Shame (2011)
Kernel Score: 75% · 3,361 ratings · Rated NC-17
Genres: Drama
Released: 2011-10-02
Runtime: 102 minutes
Is Shame worth watching?
Depends on your taste. Michael Fassbender gives a raw, committed performance as a man ruled by sexual compulsion. It's a bleak, deliberately uncomfortable character study with no easy lessons, and it's far from enjoyable. Viewers who want hard drama will find it powerful.
Watch it if you
- want a serious look at addiction
- admire intense, committed acting
- can handle adult material and a bleak mood
Skip it if you
- want comfort or a clear story
- dislike explicit sexual content
Best for: Serious solo night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Shame
- Rent: Apple TV, Fandango At Home
- Buy: Apple TV, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Brandon, a thirty-something man living in New York, eludes intimacy with women but feeds his deepest desires with a compulsive addiction to sex. When his younger sister temporarily moves into his apartment, stirring up bitter memories of their shared painful past, Brandon's life, like his fragile mind, gets out of control.
Shame parents' guide: ages 16+
Parents need to know that Shame is an NC-17 drama depicting compulsive sex addiction and explicit sexual content.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Intense — Rated NC-17, the film contains explicit, frequent sexual content centered on a character's compulsive addiction to sex and pornography.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NC-17 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Shame
If you liked Shame, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Requiem for a Dream (2000) — 89%: Another bleak, unflinching look at addiction and its toll
- 12 Years a Slave (2013) — 89%: Steve McQueen's other hard-hitting film, on a very different subject
- Hunger (2008) — 81%: McQueen's first feature, with a harsh, physical commitment
- Fight Club (1999) — 96%: Dark story of a man spiralling out of control
- Mysterious Skin (2005) — 85%: Painful, serious drama about damaged people and hidden trauma
- American History X (1998) — 91%: Intense drama that doesn't look away from ugly subjects
Director
Cast
- Michael Fassbender as Brandon
- Carey Mulligan as Sissy
- James Badge Dale as David
- Nicole Beharie as Marianne
- Lucy Walters as Woman on Subway Train
- Mari-Ange Ramirez as Alexa
- Alex Manette as Steven
- Hannah Ware as Samantha
- Elizabeth Masucci as Elizabeth
- Rachel Farrar as Rachel
Shame FAQ
Is Shame worth watching?
Depends on your taste. Michael Fassbender gives a raw, committed performance as a man ruled by sexual compulsion. It's a bleak, deliberately uncomfortable character study with no easy lessons, and it's far from enjoyable. Viewers who want hard drama will find it powerful.
Where can I watch Shame?
In the US you can rent it from Apple TV and Fandango At Home.
Is Shame OK for kids?
Shame is rated NC-17. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 16+. Parents need to know that Shame is an NC-17 drama depicting compulsive sex addiction and explicit sexual content.
What movies are like Shame?
If you liked Shame, try Requiem for a Dream, 12 Years a Slave, Hunger and Fight Club.