The Virgin Spring (1960)
Kernel Score: 88% · 665 ratings
Genres: Drama, History
Released: 1960-02-08
Runtime: 90 minutes
Where to watch The Virgin Spring
- Stream: The Criterion Channel
- Free with ads: Kanopy
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Devout Christians Töre and Märeta send their only daughter, the virginal Karin, and their foster daughter, the unrepentant Ingeri, to deliver candles to a distant church. On their way through the woods, the girls encounter a group of savage goat herders who brutally rape and murder Karin as Ingeri remains hidden. When the killers unwittingly seek refuge in the farmhouse of Töre and Märeta, Töre plots a fitting revenge.
The Virgin Spring parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that The Virgin Spring is a 1960 Ingmar Bergman drama depicting the brutal rape and murder of a young girl and her father's subsequent revenge.
- Violence & scariness: Intense — Contains a brutal rape, child murder, and graphic revenge killing central to the plot.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Strong — Depicts a sexual assault as a pivotal, disturbing plot event.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Virgin Spring
If you liked The Virgin Spring, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Last Duel (2021) — 83%
- The Nightingale (2018) — 80%
- Braveheart (1995) — 95%
- Jean de Florette (1986) — 87%
- Alexander Nevsky (1938) — 76%
- The Salesman (2016) — 82%
- Cape Fear (1991) — 84%
- The Stoning of Soraya M. (2009) — 88%
Director
Cast
- Max von Sydow as Töre
- Birgitta Valberg as Märeta
- Gunnel Lindblom as Ingeri
- Birgitta Pettersson as Karin
- Axel Düberg as Thin Herdsman
- Allan Edwall as Beggar
- Tor Isedal as Mute Herdsman
- Ove Porath as Boy
- Axel Slangus as Bridge Keeper
- Gudrun Brost as Frida
The Virgin Spring FAQ
Is The Virgin Spring good?
The Virgin Spring has an 88% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 665 audience ratings.
Where can I watch The Virgin Spring?
In the US you can stream The Virgin Spring on The Criterion Channel, watch it free with ads on Kanopy and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango At Home.
Is The Virgin Spring OK for kids?
Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that The Virgin Spring is a 1960 Ingmar Bergman drama depicting the brutal rape and murder of a young girl and her father's subsequent revenge.
What movies are like The Virgin Spring?
If you liked The Virgin Spring, try The Last Duel, The Nightingale, Braveheart and Jean de Florette.