Zodiac (2007)
Kernel Score: 87% · 11,373 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Released: 2007-03-02
Runtime: 157 minutes
Is Zodiac worth watching?
Must-watch. A slow, meticulous true-crime film that follows men obsessed with finding a killer. It's long and light on easy answers, but it's absorbing, tense and one of the best of its kind.
Watch it if you
- like true-crime and procedural stories
- enjoy slow-burn investigations
- want a smart, grown-up thriller
Skip it if you
- need action or quick pace
- dislike unresolved endings
Best for: Late-night thriller
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Zodiac
- Stream: Fubo, Paramount+, Philo, MGM+
- Free with ads: YouTube Free
- Rent: JustWatch TV Free, Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Over the course of a decade, editors of the San Francisco Chronicle entice themselves in the murders of the Zodiac Killer. However, as time runs its course, interest in the case dwindles in the eyes of the professionals. The Killer stops interacting with the public. However, believing he has the answers, an amateur cartoonist from the initial sightings races against time to prevent what he believes is another murder.
Zodiac parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Zodiac is a tense, dialogue-driven true-crime thriller about the hunt for a real serial killer.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — Depicts real-life murders and crime scenes, tense but less graphic than typical serial-killer films.
- Language: Some — Occasional strong language consistent with its R rating.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: Some — An alcoholic character and drinking are part of the story.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Zodiac
If you liked Zodiac, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Se7en (1995) — 92%: Fincher's other classic killer hunt, with a darker mood.
- Memories of Murder (2003) — 89%: Another true-case hunt for a killer that goes unsolved.
- Gone Girl (2014) — 90%: Fincher thriller where nothing is as it seems.
- Chinatown (1974) — 87%: Classic mystery about a case that grows far beyond its start.
- Nightcrawler (2014) — 87%: Another Gyllenhaal film about obsession in the news business.
- L.A. Confidential (1997) — 89%: A smart, richly plotted crime story.
Director
Cast
- Jake Gyllenhaal as Robert Graysmith
- Mark Ruffalo as David Toschi
- Anthony Edwards as William Armstrong
- Robert Downey Jr. as Paul Avery
- Chloë Sevigny as Melanie
- Elias Koteas as Jack Mulanax
- John Carroll Lynch as Arthur Leigh Allen
- Brian Cox as Melvin Belli
- Dermot Mulroney as Martin Lee
- Charles Fleischer as Bob Vaughn
Zodiac FAQ
Is Zodiac worth watching?
Must-watch. A slow, meticulous true-crime film that follows men obsessed with finding a killer. It's long and light on easy answers, but it's absorbing, tense and one of the best of its kind.
Where can I watch Zodiac?
In the US you can stream Zodiac on Fubo, Paramount+, Philo and MGM+, watch it free with ads on YouTube Free and rent it from JustWatch TV Free, Prime Video, Apple TV and Google Play.
Is Zodiac OK for kids?
Zodiac is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Zodiac is a tense, dialogue-driven true-crime thriller about the hunt for a real serial killer.
What movies are like Zodiac?
If you liked Zodiac, try Se7en, Memories of Murder, Gone Girl and Chinatown.