Eraserhead (1977): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1977, Eraserhead is a fantasy and horror film directed by David Lynch, running about 89 minutes. “Where your nightmares end...” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. First time father Henry Spencer tries to survive his industrial environment, his angry girlfriend, and the unbearable screams of his newly born mutant child. David Lynch arrived on the scene in 1977, almost like a mystical UFO gracing the landscape of LA with its enigmatic radiance. His inaugural work, "Eraserhead" (1977), stood out as a cinematic anomaly, painting a surreal narrative of a young man navigating a dystopian, industrialized America, grappling not only with his tumultuous home life but also contending with an irate girlfriend and a mutant child.

Who’s in it. Eraserhead stars Jack Nance as Henry Spencer, Charlotte Stewart as Mary X, Allen Joseph as Mr. X and Jeanne Bates as Mrs. X, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.4/10, Eraserhead has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $7M at the box office.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on fuboTV, HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and Criterion Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Eraserhead page.

If you liked it. Fans of Eraserhead tend to enjoy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Green Mile, Spirited Away and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.