Persona (1966)
Kernel Score: 89% · 2,370 ratings
Genres: Drama
Released: 1966-10-18
Runtime: 84 minutes
Is Persona worth watching?
Worth watching. Bergman's 84-minute study of a nurse and a silent actress, whose identities begin to blur. It's challenging, strange and very well acted, and viewers rate it highly, but it's art-house through and through.
Watch it if you
- like art-house films that make you think
- enjoy two-person psychological dramas
- want to try classic Bergman
Skip it if you
- want a clear, straightforward plot
- dislike subtitles
Best for: Thoughtful solo night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Persona
- Stream: Darkroom, HBO Max, Artiflix
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A young nurse, Alma, is put in charge of Elisabeth Vogler: an actress who is seemingly healthy in all respects, but will not talk. As they spend time together, Alma speaks to Elisabeth constantly, never receiving any answer.
Persona parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Persona is a psychological drama about a mute actress and her nurse, exploring identity and mental breakdown.
- Violence & scariness: A little — Largely psychological rather than physical; unsettling imagery around mental breakdown and betrayal rather than graphic violence.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Persona
If you liked Persona, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Cries and Whispers (1972) — 88%: Bergman drama of intense emotion among a small group of women.
- Autumn Sonata (1978) — 88%: Bergman's intense two-woman duel of mother and daughter.
- The Seventh Seal (1957) — 89%: Bergman's best-known meditation on death and meaning.
- Wild Strawberries (1957) — 88%: Bergman's gentler journey of memory and regret.
- Scenes from a Marriage (1974) — 88%: Bergman's intimate close-up on a relationship's breakdown.
- Lost Highway (1997) — 85%: Identity-bending psychological film with dreamlike logic.
Director
Cast
- Bibi Andersson as Alma
- Liv Ullmann as Elisabet Vogler
- Margaretha Krook as The Doctor
- Gunnar Björnstrand as Herr Vogler
- Jörgen Lindström as Elisabet's Son (uncredited)
Persona FAQ
Is Persona worth watching?
Worth watching. Bergman's 84-minute study of a nurse and a silent actress, whose identities begin to blur. It's challenging, strange and very well acted, and viewers rate it highly, but it's art-house through and through.
Where can I watch Persona?
In the US you can stream Persona on Darkroom, HBO Max and Artiflix and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango At Home.
Is Persona OK for kids?
Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Persona is a psychological drama about a mute actress and her nurse, exploring identity and mental breakdown.
What movies are like Persona?
If you liked Persona, try Cries and Whispers, Autumn Sonata, The Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries.