The Lighthouse (2019)

Kernel Score: 86% · 5,431 ratings · Rated R

Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Thriller

Released: 2019-10-18

Runtime: 109 minutes

Is The Lighthouse worth watching?

Depends on your taste. A black-and-white descent into madness with two lighthouse keepers stuck on a rock. Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson are fierce, and the film is strange, funny and unsettling. It's not for anyone wanting a clear story.

Watch it if you

  • like strange arthouse horror
  • enjoy two-man acting duels
  • want striking black-and-white imagery

Skip it if you

  • want a clear plot
  • dislike weird, ambiguous films

Best for: Late-night art-house

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch The Lighthouse

  • Stream: HBO Max
  • Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

US availability, updated 2026-10-22.

Overview

Two lighthouse keepers try to maintain their sanity while living on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s.

The Lighthouse parents' guide: ages 15+

Parents need to know that The Lighthouse is an intense R-rated psychological horror film with disturbing imagery, drunkenness, and a sexual scene.

  • Violence & scariness: Strong — Disturbing hallucinations, madness, and unsettling imagery pervade this psychological horror film.
  • Sex, romance & nudity: Moderate — Includes a male masturbation scene and unsettling mermaid-related sexual imagery.
  • Drinking, drugs & smoking: Strong — Heavy drunkenness is a central element as the isolated keepers descend into madness.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like The Lighthouse

If you liked The Lighthouse, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • The Witch (2016) — 77%: The same director's first feature, a grim period horror.
  • The Northman (2022) — 79%: Same director's brutal Viking revenge epic.
  • Shutter Island (2010) — 91%: Isolated island, shaky sanity.
  • Black Swan (2010) — 86%: Obsession tipping into madness.
  • The Machinist (2004) — 84%: A man losing his grip on reality.
  • Requiem for a Dream (2000) — 89%: Harrowing descent into addiction and delusion.

Director

Robert Eggers

Cast

  • Robert Pattinson as Thomas Howard
  • Willem Dafoe as Thomas Wake
  • Valeriia Karaman as Mermaid
  • Logan Hawkes as Ephraim Winslow
  • Kyla Nicolle as Woman on the Rocks
  • Shaun Clarke as Departing Wickie
  • Pierre Richard as Departing Assistant Wickie
  • Preston Hudson as Tender Mate
  • Jeff Cruts as Tender Mate
  • Sully Seagull as Seagull

The Lighthouse FAQ

Is The Lighthouse worth watching?

Depends on your taste. A black-and-white descent into madness with two lighthouse keepers stuck on a rock. Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson are fierce, and the film is strange, funny and unsettling. It's not for anyone wanting a clear story.

Where can I watch The Lighthouse?

In the US you can stream The Lighthouse on HBO Max and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is The Lighthouse OK for kids?

The Lighthouse is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that The Lighthouse is an intense R-rated psychological horror film with disturbing imagery, drunkenness, and a sexual scene.

What movies are like The Lighthouse?

If you liked The Lighthouse, try The Witch, The Northman, Shutter Island and Black Swan.