The Pianist
The true story of pianist Władysław Szpilman's experiences in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. When the Jews of the city find themselves forced into a ghetto, Szpilman finds work playing in a café; and when his family is deported in 1942, he stays behind, works for a while as a laborer, and eventually goes into hiding in the ruins of the war-torn city.
Directed by Roman Polanski · Drama · War · 150 min · 2002
Trailer
Director
Roman Polanski
Writer
screenplay = Ronald Harwood
Studio
Canal+ / Studio Babelsberg / StudioCanal
Release
2002-09-17
Runtime
150 min
Genres
Drama, War
Full Plot
In this adaptation of the autobiography "The Pianist: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man's Survival in Warsaw, 1939-1945," Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Polish Jewish radio station pianist, sees Warsaw change gradually as World War II begins. Szpilman is forced into the Warsaw Ghetto, but is later separated from his family during Operation Reinhard. From this time until the concentration camp prisoners are released, Szpilman hides in various locations among the ruins of Warsaw.
Cast & Characters
Władysław 'Władek' Szpilman
Adrien Brody
Captain Wilm Hosenfeld
Thomas Kretschmann
Father
Frank Finlay
Mother
Maureen Lipman
Dorota
Emilia Fox
Henryk Szpilman
Ed Stoppard
Regina Szpilman
Julia Rayner
Halina Szpilman
Jessica Kate Meyer
Jurek
Michał Żebrowski
Mr. Lipa
Richard Ridings
Itzhak Heller
Roy Smiles
Majorek
Daniel Caltagirone
Customer with coins
Zbigniew Zamachowski
Janina Bogucki
Ruth Platt
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $35.0M, The Pianist has grossed $120.1M worldwide — about 3.4x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Principal photography on The Pianist began on 9 February 2001 in Babelsberg Studio in Potsdam, Germany.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Critical Assessment
The Pianist holds 8.4/10 on TMDb (10270 votes). (OMDb had no record for this title — sourced from TMDb instead.)
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 TMDb's aggregated score (8.4/10 on TMDb (10270 votes)), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Pianist good? What are critics saying?+
The Pianist holds 8.4/10 on TMDb (10270 votes). (OMDb had no record for this title — sourced from TMDb instead.)
How long is The Pianist?+
The Pianist has a runtime of 150 min.
Who directed The Pianist?+
The Pianist was directed by Roman Polanski.
Where can I watch The Pianist?+
The Pianist is available to stream, rent, or buy on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channels, Howdy Amazon Channel, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, STUDIOCANAL PRESENTS Apple TV Channel, Studiocanal Presents Amazon Channel, Rakuten TV, Sky Store.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The reaction to "The Pianist" is emotional and intense, with many viewers expressing a deep appreciation for the film's historical accuracy and its portrayal of the human experience during WWII. The trailer's non-cinematic style is noted as being thought-provoking and impactful, evoking feelings of sadness and fear. Reviewers emphasize the movie's powerful themes about freedom, privilege, and the importance of human life and relationships.
From the trailer's comments
The scene in this movie where the father bought a tiny piece of caramel and then sharing it with the rest of his family made me appreciate food even more.
@gracel9873 · 6907 likesOld man in wheelchair scene broke me... There is only angry, sad & fear while watching that scene.
@erox.shine-real · 251 likesI like how the trailer is nothing like the movie. The movie is so non cinematic that it makes you feel like you're actually there.
@Gojojojojojo · 156 likesThis Movie Teaches You The Value of Your Freedom, Your Privilege of Having Food to Eat, Water To Drink, Shelter To Protect Yourself, And Also The Value of Those Who Loves You
@mollywoodshots6503 · 2433 likesThe scene where he tried to save the little boy under the wall but couldn't.....😭 so sad!
@amorist3870 · 1960 likesIt was hard just to watch this movie. Imagine how hard was for those people who lived these times
@fivosfivos5644 · 193 likesFun fact. Our family's from Warsaw. When this movie came out, my dad was really impressed. "Look, finally an actual GOOD movie about war" (he was born in 1954), he said to his mother, and took her to the cinema. After the movie ended, she told him "Now multiply that by three and…
@funkymonks8333 · 573 likesOne of the greatest movie i ever seen...
@sandhikawirendr · 2677 likes
