Silence (2016)
Kernel Score: 79% · 3,251 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama, History
Released: 2016-12-23
Runtime: 161 minutes
Is Silence worth watching?
Depends on your taste. Scorsese's long, quiet drama follows two Jesuit priests in 17th-century Japan. It is serious, beautifully shot and challenging about faith and suffering, but it's slow, long and often painful to watch.
Watch it if you
- care about questions of faith
- admire Scorsese's quieter, personal films
- enjoy slow, serious historical drama
Skip it if you
- want action or pace
- dislike long, bleak films
Best for: Serious solo night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Silence
- Stream: Fubo, Philo
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
In the 17th century, two Portuguese Jesuit priests travel to Japan in an attempt to locate their mentor, who is rumored to have committed apostasy, and to propagate Catholicism.
Silence parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Silence is an R-rated historical drama depicting religious persecution and torture.
- Violence & scariness: Strong — The film depicts torture and martyrdom of Christians during religious persecution in 17th-century Japan.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Silence
If you liked Silence, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Harakiri (1962) — 90%: Japanese period drama about honour and cruelty
- The Name of the Rose (1986) — 84%: Medieval drama in which faith and mystery collide
- The Passion of the Christ (2004) — 84%: Intense, serious film about suffering and belief
- The Last Duel (2021) — 83%: Medieval drama with a hard-edged moral question
- Taxi Driver (1976) — 90%: Scorsese's early study of a troubled, isolated man
- The Departed (2006) — 96%: Scorsese's tense crime thriller
Director
Cast
- Andrew Garfield as Rodrigues
- Adam Driver as Garupe
- Liam Neeson as Ferreira
- Tadanobu Asano as Interpreter
- Ciarán Hinds as Father Valignano
- Issey Ogata as Old Samurai / Inoue
- Shinya Tsukamoto as Mokichi
- Yoshi Oida as Ichizo
- Yosuke Kubozuka as Kichijiro
- Kaoru Endō as Unzen Samurai (Uneme)
Silence FAQ
Is Silence worth watching?
Depends on your taste. Scorsese's long, quiet drama follows two Jesuit priests in 17th-century Japan. It is serious, beautifully shot and challenging about faith and suffering, but it's slow, long and often painful to watch.
Where can I watch Silence?
In the US you can stream Silence on Fubo and Philo and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Silence OK for kids?
Silence is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Silence is an R-rated historical drama depicting religious persecution and torture.
What movies are like Silence?
If you liked Silence, try Harakiri, The Name of the Rose, The Passion of the Christ and The Last Duel.