The Tin Drum (1979): cast, story & where to watch
1979 · Film · ★ 6.9
Released in 1979, The Tin Drum is a drama, war and history film directed by Volker Schlöndorff, running about 162 minutes. “A savage, sweeping epic of society in chaos.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Repulsed by the hypocrisy of adults and the irresponsibility of society, a boy refuses to grow older after his third birthday.
Who’s in it. The Tin Drum stars Mario Adorf as Alfred Matzerath, Angela Winkler as Agnes Matzerath, David Bennent as Oskar Matzerath and Katharina Thalbach as Maria Matzerath, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.9/10, The Tin Drum has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on YouTube TV, Criterion Channel and HBO Max and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Tin Drum page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Tin Drum tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Tin Drum (1979)?
- In US, The Tin Drum is available to stream on YouTube TV, Criterion Channel and HBO Max, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Tin Drum worth watching?
- The Tin Drum holds an audience score of 6.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, war and history. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Tin Drum?
- The Tin Drum stars Mario Adorf, Angela Winkler, David Bennent, Katharina Thalbach and Daniel Olbrychski.
- When was The Tin Drum released?
- The Tin Drum was released in 1979, with a runtime of about 162 minutes.