Oedipus Rex (1967): cast, story & where to watch
1967 · Film · ★ 6.8
Released in 1967, Oedipus Rex is a drama film directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini, running about 104 minutes. “Pasolini’s Terrifying… Compassionate… Magnificent…” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. In pre-war Italy, a young couple have a baby boy. The father, however, is jealous of his son - and the scene moves to antiquity, where the baby is taken into the desert to be killed. He is rescued, given the name Edipo (Oedipus), and brought up by the King and Queen of Corinth as their son. One day an oracle informs Edipo that he is destined to kill his father and marry his mother. Horrified, he flees Corinth and his supposed parents - only to get into a fight and kill an older man on the road…
Who’s in it. Oedipus Rex stars Silvana Mangano as Giocasta, Franco Citti as Edipo, Alida Valli as Merope and Carmelo Bene as Creonte, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, Oedipus Rex has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Oedipus Rex page.
If you liked it. Fans of Oedipus Rex tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Oedipus Rex (1967)?
- In US, Oedipus Rex is available to stream on Criterion Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Oedipus Rex worth watching?
- Oedipus Rex holds an audience score of 6.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Oedipus Rex?
- Oedipus Rex stars Silvana Mangano, Franco Citti, Alida Valli, Carmelo Bene and Julian Beck.
- When was Oedipus Rex released?
- Oedipus Rex was released in 1967, with a runtime of about 104 minutes.