The Danish Girl (2015)
Kernel Score: 85% · 5,905 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama
Released: 2015-11-27
Runtime: 119 minutes
Is The Danish Girl worth watching?
Worth watching. An artist in 1920s Copenhagen begins to live as a woman, with her wife's support. It's a tender, handsome period drama with fine acting, especially from Alicia Vikander, though it plays safer than the real story.
Watch it if you
- like period dramas with strong performances
- want a respectful, emotional love story
- enjoy beautiful, painterly filmmaking
Skip it if you
- want a gritty or fast story
- dislike slow-moving biographies
Best for: Quiet night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Danish Girl
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
When Gerda Wegener asks her husband Einar to fill in as a portrait model, Einar discovers the person she's meant to be and begins living her life as Lili Elbe. Having realized her true self and with Gerda's love and support, Lili embarks on a groundbreaking journey as a transgender pioneer.
The Danish Girl parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that The Danish Girl is an R-rated drama about a transgender pioneer, with mature themes and some surgery depictions.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Moderate — Contains intimate and artistic nudity as well as mature relationship content, consistent with the R rating.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Danish Girl
If you liked The Danish Girl, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The King's Speech (2010) — 85%: Elegant period drama driven by strong acting
- Les Misérables (2012) — 84%: Sweeping period drama with emotional stakes
- Loving Vincent (2017) — 90%: Moving, painterly story about an artist
- Woman in Gold (2015) — 82%: True story with a dignified, emotional performance
- Gods and Monsters (1998) — 75%: Thoughtful drama about an outsider artist
- My King (2015) — 81%: Intense, emotional portrait of a relationship
Director
Cast
- Eddie Redmayne as Lili
- Alicia Vikander as Gerda
- Matthias Schoenaerts as Hans
- Ben Whishaw as Henrik
- Sebastian Koch as Warnekros
- Pip Torrens as Dr. Hexler
- Nicholas Woodeson as Dr. Buson
- Amber Heard as Ulla
- Emerald Fennell as Elsa
- Adrian Schiller as Rasmussen
The Danish Girl FAQ
Is The Danish Girl worth watching?
Worth watching. An artist in 1920s Copenhagen begins to live as a woman, with her wife's support. It's a tender, handsome period drama with fine acting, especially from Alicia Vikander, though it plays safer than the real story.
Where can I watch The Danish Girl?
In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Danish Girl OK for kids?
The Danish Girl is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that The Danish Girl is an R-rated drama about a transgender pioneer, with mature themes and some surgery depictions.
What movies are like The Danish Girl?
If you liked The Danish Girl, try The King's Speech, Les Misérables, Loving Vincent and Woman in Gold.