Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Eraserhead

Play trailer 0:46 Poster for Eraserhead 1977 1h 29m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
87% Tomatometer 84 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Henry (John Nance) resides alone in a bleak apartment surrounded by industrial gloom. When he discovers that an earlier fling with Mary X (Charlotte Stewart) left her pregnant, he marries the expectant mother and has her move in with him. Things take a decidedly strange turn when the couple's baby turns out to be a bizarre lizard-like creature that won't stop wailing. Other characters, including a disfigured lady who lives inside a radiator, inhabit the building and add to Henry's troubles.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

Eraserhead

Eraserhead

What to Know

Critics Consensus

David Lynch's surreal Eraserhead uses detailed visuals and a creepy score to create a bizarre and disturbing look into a man's fear of parenthood.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
J. Hoberman Village Voice Jan 23
Eraserhead's not a movie I'd drop acid for, although I would consider it a revolutionary act if someone dropped a reel of it into the middle of Star Wars. Go to Full Review
Linda Gross Los Angeles Times Jan 23
Monster babies, like concentration camps, are bad subjects for jokes. Although Lynch's taste is objectionable, his directorial talent is unquestionable. Go to Full Review
Steve Morse Boston Globe Jan 23
I guess you can sell some people on anything as long as you tell them it's avant-garde. Go to Full Review
Max Allen Horror Movie Talk Dec 4
7/10
Time moves awkwardly slow, a low hum and sharp static hang over most of the scenes, and even the mere movements of the characters feel so off. Go to Full Review
Pat Padua Washington City Paper Apr 30
...took several years to complete but unspools like a single, unforgettable fever dream. Go to Full Review
Brian Bisesi Horror Movie Club Podcast Jan 29
4/5
Eraserhead is unsettling on nearly every level. The film is so surreal as to be profoundly disorienting, but still maintains enough structure to give emotional weight to its themes. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
tommy Feb 1 The ugliness of the universe is pulling the levers to release the baby (spirit) into the world dropped in to the water (wet planet earth) hairy hole gurney dirty industrial area the dirtiness of man the torn photo is how he feels about her he’s torn she is attached to her mother like the puppies to theirs In American culture family is everything keep grandma involved a slight toward the poultry industry man made chicken has her in a trance the divine comedy she’s crying bill is smiling Americans getting married due to tradition they don’t want to be together a child out of lust may not be as nurtured as one out of love she is a prisoner of her own thoughts she’s packed her bag and made up her mind the light in the furnace everything in heaven is fine go to the light his wife is the parasite in his life she’s causing nightmares the woman in the furnace is the woman of his dreams his worm in the box is his dirty little secret you can experience the light and things you want but Henry is attached to his earthly wants the ugliness of the universe shows it’s face if you stay of you give up on your dreams you will become another object to be used someone will come along and steal your thoughts and get paid for it lust not fulfilled baby laughs kill what keeps you attached and you will obtain heaven See more Jazmyn M. @jmitchellie 1h I won’t lie, I don’t expect to like this film because it’s out of my comfort zone…but this was really interesting. I love watching people talk about and their interpretations. See more Jordan P. @Jordan_Perez 21h Eraserhead was uncomfortable the whole way through. It’s slow, confusing, and kind of exhausting, but that feels intentional. I didn’t enjoy it in a fun way, but I kept thinking about it after. See more kaneki h @osaragi 1d It's a weird noir film but even how weird it is, I couldn't stop watching it until the end. See more Kirubel S @Ksam19 1d Watching Eraserhead felt strange but in a way that was still engaging and pulled me in. There were definitely some disturbing and unsettling aspects while also being fascinating. Wouldn't call it an easy watch and it was definitely an experience but Im glad I watched it. See more Harry M @mmhharry 2d Eraserhead is a very strange and unsettling movie that feels like a nightmare. It doesn’t always make sense, but the mood and images stay with you long after it ends. See more Read all reviews
Eraserhead

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
Audrey Rose 57% 43% Audrey Rose Watchlist Burnt Offerings 50% 44% Burnt Offerings Watchlist The Tenant 85% 87% The Tenant Watchlist The Sentinel 48% 45% The Sentinel Watchlist TRAILER for The Sentinel The Island of Dr. Moreau 54% 40% The Island of Dr. Moreau Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Henry (John Nance) resides alone in a bleak apartment surrounded by industrial gloom. When he discovers that an earlier fling with Mary X (Charlotte Stewart) left her pregnant, he marries the expectant mother and has her move in with him. Things take a decidedly strange turn when the couple's baby turns out to be a bizarre lizard-like creature that won't stop wailing. Other characters, including a disfigured lady who lives inside a radiator, inhabit the building and add to Henry's troubles.
Director
David Lynch
Producer
David Lynch
Screenwriter
David Lynch
Production Co
American Film Institute
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 17, 1977, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 25, 2015
Runtime
1h 29m
Sound Mix
Surround
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
Most Popular at Home Now