Fiddler on the Roof

Play trailer

Fiddler on the Roof

G

Released Jan 1, 1971

3h 1m

Musical

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

77 Reviews

92%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

A lavishly produced and critically acclaimed screen adaptation of the international stage sensation tells the life-affirming story of Tevye (Topol), a poor milkman whose love, pride and faith help him face the oppression of turn-of-the century czarist Russia.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

A bird may love a fish -- and musical fans will love this adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof, even if it isn't quite as transcendent as the long-running stage version.

Read Critics Reviews

Joe Clay

Times (UK)

Topol, Israel's best-known actor, played Tevye... delivering an unforgettable and barnstorming (literally — see the If I Were a Rich Man number) performance in the film.

Feb 28, 2024

Full Review

Wanda Hale

New York Daily News

Fiddler on the Roof, stunning, joyful, jubilant and emotion stirring, is an artistic triumph for Norman Jewison.

Rated: 4/4

May 17, 2023

Full Review

Pauline Kael

New Yorker

The movie offers the pleasures of big, bold strokes; it's American folk opera, commercial style.

May 16, 2023

Full Review

Joe Baltake

Philadelphia Daily News

What Jewison has whipped up here is a sprawling, broad-shouldered family entertainment jam-packed with lively songs; warm, funny situations, and endearing characters.

May 16, 2023

Full Review

Richard Schickel

LIFE

Topol is all shrugs and sweet ingratiation. He even gets along with Cossacks. As a result the movie is soft and sugary right at its center and, excepting Leonard Frey... all performances struck me as rather gingerly.

May 16, 2023

Full Review

Stanley Eichelbaum

San Francisco Examiner

It pains me to report that the longest-running musical in Broadway history (and, for my money, the best) has been pickled -- rather than adapted for the screen -- in a brine of roadshow mediocrity.

May 16, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Ares 4

Why does this film only have a 81% approval rating? It should be at least 91% if not higher. Fiddler On The Roof is a very very good film and it's actually better than La La Land which was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/09/24

Full Review

Aidan B

An absolutely beautiful masterpiece with memorable performances and iconic songs, "Fiddler on the Roof" is an instant classic and one of the better musicals made.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/25/24

Full Review

Simon T

Fiddler on the Roof is a great great musical and this is possibly Norman Jewison's finest film. A wonderful and witty book moves from the comedy of a poor milkman, Tevye, being usurped by his three eldest daughters choosing husbands he doesn't accept, to the dark brutality of the pogroms. Suddenly the security of tradition and cosy chats with God vanish... Anchored by a terrific central performance by Topol, it also is blessed with great music (Jerry Bock) and lyrics and luminous magic hour cinematography by Oswald Morris.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/23/24

Full Review

Alec B

One of the few musical adaptations where an emphasis on "realism" works. The filmmakers construct an entirely believable Jewish community in early 19th century Ukraine for the setting which gives the movie real emotional weight.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/14/23

Full Review

Dallas H

I finally sat down to watch this musical adaptation. After all, I've known of the famous song "If I Were A Rich Man" for a long time. I liked this movie. The story's final act saddened me, with the family preparing to move from Pale of Settlement to New York City. The conversation with the estranged daughter, who proclaims she doesn't want to live in a place of oppression, then proceeds to mention she will be moving to Krakow, Poland, with her husband before the two great World Wars, had me gasp out loud. I certainly want to sit down for a second viewing of the movie in the future.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/13/23

Full Review

Leaburn O

A village of Jews who really enjoy singing songs about everything get kicked off their land during a Tsarist era pogrom. Meanwhile some daughters get married and village life happens and things. Not being s fan of musicals but having an interest in Russian history, I'm willing to give this half marks but it really went on far too long seeing as the plot. was pretty thin. Bought on DVD a year ago and now watched.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/02/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Norman Jewison

Director

Topol

Tevye

Norma Crane

Golde

Leonard Frey

Motel

Molly Picon

Yente

Paul Mann

Lazar Wolf

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Jesus Christ Superstar

50%

76%

Jesus Christ Superstar

Watchlist

Godspell

63%

71%

Godspell

Watchlist

Funny Girl

94%

85%

Funny Girl

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Funny Girl

Oliver!

91%

81%

Oliver!

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Oliver!

Goodbye, Mr. Chips

100%

71%

Goodbye, Mr. Chips

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

13 Essential Jewish American Films

View more photos

Synopsis

A lavishly produced and critically acclaimed screen adaptation of the international stage sensation tells the life-affirming story of Tevye (Topol), a poor milkman whose love, pride and faith help him face the oppression of turn-of-the century czarist Russia.

Director: Norman Jewison
Producer: Norman Jewison
Screenwriter: Sholom Aleichem, Joseph Stein
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: Mirisch Company, Cartier Productions
Rating: G
Genre: Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 1, 1971, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Runtime: 3h 1m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Most Popular at Home Now