Schindler's List (1993)
Kernel Score: 97% · 17,176 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama, History, War
Released: 1993-12-15
Runtime: 195 minutes
Is Schindler's List worth watching?
Must-watch. Spielberg's black-and-white account of Oskar Schindler saving more than a thousand Jews is long, harrowing and deeply humane. It is not easy viewing, and that is the point, but it is among the most important films of its era.
Watch it if you
- want a serious, historically grounded drama
- can handle the Holocaust on screen
- have time for a long film
Skip it if you
- need light viewing
- are sensitive to graphic violence and cruelty
Best for: Quiet, serious night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Schindler's List
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
The true story of how businessman Oskar Schindler saved over a thousand Jewish lives from the Nazis while they worked as slaves in his factory during World War II.
Schindler's List parents' guide: ages 14+
Parents need to know that Schindler's List is an unflinching R-rated Holocaust drama with intense, graphic violence, though it is ultimately a story of profound courage and heroism.
- Violence & scariness: Intense — It depicts the Holocaust in harrowing detail — mass shootings, concentration camps, and Nazi atrocities — with intense, disturbing realism.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Moderate — The unflinching camp depictions include nudity and sexual content within their historical, dehumanizing context.
- Language: Some — The wartime drama includes some strong language.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Schindler's List
If you liked Schindler's List, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Pianist (2002) — 93%: Another harrowing, true Holocaust-era survival story
- Saving Private Ryan (1998) — 95%: Spielberg's brutal and moving war film
- The Zone of Interest (2023) — 80%: Chilling, restrained film about the Holocaust
- The Counterfeiters (2007) — 85%: Tense true story from a camp
- Downfall (2004) — 87%: Unflinching look at the end of the war
- Glory (1989) — 86%: Powerful historical drama about courage
Director
Cast
- Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler
- Ben Kingsley as Itzhak Stern
- Ralph Fiennes as Amon Goeth
- Caroline Goodall as Emilie Schindler
- Jonathan Sagall as Poldek Pfefferberg
- Embeth Davidtz as Helen Hirsch
- Małgorzata Gebel as Viktoria Klonowska
- Shmuel Levy as Wilek Chilowicz
- Mark Ivanir as Marcel Goldberg
- Béatrice Macola as Ingrid
Schindler's List FAQ
Is Schindler's List worth watching?
Must-watch. Spielberg's black-and-white account of Oskar Schindler saving more than a thousand Jews is long, harrowing and deeply humane. It is not easy viewing, and that is the point, but it is among the most important films of its era.
Where can I watch Schindler's List?
In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Schindler's List OK for kids?
Schindler's List is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 14+. Parents need to know that Schindler's List is an unflinching R-rated Holocaust drama with intense, graphic violence, though it is ultimately a story of profound courage and heroism.
What movies are like Schindler's List?
If you liked Schindler's List, try The Pianist, Saving Private Ryan, The Zone of Interest and The Counterfeiters.