Tess (1979): cast, story & where to watch
1979 · Film · ★ 7
Released in 1979, Tess is a drama and romance film directed by Roman Polanski, running about 171 minutes. “She was born into a world where they called it seduction, not rape. What she did would shatter that world forever.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A strong-willed peasant girl is sent by her father to the estate of some local aristocrats to capitalize on a rumor that their families are from the same line, but is left traumatised from her experiences.
Who’s in it. Tess stars Nastassja Kinski as Tess Durbeyfield, Peter Firth as Angel Clare, Leigh Lawson as Alec d'Urberville and John Collin as John Durbeyfield, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.0/10, Tess has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $20.1M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel 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 Tess page.
If you liked it. Fans of Tess tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Tess (1979)?
- In US, Tess is available to stream on Criterion Channel, 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 Tess worth watching?
- Tess holds an audience score of 7.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and romance. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Tess?
- Tess stars Nastassja Kinski, Peter Firth, Leigh Lawson, John Collin and Rosemary Martin.
- When was Tess released?
- Tess was released in 1979, with a runtime of about 171 minutes.