Jakob the Liar (1999): cast, story & where to watch
1999 · Film · ★ 6.7
Released in 1999, Jakob the Liar is a comedy, drama and history film directed by Peter Kassovitz, running about 120 minutes. “When all hope was lost, he invented it.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. In 1944 Poland, a Jewish shop keeper named Jakob is summoned to ghetto headquarters after being caught out after curfew. While waiting for the German Kommondant, Jakob overhears a German radio broadcast about Russian troop movements. Returned to the ghetto, the shopkeeper shares his information with a friend and then rumors fly that there is a secret radio within the ghetto.
Who’s in it. Jakob the Liar stars Robin Williams as Jakob Heym, Armin Mueller-Stahl as Prof. Dr. Kirschbaum, Hannah Taylor-Gordon as Lina Kronstein and Éva Igó as Lina's Mother, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.7/10, Jakob the Liar has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $5M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can 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 Jakob the Liar page.
If you liked it. Fans of Jakob the Liar tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Jakob the Liar (1999)?
- In US, Jakob the Liar is available to 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 Jakob the Liar worth watching?
- Jakob the Liar holds an audience score of 6.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama and history. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Jakob the Liar?
- Jakob the Liar stars Robin Williams, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Hannah Taylor-Gordon, Éva Igó and István Bálint.
- When was Jakob the Liar released?
- Jakob the Liar was released in 1999, with a runtime of about 120 minutes.