Rope (1948)
Kernel Score: 89% · 2,955 ratings · Rated PG
Genres: Thriller, Crime, Drama
Released: 1948-02-01
Runtime: 81 minutes
Is Rope worth watching?
Must-watch. Hitchcock's experiment of staging a murder story in what appears to be a few long unbroken takes. It stays tense, intelligent and nasty, and it is short enough that nothing drags.
Watch it if you
- like clever, stage-bound thrillers
- admire Hitchcock
- enjoy cat-and-mouse tension
Skip it if you
- dislike older, theatrical films
- want fast action
Best for: Classic movie night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Rope
- Stream: Philo, YouTube TV
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Two young men attempt to prove they committed the perfect murder by hosting a dinner party for the family of a classmate they just strangled to death.
Rope parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Rope is a classic Hitchcock thriller about two men who murder a classmate and host a dinner party to cover it up.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — Central plot is a murder by strangulation, depicted with suspense rather than graphic violence.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Rope
If you liked Rope, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Rear Window (1954) — 93%: Hitchcock's tense story built on watching and suspicion
- Dial M for Murder (1954) — 89%: Hitchcock's near-perfect murder plot
- Psycho (1960) — 91%: Hitchcock's best-known shocker
- Vertigo (1958) — 88%: Hitchcock's haunting, obsessive masterwork of suspense
- Rebecca (1940) — 89%: Hitchcock's gothic psychological thriller
- M (1931) — 90%: Early classic about a killer and the hunt for him
Director
Cast
- James Stewart as Rupert Cadell
- John Dall as Brandon Shaw
- Farley Granger as Phillip Morgan
- Cedric Hardwicke as Mr. Henry Kentley
- Constance Collier as Mrs. Anita Atwater
- Douglas Dick as Kenneth Lawrence
- Edith Evanson as Mrs. Wilson
- Dick Hogan as David Kentley
- Joan Chandler as Janet Walker
- Alfred Hitchcock as Man Walking in Street (uncredited)
Rope FAQ
Is Rope worth watching?
Must-watch. Hitchcock's experiment of staging a murder story in what appears to be a few long unbroken takes. It stays tense, intelligent and nasty, and it is short enough that nothing drags.
Where can I watch Rope?
In the US you can stream Rope on Philo and YouTube TV and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Rope OK for kids?
Rope is rated PG. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Rope is a classic Hitchcock thriller about two men who murder a classmate and host a dinner party to cover it up.
What movies are like Rope?
If you liked Rope, try Rear Window, Dial M for Murder, Psycho and Vertigo.