The Seventh Seal (1957): cast, story & where to watch
1957 · Film · ★ 8.2
Released in 1957, The Seventh Seal is a fantasy and drama film directed by Ingmar Bergman, running about 96 minutes. “The story of a challenge to death” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. When disillusioned Swedish knight Antonius Block returns home from the Crusades to find his country in the grips of the Black Death, he challenges Death to a chess match for his life. Tormented by the belief that God does not exist, Block sets off on a journey, meeting up with traveling players Jof and his wife, Mia, and becoming determined to evade Death long enough to commit one redemptive act while he still lives.
Who’s in it. The Seventh Seal stars Gunnar Björnstrand as Jöns, Bengt Ekerot as Death, Max von Sydow as Antonius Block and Nils Poppe as Jof, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 8.2/10, The Seventh Seal sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel and HBO Max 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 The Seventh Seal page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Seventh Seal 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.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Seventh Seal (1957)?
- In US, The Seventh Seal is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and Criterion Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Seventh Seal worth watching?
- The Seventh Seal holds an audience score of 8.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy fantasy and drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Seventh Seal?
- The Seventh Seal stars Gunnar Björnstrand, Bengt Ekerot, Max von Sydow, Nils Poppe and Bibi Andersson.
- When was The Seventh Seal released?
- The Seventh Seal was released in 1957, with a runtime of about 96 minutes.