Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)
Kernel Score: 76% · 692 ratings · Rated NR
Genres: Horror, Science Fiction
Released: 1989-07-01
Runtime: 67 minutes
Where to watch Tetsuo: The Iron Man
- Stream: Night Flight Plus, AsianCrush, Midnight Pulp, ARROW
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Cineverse
- Rent: Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy: Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A "metal fetishist", driven mad by the maggots wriggling in the wound he's made to embed metal into his flesh, runs out into the night and is accidentally run down by a Japanese businessman and his girlfriend. The pair dispose of the corpse in hopes of quietly moving on with their lives. However, the businessman soon finds that he is now plagued by a vicious curse that transforms his flesh into iron.
Tetsuo: The Iron Man parents' guide: ages 16+
Parents need to know that Tetsuo: The Iron Man is a surreal, disturbing body-horror film about a man whose flesh is transformed into metal after a hit-and-run curse.
- Violence & scariness: Intense — Extreme body horror and gore drive the film, including grotesque transformation and industrial violence, per reviews.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Moderate — Keywords and reviews reference sexual content and fetishism intertwined with the body horror.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Tetsuo: The Iron Man
If you liked Tetsuo: The Iron Man, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Eraserhead (1977) — 82%
- Dressed to Kill (1980) — 77%
- Blade Runner 2049 (2017) — 85%
- Spellbound (2011) — 83%
- Alita: Battle Angel (2019) — 80%
- Begotten (1991) — 55%
- The Man from the Future (2011) — 79%
- The Creator (2023) — 80%
Director
Cast
- Tomorowo Taguchi as Salaryman
- Shinya Tsukamoto as Metal Fetishist
- Kei Fujiwara as Girlfriend
- Nobu Kanaoka as Woman in Glasses
- Naomasa Musaka as Doctor
- Renji Ishibashi as Tramp
Tetsuo: The Iron Man FAQ
Is Tetsuo: The Iron Man good?
Tetsuo: The Iron Man has a 76% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 692 audience ratings.
Where can I watch Tetsuo: The Iron Man?
In the US you can stream Tetsuo: The Iron Man on Night Flight Plus, AsianCrush, Midnight Pulp and ARROW, watch it free with ads on Kanopy and Cineverse and rent it from Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango At Home.
Is Tetsuo: The Iron Man OK for kids?
Tetsuo: The Iron Man is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 16+. Parents need to know that Tetsuo: The Iron Man is a surreal, disturbing body-horror film about a man whose flesh is transformed into metal after a hit-and-run curse.
What movies are like Tetsuo: The Iron Man?
If you liked Tetsuo: The Iron Man, try Eraserhead, Dressed to Kill, Blade Runner 2049 and Spellbound.