The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Kernel Score: 83% · 7,489 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Thriller, Crime, Mystery
Released: 2011-12-14
Runtime: 158 minutes
Is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo worth watching?
Worth watching. A cold, polished Swedish-set mystery with a strong lead pair and sharp pacing, though it runs long and is violent. It's a solid thriller if you can handle the dark material.
Watch it if you
- like dark crime mysteries
- enjoy David Fincher's style
- want a strong, damaged heroine
Skip it if you
- can't handle sexual violence
- dislike long thrillers
Best for: Dark thriller night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
- Stream: Netflix, Apple TV
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist investigates the disappearance of a weary patriarch's niece from 40 years ago. He is aided by the pierced, tattooed, punk computer hacker named Lisbeth Salander. As they work together in the investigation, Blomkvist and Salander uncover immense corruption beyond anything they have ever imagined.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that this R-rated thriller contains graphic sexual violence, rape, and disturbing crime content.
- Violence & scariness: Intense — Includes graphic depictions of rape, sadism, and violent crime investigation.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Strong — Contains explicit and disturbing sexual assault scenes.
- Language: Moderate — Features strong profanity throughout, consistent with its crime-thriller tone.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
If you liked The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Se7en (1995) — 92%: Dark, grim detective thriller.
- Zodiac (2007) — 87%: Slow-building hunt for a killer.
- Gone Girl (2014) — 90%: Cold, cleverly twisting mystery.
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009) — 85%: The original Swedish version of this story.
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991) — 89%: A killer thriller with a unforgettable lead.
- The Social Network (2010) — 88%: Same director, sharp and cold.
Director
Cast
- Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist
- Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander
- Christopher Plummer as Henrik Vanger
- Stellan Skarsgård as Martin Vanger
- Robin Wright as Erika Berger
- Yorick van Wageningen as Nils Bjurman
- Steven Berkoff as Dirch Frode
- Joely Richardson as Anita Vanger
- Geraldine James as Cecilia Vanger
- Goran Višnjić as Dragan Armansky
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo FAQ
Is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo worth watching?
Worth watching. A cold, polished Swedish-set mystery with a strong lead pair and sharp pacing, though it runs long and is violent. It's a solid thriller if you can handle the dark material.
Where can I watch The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo?
In the US you can stream The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on Netflix and Apple TV and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo OK for kids?
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that this R-rated thriller contains graphic sexual violence, rape, and disturbing crime content.
What movies are like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo?
If you liked The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, try Se7en, Zodiac, Gone Girl and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.