Breaking the Waves (1996): cast, story & where to watch
1996 · Film · ★ 7.5
Released in 1996, Breaking the Waves is a drama and romance film directed by Lars von Trier, running about 158 minutes. “Love is a mighty power.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. In a small and conservative Scottish village, a woman's paralytic husband convinces her to have extramarital intercourse so she can tell him about it and give him a reason for living.
Who’s in it. Breaking the Waves stars Emily Watson as Bess McNeill, Stellan Skarsgård as Jan Nyman, Katrin Cartlidge as Dodo McNeill and Jean-Marc Barr as Terry, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.5/10, Breaking the Waves has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $23M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on MUBI and MUBI Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Breaking the Waves page.
If you liked it. Fans of Breaking the Waves tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Breaking the Waves (1996)?
- In US, Breaking the Waves is available to stream on MUBI and MUBI Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Breaking the Waves worth watching?
- Breaking the Waves holds an audience score of 7.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and romance. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Breaking the Waves?
- Breaking the Waves stars Emily Watson, Stellan Skarsgård, Katrin Cartlidge, Jean-Marc Barr and Adrian Rawlins.
- When was Breaking the Waves released?
- Breaking the Waves was released in 1996, with a runtime of about 158 minutes.