The Lives of Others

R

Released Feb 9, 2007

2h 17m

History

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

TRAILER

for The Lives of Others: Trailer 1

List

92%

Tomatometer

163 Reviews

96%

Audience Score

100,000+ Ratings

In 1983 East Berlin, dedicated Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe), doubting that a famous playwright (Sebastian Koch) is loyal to the Communist Party, receives approval to spy on the man and his actress-lover Christa-Maria (Martina Gedeck). Wiesler becomes unexpectedly sympathetic to the couple, then faces conflicting loyalties when his superior takes a liking to Christa-Maria and orders Wiesler to get the playwright out of the way.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

In Theaters

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rent The Lives of Others on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Critics Consensus

Unlike more traditional spy films, The Lives of Others doesn't sacrifice character for cloak and dagger chases, and the performances (notably that by the late Ulrich Muhe) stay with you.

Read Critics Reviews

Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

As [Captain Gerd] Weisler discovers his real self, layer by layer, we are in the presence of a masterful performance.

May 7, 2019

Full Review

Namrata Joshi

Outlook

Donnersmarck makes an assured debut, builds the atmosphere of deceit, suspicion and suffocation and also undercuts it with some jokey moments.

Rated: 4/4

Jan 30, 2019

Full Review

Christy Lemire

ChristyLemire.com

The Lives of Others is exquisitely tense, with massive stakes and a pervasive sense of danger.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 23, 2018

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

'The Lives of Others' is dark, but burning beneath the scathing political exposé of the GDR’s despotic paranoia and the personal tragedy of the drama is a bracing story of idealism, disillusionment, and defiance.

Apr 14, 2023

Full Review

Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

It is an exceptional piece of intrigue in the deepest shades of gray in which the culture of fear of being spied on was deeply heightened.

Feb 22, 2023

Full Review

Victor Pineyro

Seventh Art Studio

In an on itself the film is about freedom, love, compassion, solitude, and everything that gets downtrodden in an oppression regime. An incredible paradox around obsession disguised as a film. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 9/10

Jun 17, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Cees T

Boring people stalking boring people. 4.4/10 - Read 1984 and watch The Matrix instead.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/22/24

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie isn’t for everyone. You certainly have to have a taste for central/eastern Europe period pieces and not mind listening to the German language being spoken for an entire movie. It was a lifeless and drab story looking through a small window at lifeless and drab socialism, but hey, to each their own.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/25/24

Full Review

Elena G

Authentic representation of the cruel time and life changing stories in DDR.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/10/24

Full Review

Ben S

An authentic closeup of life in east Berlin in the 80s. It's worth a watch but the true target audience might be the former kids from Eastern Europe who grew up in this era and experienced the communism/socialism.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/03/24

Full Review

Dick C

I love both of the HGW XX/7 as well as the be-listener...especially at the end...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/18/24

Full Review

Doug C

From the moment it begins, you will be on the edge of your seat. More Americans need to see this movie to fully understand just how lucky they are, and how the rest of the world lives. A pain to have to read the subtitles, but the plot, cast and story are amazing !

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/01/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Director

Martina Gedeck

Christa-Maria Sieland

Ulrich Mühe

Capt. Gerd Wiesler

Sebastian Koch

Georg Dreyman

Ulrich Tukur

Lt. Col. Anton Grubitz

Thomas Thieme

Minister Bruno Hempf

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

The People vs. Fritz Bauer

85%

77%

The People vs. Fritz Bauer

TRAILER

for The People vs. Fritz Bauer

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

59%

74%

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

TRAILER

for Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

Lizzie

66%

48%

Lizzie

TRAILER

for Lizzie

A Dangerous Method

79%

50%

A Dangerous Method

The Debt

76%

66%

The Debt

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Five Favorite Films with Bob Balaban

Five Favorite Films with Emily Blunt

Five Favorite Films with Malin Akerman, Kate Mara and Josh Radnor

The Lives of Others: Trailer 1

1:42

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

In 1983 East Berlin, dedicated Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe), doubting that a famous playwright (Sebastian Koch) is loyal to the Communist Party, receives approval to spy on the man and his actress-lover Christa-Maria (Martina Gedeck). Wiesler becomes unexpectedly sympathetic to the couple, then faces conflicting loyalties when his superior takes a liking to Christa-Maria and orders Wiesler to get the playwright out of the way.

Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Producer: Quirin Berg, Max Wiedemann
Screenwriter: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Creado Film, Wiedemann & Berg Filmproduktion, Arte, Bayerischer Rundfunk
Rating: R (Some Sexuality/Nudity)
Genre: History, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: German
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 9, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 20, 2007
Box Office (Gross USA): $11.3M
Runtime: 2h 17m

Most Popular at Home Now