The Professor and the Madman (2019)
Kernel Score: 80% · 1,262 ratings
Genres: History, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released: 2019-03-07
Runtime: 124 minutes
Where to watch The Professor and the Madman
- Stream: Prime Video
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla, Fawesome, YouTube Free
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
Professor James Murray begins work compiling words for the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary in the mid 19th century, and receives over 10,000 entries from a patient at Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum, Dr. William Minor.
The Professor and the Madman parents' guide: ages 13+
Parents need to know that The Professor and the Madman is a historical drama involving a mental patient at a criminal asylum and themes of violence and trauma.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Involves a murder backstory and asylum setting with references to past violent acts.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Professor and the Madman
If you liked The Professor and the Madman, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) — 93%
- Birdy (1984) — 78%
- Shutter Island (2010) — 91%
- Stuart: A Life Backwards (2007) — 83%
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991) — 89%
- The Physician (2013) — 84%
- Girl, Interrupted (1999) — 86%
- The Green Mile (1999) — 92%
Director
Farhad Safinia
Cast
- Mel Gibson as James Murray
- Sean Penn as Dr. William Chester Minor
- Natalie Dormer as Eliza Merrett
- Eddie Marsan as Muncie
- Jennifer Ehle as Ada Murray
- Jeremy Irvine as Charles Hall
- David O'Hara as Church
- Anthony Andrews as Benjamin Jowett
- Ioan Gruffudd as Henry Bradley
- Stephen Dillane as Dr. Richard Brayne
The Professor and the Madman FAQ
Is The Professor and the Madman good?
The Professor and the Madman has an 80% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 1,262 audience ratings.
Where can I watch The Professor and the Madman?
In the US you can stream The Professor and the Madman on Prime Video, watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, Fawesome and YouTube Free and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Professor and the Madman OK for kids?
Fresh Kernels suggests ages 13+. Parents need to know that The Professor and the Madman is a historical drama involving a mental patient at a criminal asylum and themes of violence and trauma.
What movies are like The Professor and the Madman?
If you liked The Professor and the Madman, try One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Birdy, Shutter Island and Stuart: A Life Backwards.