 - Georgy
- Heinrich George as Grot
- Fritz Alberti as Creative Human - Man Who Convinces Babel (uncredited)
- Grete Berger as Working Woman (uncredited)
Metropolis FAQ
Is Metropolis worth watching?
Must-watch. Fritz Lang's silent sci-fi epic about a city of rich thinkers above and workers below. Its sets and imagery shaped nearly every sci-fi film since, and the story is simple but striking.
Where can I watch Metropolis?
In the US you can stream Metropolis on Fubo, Brew, FlixFling, Eternal Family, Kino Film Collection and Artiflix, watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Darkroom, Fawesome, The Roku Channel and Pluto TV and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Metropolis OK for kids?
Metropolis is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that Metropolis is a 1927 silent science-fiction classic depicting a dystopian, class-divided future city.
What movies are like Metropolis?
If you liked Metropolis, try The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, M, Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler and Blade Runner.