Rear Window (1954)

Kernel Score: 93% · 7,042 ratings · Rated PG

Genres: Thriller, Mystery

Released: 1954-08-01

Runtime: 112 minutes

Is Rear Window worth watching?

Must-watch. Hitchcock's suspense film places us in one man's apartment and makes the view across the courtyard the whole story. It is clever, funny and tense, and it holds up better than almost any thriller of its age.

Watch it if you

  • like classic suspense that builds slowly
  • enjoy Hitchcock's cleverness
  • want a thriller that needs only one location

Skip it if you

  • want modern pacing
  • dislike old films

Best for: Classic movie night

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch Rear Window

  • Stream: YouTube TV, TCM
  • Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

A wheelchair-bound photographer spies on his neighbors from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder.

Rear Window parents' guide: ages 8+

Parents need to know that Rear Window is a PG classic thriller about a photographer who suspects a neighbor of murder while spying on him.

  • Violence & scariness: Some — Centers on suspicion of murder and mounting danger, but is largely suspense-driven rather than graphic, rated PG.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like Rear Window

If you liked Rear Window, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • Vertigo (1958) — 88%: Hitchcock's study of obsession, also with James Stewart.
  • Dial M for Murder (1954) — 89%: Hitchcock thriller with a clever murder plot.
  • Rope (1948) — 89%: Hitchcock thriller staged in one tight space.
  • Shadow of a Doubt (1943) — 85%: Hitchcock thriller about a hidden killer in a normal setting.
  • Psycho (1960) — 91%: Hitchcock's most famous suspense film.
  • The Conversation (1974) — 87%: Surveillance thriller about someone who sees more than he should.

Director

Alfred Hitchcock

Cast

  • James Stewart as L.B. Jefferies
  • Grace Kelly as Lisa Fremont
  • Wendell Corey as Thomas Doyle
  • Thelma Ritter as Stella
  • Raymond Burr as Lars Thorwald
  • Judith Evelyn as Miss Lonelyhearts
  • Ross Bagdasarian as Songwriter
  • Georgine Darcy as Miss Torso
  • Sara Berner as Woman on Fire Escape
  • Frank Cady as Man on Fire Escape

Rear Window FAQ

Is Rear Window worth watching?

Must-watch. Hitchcock's suspense film places us in one man's apartment and makes the view across the courtyard the whole story. It is clever, funny and tense, and it holds up better than almost any thriller of its age.

Where can I watch Rear Window?

In the US you can stream Rear Window on YouTube TV and TCM and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is Rear Window OK for kids?

Rear Window is rated PG. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that Rear Window is a PG classic thriller about a photographer who suspects a neighbor of murder while spying on him.

What movies are like Rear Window?

If you liked Rear Window, try Vertigo, Dial M for Murder, Rope and Shadow of a Doubt.