The Father
A man refuses all assistance from his daughter as he ages. When he tries to understand what is happening around him, he begins to doubt his loved ones, his own mind and even the fabric of his reality.
Directed by Florian Zeller · Drama · Mystery · 97 min · 2021
Trailer
Director
Florian Zeller
Studio
F comme Film / Trademark Films / Ciné-@ / AG Studios / Les Films du Cru / Film4 / Orange Studio / Canal+ / Ciné+
Release
26 Feb 2021
Runtime
97 min
Genres
Drama, Mystery
Full Plot
Having just scared off his recent caregiver, Anthony, an ailing, octogenarian Londoner gradually succumbing to dementia, feels abandoned when concerned Anne, his daughter, tells him she's moving to Paris. Confused and upset, against the backdrop of a warped perspective and his rapid, heart-rending mental decline, Anthony is starting to lose his grip on reality, struggling to navigate the opaque landscape of present and past. Now, as faded memories and glimpses of lucidity trigger sudden mood swings, dear ones, Anthony's surroundings, and even time itself become distorted. Why has his younger daughter stopped visiting? Who are the strangers that burst in on Anthony?
Cast & Characters
Anthony
Anthony Hopkins
Anne
Olivia Colman
The Man (Bill)
Mark Gatiss
Paul
Rufus Sewell
Laura
Imogen Poots
The Woman (Catherine)
Olivia Williams
Dr Sarai
Ayesha Dharker
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $6.0M, The Father has grossed $21.0M worldwide — about 3.5x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Anthony Hopkins appears in 3 films in our catalog, including The Elephant Man, The Silence of the Lambs.
Source: theIReview.com catalog · verified 2026-08-02
Did You Know that Florian Zeller directed a screenplay with Christopher Hampton based on his own play?
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Did You Know that Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman were cast in the film?
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Did You Know that filming began on May 13, 2019, at West London Film Studios and Hayes, Hillingdon?
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Did You Know that Sony Pictures Classics acquired distribution rights to the film in the United States and select international territories?
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Critical Assessment
The Father holds 8.2/10 on IMDb (240,885 votes), 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 88/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of July 30, 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 (8.2/10 on IMDb (240,885 votes), 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 88/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Father's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
The Father holds a 98% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is The Father's IMDb rating?+
The Father has a 8.2/10 rating on IMDb from 240,885 votes.
What is The Father's Metacritic score?+
The Father has a Metascore of 88/100 on Metacritic.
Is The Father good? What are critics saying?+
The Father holds 8.2/10 on IMDb (240,885 votes), 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 88/100 on Metacritic.
How long is The Father?+
The Father has a runtime of 97 min.
Who directed The Father?+
The Father was directed by Florian Zeller.
Where can I watch The Father?+
The Father is available to stream, rent, or buy on Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channels, Rakuten TV, Sky Store, BFI Player, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The public reaction to "The Father" has been largely positive, with many praising the film's emotional power and standout performances from Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman. While some reviewers noted that the movie can be confusing and disturbing at times, it seems to have resonated deeply with audiences who share their own experiences living with dementia.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @ https://www.msbreviews.com I've watched some incredible films during my life. Some offered me a blast of pure entertainment, others left me crying like a baby, and dozens made me laugh uncontrollably. Neverthel…
Manuel São Bento · 10/10“The Father” gives its audience a fully immersive experience with the frustrations of dementia in this stage-to-screen adaptation of Florian Zeller‘s 2012 play. Making his feature film directorial debut, Zeller gives the project a personal touch with much emotional gravity, as he…
'The Father' is a standout during this very bland awards season, but just because it's both a critical darling and awards frontrunner doesn't take away from the emotional power and stellar performances for Colman and Hopkins. - Chris dos Santos Read Chris' full article... https:/…
SWITCH. · 8/10Incredible performances from Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman! <em>'The Father'</em> makes for a rather heart-breaking watch, it's very clear from the get-go where the film is heading but that doesn't stop it hitting directly in the feels. I've fortunately never been around some…
r96sk · 9/10‘The Father’ is an incredibly moving film that leaves you as confused in time and place as the main character (an incredible Hopkins), allowing the audience to experience - if only a little - what it must feel like to have dementia. 9/10
AstroNoud · 9/10Anthony Hopkins's performance in The Father is bulletproof. This is fortunate, because he encounters what the military calls 'friendly fire' resulting from a baffling decision by co-writer/director Florian Zeller, who has a couple of characters played each by two different sets o…
tmdb28039023 · 6/10We, as "normal" people, cannot imagine what really goes on inside the head of those suffering from more advanced dementia. We only know for sure what is reflected by caretakers and psychiatrists. Yet, Florian Zeller has done a tremendous job of immersing us in what may be the exp…
badelf · 9/10The Father is a brilliant film. Fantastic performances all around, amazing editing, and cinematography that creates confusion for not only the audience but our main character. This story is so touching and incredibly tragic, it had me tearing up at multiple points. Not only do th…
Nathan · 9/10
From the trailer's comments
People talk about horror movie being scary. This scares me more than anything
@smonsalv9 · 2914 likesSir Anthony Hopkins wining oscar again at the age of 83. What a legend. Its not acting its an art for him.🎩
@vikramjain506 · 1729 likes*As a person who's been around (too) many people with dementia, I am shocked by Sir Anthony Hopkins' performance: it is spot on, and by far the best depiction of dementia I've seen on camera. He really deserves his Oscar.*
@orakaa · 896 likes20 years working with dementia patients and I'll never get used to this disease it's absolutely devastating to see.
@heathercaruso5894 · 403 likesThis film is less of a story and more of an experience that attempts to put the viewer in the place of someone suffering from dementia. I know a lot of people don't like how it's often difficult to understand what's happening in the movie, but I personally loved that because not…
@matthewscrugham6057 · 984 likesThe Oscar goes to Anthony Hopkins I want him so much to win
@jimmybelc2057 · 1034 likesWho else is here after seeing Anthony Hopkins win the Oscar?
@ezim4296 · 1326 likesThe fact that Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman are in the same film makes this a must see.
@Charliem1994 · 295 likes
