Otello (1986): cast, story & where to watch
1986 · Film · ★ 6.4
Released in 1986, Otello is a drama and music film directed by Franco Zeffirelli, running about 118 minutes.
What it’s about. Based on Shakespeare's play, Verdi's opera depicts the devastating effects of jealousy, "...the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds upon". Believing Otello has promoted the fast-rising Cassio over himself, Iago plots to destroy both Cassio and Otello. Iago convinces the jealous Otello that his beautiful wife Desdemona is unfaithful, and that Cassio is her lover. Jealousy is followed by tragedy, then retribution, "Has Heaven no more thunderbolts?"
Who’s in it. Otello stars Plácido Domingo as Otello, Katia Ricciarelli as Desdemona, Justino Díaz as Iago and Petra Malakova as Emilia, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.4/10, Otello has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel and Philo. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Otello page.
If you liked it. Fans of Otello tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Otello (1986)?
- In US, Otello is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV and MGM+ Amazon Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Otello worth watching?
- Otello holds an audience score of 6.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and music. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Otello?
- Otello stars Plácido Domingo, Katia Ricciarelli, Justino Díaz, Petra Malakova and Urbano Barberini.
- When was Otello released?
- Otello was released in 1986, with a runtime of about 118 minutes.