The American (1998): cast, story & where to watch
1998 · Film · ★ 5.7
Released in 1998, The American is a drama film directed by Paul Unwin, running about 84 minutes.
What it’s about. After the horror of the Civil War, 'ignorant' Christopher Newman made his fortune. He travels to France is search of cultural treasures. He won't get past the Paris nightlife. After an affair with a haughty painter, he falls in love with the daughter of the late marquis de Bellegarde. She was married off and traumatized by her abusive late husband for the family's sake. Her elder brother supports their ruthless mother, but junior Valentin is besotted with the artist and strikes a partnership with Christopher.
Who’s in it. The American stars Matthew Modine as Christopher Newman, Diana Rigg as Madame de Bellegarde, Aisling O'Sullivan as Claire De Cintré and Paul Hickey as Henri de Bellegarde, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.7/10, The American has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The American page.
If you liked it. Fans of The American tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The American (1998)?
- In US, The American is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The American worth watching?
- The American holds an audience score of 5.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The American?
- The American stars Matthew Modine, Diana Rigg, Aisling O'Sullivan, Paul Hickey and Andrew Scott.
- When was The American released?
- The American was released in 1998, with a runtime of about 84 minutes.