The Wave (2008)
Kernel Score: 85% · 3,551 ratings
Genres: Drama, Thriller
Released: 2008-03-13
Runtime: 107 minutes
Is The Wave worth watching?
Must-watch. A teacher's classroom experiment on how dictatorships rise slowly spins out of control. It is tense, believable and unsettling, with a strong cast and a clear point about how easily people join a group.
Watch it if you
- like tense, thought-provoking dramas
- are interested in how groups turn dangerous
- want a short, focused thriller
Skip it if you
- dislike films about fascism
- want comfort viewing
Best for: Thought-provoking night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Wave
- Free with ads: Kanopy
- Rent: Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A school teacher discusses types of government with his class. His students find it too boring to repeatedly go over national socialism and believe that dictatorship cannot be established in modern Germany. He starts an experiment to show how easily the masses can become manipulated.
Movies like The Wave
If you liked The Wave, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Class (2007) — 83%: School drama where classroom tensions turn dangerous.
- The Great Dictator (1940) — 91%: Chaplin's comic take on the same dictator-building threat.
- Fight Club (1999) — 96%: Dark story of a group built around a charismatic leader.
- if.... (1968) — 79%: School rebellion that spins toward violence.
- Stand and Deliver (1988) — 87%: Inspiring teacher story set in a tough classroom.
- The Class (2008) — 79%: French classroom drama grounded in everyday tension.
Director
Cast
- Jürgen Vogel as Rainer Wenger
- Frederick Lau as Tim
- Max Riemelt as Marco
- Jennifer Ulrich as Karo
- Christiane Paul as Anke Wenger
- Elyas M'Barek as Sinan
- Cristina do Rego as Lisa
- Jacob Matschenz as Dennis
- Maximilian Vollmar as Bomber
- Tim Oliver Schultz as Jens
The Wave FAQ
Is The Wave worth watching?
Must-watch. A teacher's classroom experiment on how dictatorships rise slowly spins out of control. It is tense, believable and unsettling, with a strong cast and a clear point about how easily people join a group.
Where can I watch The Wave?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on Kanopy and rent it from Google Play and YouTube.
What movies are like The Wave?
If you liked The Wave, try The Class, The Great Dictator, Fight Club and if.....