Z (1969): cast, story & where to watch
1969 · Film · ★ 7.9
Released in 1969, Z is a thriller, drama, crime and history film directed by Costa-Gavras, running about 127 minutes. “He is alive!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Amidst a heated political climate, the opposition leader is killed in what appears to be a traffic accident. When a magistrate finds evidence of a government cover-up, witnesses start to get targeted. A thinly-fictionalized account of the events surrounding the assassination of Greek politician Grigoris Lambrakis in 1963, Z captures the outrage about the military junta that ruled Greece at the time.
Who’s in it. Z stars Yves Montand as The Deputy, a doctor, Irene Papas as Hélène, wife of the Deputy, Jean-Louis Trintignant as Examining Magistrate and Jacques Perrin as Photojournalist, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.9/10, Z has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $83.3K at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel and HBO Max and rent or buy it from Apple TV Store. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Z page.
If you liked it. Fans of Z tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Z (1969)?
- In US, Z is available to stream on Criterion Channel and HBO Max, and rent or buy from Apple TV Store. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Z worth watching?
- Z holds an audience score of 7.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller, drama, crime and history. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Z?
- Z stars Yves Montand, Irene Papas, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Jacques Perrin and Charles Denner.
- When was Z released?
- Z was released in 1969, with a runtime of about 127 minutes.