M
When the police in a German city are unable to catch a child-murderer, other criminals join in the manhunt.
Directed by Fritz Lang · Crime · Mystery · Thriller · 99 min · 1931
Trailer
Director
Fritz Lang
Writer
Fritz Lang, Thea von Harbou
Studio
Nero-Film A.G.
Release
31 Aug 1931
Runtime
99 min
Genres
Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Full Plot
There have been a rash of child abductions and murders in Berlin. The murderer lures the children into his confidence by candy and other such child friendly items. Everyone is on edge because the murderer has not been caught. The most substantial pieces of evidence the police have are hand written letters by the murderer which he sent to the newspaper for publication. Unknown even to himself, a blind beggar, who sold the murderer a balloon for one of the child victims, may have key information as to the murderer's identity. The murder squad's work is made even more difficult with the large number of tips they receive from the paranoid public, who are quick to accuse anyone of suspicious activity solely for their own piece of mind that someone - anyone - is apprehended for the heinous crimes. Conversely, many want to take the case into their own hands, including the town's leading criminals since the increased police presence has placed a strain on their ability to conduct criminal activity. Although they both have the same end goal of capturing the murderer, the police and the criminals seem to be working at cross purposes, which may provide an edge to the murderer in getting away.
Cast & Characters
Hans Beckert. M was Lorre's first major starring role and boosted his career, though he was typecast as a villain for years afterward in films such as Mad Love and Crime and Punishment. Before M, Lorre had been mostly a comedic actor. After fleeing the Nazis, he landed a role in Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934), learning his lines phonetically in order to improve his English.
Peter Lorre
Mrs. Beckmann
Ellen Widmann
Elsie Beckmann
Inge Landgut
Inspector Karl Lohmann. Wernicke made his breakthrough with M after playing many small roles in silent films for over a decade. After his part in M he was in great demand due to the success of the film, including returning to the role of Lohmann in Lang's The Testament of Dr. Mabuse, and he played supporting roles for the rest of his career.
Otto Wernicke
("The Safecracker"). Gründgens received acclaim for his role in the film and established a successful career for himself during the Nazi era, ultimately becoming director of the (National Dramatic Theatre).
Gustaf Gründgens
Inspector Groeber
Theodor Loos
Franz, the burglar
Friedrich Gnaß
Falschspieler (cheater)
Fritz Odemar
Taschendieb (pickpocket with seven watches)
Paul Kemp
Bauernfänger (con man)
Theo Lingen
Beckert's defender
Rudolf Blümner
Did You Know?
Lang placed an advertisement in a newspaper in 1930 stating that his next film would be Mörder unter uns (Murderer Among Us) and that it was about a child murderer.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Critical Assessment
M holds 8.3/10 on IMDb (179,355 votes), 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of July 30, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
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 (179,355 votes), 100% on Rotten Tomatoes), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is M's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
M holds a 100% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is M's IMDb rating?+
M has a 8.3/10 rating on IMDb from 179,355 votes.
Is M good? What are critics saying?+
M holds 8.3/10 on IMDb (179,355 votes), 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
How long is M?+
M has a runtime of 99 min.
Who directed M?+
M was directed by Fritz Lang.
Where can I watch M?+
M is available to stream, rent, or buy on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, TCM, HBO Max, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, BFI Player, BFI Player Amazon Channel, BFI Player Apple TV Channel.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The movie "M" has received generally positive reviews, with praise for its classic style, outstanding performances, and timeless themes. Critics have noted that it is a standout film in German cinema and one of the greatest of all time. Some reviewers also mention that the movie's dark and unsettling tone makes it a fascinating experience to watch.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
The movie is classic and yet this is my first time watching this. Peter Lorre alone is worth seeing this movie as he always played such the great villain. No music keeps your focus on the image and dialogue throughout the movie. Camera work looks pretty awesome especially when th…
Wiccaburr · 8/10So you say you want to enroll in film school? Don't bother. Just watch Fritz Lang's M and Metropolis.
badelf · 10/10Random person: Nobody knows him (The murderer). Woman who lives with the murderer: Am I a joke to you?
James · 7/10Stone cold classic. Certainly one of the best time films about orange peels being littered.
James · 7/10**One of the masterpieces of classic German cinema.** There isn't much that can be said about this film that almost everyone hasn't already said or written. It is one of the great films of German cinema, one of the best productions that were made before the Second World War and o…
Filipe Manuel Neto · 9/10
From the trailer's comments
One of the best Movies of all time, after my opinion.
@linualand · 68 likesWhoa, these BFI trailers are awesome! Beautifully put together. Aw, I can't help but envy countries where classic films are played back *in theaters!* AND ADVERTISED!
@Daniel-Rosa. · 195 likesA true masterpiece, created by one of the greatest directors ever, Fritz Lang.
@PayamA · 29 likesGreat film. 1931 the year and still the best i think. Fritz Lang is a genius.
@oloanmudaharahap3828 · 28 likesI absolutely love psychological thrillers. This for me was the best I seen from that era. Absolutely amazing
@giovannaj1981 · 29 likesHere after Emesis Blue
@thegingergiant2683 · 228 likesPeter Lorre was such an acting genius he actually had me feeling pity for this monster.
@kdixon7783 · 97 likesFritz Lang made wonderful films!
@RenanCMaia · 18 likes
