The Zone of Interest (2023)
Kernel Score: 80% · 2,505 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Drama, History
Released: 2023-12-15
Runtime: 105 minutes
Is The Zone of Interest worth watching?
Depends on your taste. A family enjoys its garden next to Auschwitz, and the film shows only their daily life, hearing the camp rather than seeing it. It's chilling and original, but cold, slow and not a conventional drama.
Watch it if you
- like demanding art-house cinema
- want a serious Holocaust film that avoids cliche
- care about sound design and craft
Skip it if you
- want a story with clear drama and emotion
- find slow, detached films tedious
Best for: Serious solo watch
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Zone of Interest
- Free with ads: The Roku Channel
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.
The Zone of Interest parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that The Zone of Interest is a PG-13 historical drama depicting the Auschwitz commandant's family life next to the concentration camp.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — Depicts the horror of the Holocaust obliquely through proximity to Auschwitz rather than graphic scenes.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Zone of Interest
If you liked The Zone of Interest, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Night and Fog (1956) — 88%: Short, devastating documentary about the camps
- Schindler's List (1993) — 97%: The defining Holocaust drama
- Conspiracy (2001) — 82%: Cold, bureaucratic look at Nazi planning
- The Counterfeiters (2007) — 85%: Moral drama inside the Nazi system
- A Hidden Life (2019) — 82%: Serious drama about conscience under the Nazis
- Labyrinth of Lies (2014) — 81%: Postwar Germany confronting what happened
Director
Jonathan Glazer
Cast
- Christian Friedel as Rudolf Höss
- Sandra Hüller as Hedwig Höss
- Johann Karthaus as Claus Höss
- Luis Noah Witte as Hans Höss
- Nele Ahrensmeier as Inge-Brigit Höss
- Lilli Falk as Heideraud Höss
- Anastazja Drobniak as Annagret Höss
- Cecylia Pekala as Annagret Höss
- Kalman Wilson as Annagret Höss
- Medusa Knopf as Elfriede
The Zone of Interest FAQ
Is The Zone of Interest worth watching?
Depends on your taste. A family enjoys its garden next to Auschwitz, and the film shows only their daily life, hearing the camp rather than seeing it. It's chilling and original, but cold, slow and not a conventional drama.
Where can I watch The Zone of Interest?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on The Roku Channel and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Zone of Interest OK for kids?
The Zone of Interest is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that The Zone of Interest is a PG-13 historical drama depicting the Auschwitz commandant's family life next to the concentration camp.
What movies are like The Zone of Interest?
If you liked The Zone of Interest, try Night and Fog, Schindler's List, Conspiracy and The Counterfeiters.