Double Indemnity
An insurance representative is seduced by a dissatisfied housewife into a scheme of insurance fraud and murder that arouses the suspicion of his colleague, a claims investigator.
Directed by Billy Wilder · Crime · Drama · Film-Noir · 107 min · 1944
Trailer
Director
Billy Wilder
Studio
Paramount Pictures
Release
06 Jul 1944
Runtime
107 min
Genres
Crime, Drama, Film-Noir
Full Plot
In 1938, Walter Neff, an experienced salesman of the Pacific All Risk Insurance Co., meets the seductive wife of one of his clients, Phyllis Dietrichson, and they have an affair. Phyllis proposes to kill her husband to receive the proceeds of an accident insurance policy and Walter devises a scheme to receive twice the amount based on a double indemnity clause. When Mr. Dietrichson is found dead on a train track, the police accept the determination of accidental death. However, the insurance analyst and Walter's best friend Barton Keyes does not buy the story and suspects that Phyllis has murdered her husband with the help of another man.
Cast & Characters
Walter Neff
Fred MacMurray
Phyllis Dietrichson
Barbara Stanwyck
Barton Keyes
Edward G. Robinson
Jackson
Porter Hall
Lola Dietrichson
Jean Heather
Dietrichson
Tom Powers
Nino Zachetti
Byron Barr
Norton
Richard Gaines
Sam Gorlopis, truck driver
Fortunio Bonanova
Joe Pete, elevator operator
John Philliber
a man reading a magazine outside Keyes' office as Neff exits
Raymond Chandler cameo
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $927,262, Double Indemnity has grossed $2.5M worldwide — about 2.7x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Billy Wilder has directed 5 films in our catalog, including Some Like It Hot, The Apartment.
Source: theIReview.com catalog · verified 2026-08-02
Filming ran from September 27 to November 24, 1943.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Critical Assessment
Double Indemnity holds 8.3/10 on IMDb (176,771 votes), 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 95/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of August 11, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.3/10 on IMDb (176,771 votes), 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 95/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Double Indemnity's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
Double Indemnity holds a 97% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is Double Indemnity's IMDb rating?+
Double Indemnity has a 8.3/10 rating on IMDb from 176,771 votes.
What is Double Indemnity's Metacritic score?+
Double Indemnity has a Metascore of 95/100 on Metacritic.
Is Double Indemnity good? What are critics saying?+
Double Indemnity holds 8.3/10 on IMDb (176,771 votes), 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 95/100 on Metacritic.
How long is Double Indemnity?+
Double Indemnity has a runtime of 107 min.
Who directed Double Indemnity?+
Double Indemnity was directed by Billy Wilder.
Where can I watch Double Indemnity?+
Double Indemnity is available to stream, rent, or buy on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, YouTube TV, MGM Plus, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Rakuten TV, Sky Store.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The reaction to "Double Indemnity" has been overwhelmingly positive, with many reviewers praising its portrayal of classic film noir themes and performances. The movie's direction by Billy Wilder was also commended for its skillful execution. Critics have noted that the film has stood the test of time, surviving awards ceremonies despite not receiving recognition at its initial release.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
It's definitely hard to pin down a personal favourite Wilder film, though I tend towards his earlier masterworks such as 'The Lost Weekend', 'Sunset Boulevard'...and THIS. He was one of the finest at getting straight through the bullshit and to the heart of all things noir (as th…
talisencrw · 10/10A banner movie from film noir's classic era. Double Indemnity is directed by Billy Wilder and Wilder co-adapts the screenplay with Raymond Chandler from the novella written by James M. Cain. It stars Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck and Edward G. Robinson. Music is by Miklos Rozs…
John Chard · 10/10Perhaps the single best example of a film noir movie, _Double Indemnity_ (1944), stars Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, and Edward G. Robinson. Based on a novel written by James Cain, the screenplay was co-written by Billy Wilder and the amazing Raymond Chandler. Set in 1938 Cal…
dogstir · 10/10Very well done film noir from the 1940s with great performances by Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck and Edward G. Robinson along with good photography and direction from Billy Wilder. I've seen this one before but it's been at least 20 years though coincidentally, a scene from th…
JPV852 · 9/10So poor old Tom Powers is married to the cold and calculating "Phyllis" (Barbara Stanwyck). When she starts to have an affair with his charismatic insurance broker "Walter" (Fred MacMurray) the two alight on a cunning plan to dispose of him and to claim the life insurance money.…
CinemaSerf · 8/10**A magnificent "noir" with great actors, which was unlucky at the awards, and was immortalized by the public, surviving fresh to this day.** I've previously had the opportunity to mention that I really like noir films, and this is another one that I had the pleasure of seeing an…
Filipe Manuel Neto · 9/10
