Wake in Fright (1971)
Kernel Score: 80% · 329 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama, Thriller
Released: 1971-07-21
Runtime: 109 minutes
Where to watch Wake in Fright
- Stream: Prime Video, Fubo, Fandor
- Free with ads: Fawesome, The Roku Channel, Shout! Factory TV, Plex, Tubi
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A young schoolteacher descends into personal moral degradation after finding himself stranded in a brutal, menacing town in outback Australia.
Wake in Fright parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Wake in Fright is an R-rated drama depicting a man's descent into drunken moral degradation in the Australian outback.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — Includes a brutal kangaroo hunt and scenes of menace in a rough mining town.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: Intense — Heavy drinking and drunkenness drive the protagonist's downward spiral throughout.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Wake in Fright
If you liked Wake in Fright, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Nitram (2021) — 76%
- The Nightingale (2018) — 80%
- McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) — 80%
- The Proposition (2005) — 79%
- Red Dog (2011) — 83%
- The Greatest Beer Run Ever (2022) — 85%
- The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) — 82%
- The Teachers' Lounge (2023) — 82%
Director
Ted Kotcheff
Cast
- Donald Pleasence as Doc Tydon
- Gary Bond as John Grant
- Chips Rafferty as Jock Crawford
- Sylvia Kay as Janette Hynes
- Jack Thompson as Dick
- Peter Whittle as Joe
- Al Thomas as Tim Hynes
- John Meillon as Charlie
- John Armstrong as Atkins
- Slim DeGrey as Jarvis
Wake in Fright FAQ
Is Wake in Fright good?
Wake in Fright has an 80% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 329 audience ratings.
Where can I watch Wake in Fright?
In the US you can stream Wake in Fright on Prime Video, Fubo and Fandor, watch it free with ads on Fawesome, The Roku Channel, Shout! Factory TV, Plex and Tubi and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Wake in Fright OK for kids?
Wake in Fright is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Wake in Fright is an R-rated drama depicting a man's descent into drunken moral degradation in the Australian outback.
What movies are like Wake in Fright?
If you liked Wake in Fright, try Nitram, The Nightingale, McCabe & Mrs. Miller and The Proposition.