The Threepenny Opera (1963): cast, story & where to watch
1963 · Film · ★ 5
Released in 1963, The Threepenny Opera is a comedy, drama and music film directed by Wolfgang Staudte, running about 124 minutes. “The marvelous Mack-The-Knife musical is cutting up on the screen now!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. The Gangster Macheath secretly marries the daughter of beggar king Peachum. When Peachum finds out, he instructs the police chief Brown to arrest and hang Macheath. If not, all the beggars of Soho will disturb the upcoming coronation.
Who’s in it. The Threepenny Opera stars Curd Jürgens as Macheath, genannt Mackie Messer, Hildegard Knef as Spelunken-Jenny, Gert Fröbe as Jonathan Jeremiah Peachum and Hilde Hildebrand as Cella Peachum, seine Frau, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.0/10, The Threepenny Opera has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Threepenny Opera page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Threepenny Opera tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Threepenny Opera (1963)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Threepenny Opera change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is The Threepenny Opera worth watching?
- The Threepenny Opera holds an audience score of 5.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama and music. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Threepenny Opera?
- The Threepenny Opera stars Curd Jürgens, Hildegard Knef, Gert Fröbe, Hilde Hildebrand and Lino Ventura.
- When was The Threepenny Opera released?
- The Threepenny Opera was released in 1963, with a runtime of about 124 minutes.