The Master (2012)
Kernel Score: 80% · 3,241 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama
Released: 2012-09-14
Runtime: 137 minutes
Is The Master worth watching?
Depends on your taste. Joaquin Phoenix plays a troubled veteran drawn to a charismatic leader, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman. It's superbly acted and beautifully shot, but the story is elusive and cold, and it leaves many viewers unsatisfied.
Watch it if you
- love Paul Thomas Anderson's films
- admire great acting more than plot
- like ambiguous, challenging drama
Skip it if you
- want a clear, satisfying story
- dislike slow, enigmatic films
Best for: Patient art-house night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Master
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla, Fawesome, The Roku Channel, Fandango at Home
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Freddie, a volatile, heavy-drinking veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, finds some semblance of a family when he stumbles onto the ship of Lancaster Dodd, the charismatic leader of a new "religion" he forms after World War II.
The Master parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that The Master is an R-rated drama about a troubled WWII veteran drawn into a manipulative cult-like movement, including heavy drinking and a sexual moment.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Some — Includes a handjob scene and nude dancing as noted in the film's content.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: Strong — The protagonist is depicted as a heavy-drinking alcoholic struggling with PTSD throughout the film.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Master
If you liked The Master, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- There Will Be Blood (2007) — 89%: Anderson's other epic character study about obsession
- Phantom Thread (2017) — 84%: Anderson's elegant study of control in a relationship
- Magnolia (1999) — 88%: Anderson's sprawling ensemble drama about pain and connection
- Boogie Nights (1997) — 85%: Anderson's lively portrait of a community and its fall
- Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief (2015) — 85%: Documentary about the real organisation that inspired the film
- Enter the Void (2010) — 84%: Hallucinatory art film about death and memory
Director
Cast
- Joaquin Phoenix as Freddie Quell
- Philip Seymour Hoffman as Lancaster Dodd
- Amy Adams as Peggy Dodd
- Rami Malek as Clark
- Laura Dern as Helen Sullivan
- Jesse Plemons as Val Dodd
- Ambyr Childers as Elizabeth Dodd
- Madisen Beaty as Doris Solstad
- Kevin J. O'Connor as Bill White
- Patty McCormack as Mildred Drummond
The Master FAQ
Is The Master worth watching?
Depends on your taste. Joaquin Phoenix plays a troubled veteran drawn to a charismatic leader, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman. It's superbly acted and beautifully shot, but the story is elusive and cold, and it leaves many viewers unsatisfied.
Where can I watch The Master?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, Fawesome, The Roku Channel and Fandango at Home and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Master OK for kids?
The Master is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that The Master is an R-rated drama about a troubled WWII veteran drawn into a manipulative cult-like movement, including heavy drinking and a sexual moment.
What movies are like The Master?
If you liked The Master, try There Will Be Blood, Phantom Thread, Magnolia and Boogie Nights.