Bates Motel (1987): cast, story & where to watch
1987 · Film · ★ 4.3
Released in 1987, Bates Motel is a comedy, drama, horror and tv movie film directed by Richard Rothstein, running about 95 minutes. “There's always room for one more.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Alex West is a man who roomed with Norman Bates at the state lunatic asylum for nearly 20 years. After Bates' death, Alex finds that he is in Norman's will as the inheritor of the Bates Motel, which has been vacant since Norman's arrest. Alex travels to Bates' California hometown and with a little help from a teenage runaway, Willie, Alex struggles to re-open the motel for business, only to have strange things happen. Is someone trying to drive him away, or is the motel really haunted by the ghost of Norman's mother?
Who’s in it. Bates Motel stars Bud Cort as Alex West, Lori Petty as Willie, Moses Gunn as Henry Watson and Gregg Henry as Tom Fuller, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 4.3/10, Bates Motel has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Bates Motel page.
If you liked it. Fans of Bates Motel tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Bates Motel (1987)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Bates Motel change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Bates Motel worth watching?
- Bates Motel holds an audience score of 4.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama, horror and tv movie. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Bates Motel?
- Bates Motel stars Bud Cort, Lori Petty, Moses Gunn, Gregg Henry and Khrystyne Haje.
- When was Bates Motel released?
- Bates Motel was released in 1987, with a runtime of about 95 minutes.