The Eighth Day (1996): cast, story & where to watch
1996 · Film · ★ 7.4
Released in 1996, The Eighth Day is a drama film directed by Jaco Van Dormael, running about 118 minutes. “What a difference a day makes…” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Georges has Down syndrome, living at a mental-institution, Harry is a busy businessman, giving lectures for young aspiring salesmen. He is successful in his business life, but his social life is a disaster since his wife left him and took their two children with her. This weekend his children came by train to meet him, but Harry, working as always, forgot to pick them up. Neither his wife or his children want to see him again and he is driving around on the country roads, anguished and angry. He almost runs over Georges, on the run from the institution since everybody else went home with their parents except him, whose mother is dead. Harry tries to get rid of Georges but he won't leave his new friend. Eventually a special friendship forms between the two of them, a friendship which makes Harry a different person.
Who’s in it. The Eighth Day stars Miou-Miou as Julie, Henri Garcin as Bank manager, Daniel Auteuil as Harry and Pascal Duquenne as Georges, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.4/10, The Eighth Day has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Eighth Day page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Eighth Day tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Eighth Day (1996)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Eighth Day change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is The Eighth Day worth watching?
- The Eighth Day holds an audience score of 7.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Eighth Day?
- The Eighth Day stars Miou-Miou, Henri Garcin, Daniel Auteuil, Pascal Duquenne and Fabienne Loriaux.
- When was The Eighth Day released?
- The Eighth Day was released in 1996, with a runtime of about 118 minutes.