The Piano Teacher (2001)

Kernel Score: 81% · 1,238 ratings · Rated R

Genres: Drama, Romance

Released: 2001-09-05

Runtime: 131 minutes

Where to watch The Piano Teacher

  • Stream: HBO Max
  • Free with ads: Shout! Factory TV, Plex
  • 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

Erika Kohut, a sexually repressed piano teacher living with her domineering mother, meets a young man who starts romantically pursuing her.

The Piano Teacher parents' guide: ages 16+

Parents need to know that The Piano Teacher is an intense R-rated drama with explicit depictions of sexual masochism, self-harm, and psychological disturbance.

  • Violence & scariness: Moderate — Includes self-harm imagery (cutting) tied to the protagonist's psychological state.
  • Sex, romance & nudity: Intense — Explicit content involving sexual repression, masochism, fetish, and perversion is central and graphic per reviews.

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

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Director

Michael Haneke

Cast

  • Isabelle Huppert as Erika Kohut
  • Annie Girardot as Erika's Mother
  • Benoît Magimel as Walter Klemmer
  • Susanne Lothar as Mme Schober
  • Udo Samel as Dr. George Blonskij
  • Anna Sigalevitch as Anna Schober
  • Cornelia Köndgen as Mme Gerda Blonskij
  • Thomas Weinhappel as Baritone
  • Georg Friedrich as L'homme en voiture
  • Philipp Heiss as Naprawnik

The Piano Teacher FAQ

Is The Piano Teacher good?

The Piano Teacher has an 81% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 1,238 audience ratings.

Where can I watch The Piano Teacher?

In the US you can stream The Piano Teacher on HBO Max, watch it free with ads on Shout! Factory TV and Plex and rent it from Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango At Home.

Is The Piano Teacher OK for kids?

The Piano Teacher is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 16+. Parents need to know that The Piano Teacher is an intense R-rated drama with explicit depictions of sexual masochism, self-harm, and psychological disturbance.

What movies are like The Piano Teacher?

If you liked The Piano Teacher, try Blue Is the Warmest Color, Belle de Jour, The Dreamers and Kiss Me, Stupid.