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Poster for The Lives of Others
TMDB20062h 17mDrama / Thriller

The Lives of Others

Before the Fall of the Berlin Wall, East Germany's Secret Police Listened to Your Secrets.

In 1984 East Berlin, dedicated Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler begins spying on a famous playwright and his actress-lover Christa-Maria. Wiesler becomes unexpectedly sympathetic to the couple, and faces conflicting loyalties when his superior takes a liking to Christa-Maria.

TMDB audience score

Based on 4,307 votes

Saved only on this device unless you sign in.

Availability in the US

Where the story is waiting

Provider listings are supplied by JustWatch through TMDB. Verify pricing and availability before renting or subscribing.

Amazon Videorent (opens in a new tab)Apple TV Storerent (opens in a new tab)Google Play Moviesrent (opens in a new tab)YouTuberent (opens in a new tab)Fandango At Homerent (opens in a new tab)FlixFlingrent (opens in a new tab)Amazon Videobuy (opens in a new tab)Apple TV Storebuy (opens in a new tab)Google Play Moviesbuy (opens in a new tab)YouTubebuy (opens in a new tab)Fandango At Homebuy (opens in a new tab)

United States listings · Refreshed 12 Oct 2026. More horror to watch in the US

MyCinema quick facts

The Lives of Others at a glance

Worked out from the film's TMDB record and its United States provider listings. These are facts about the data, not a review.

Runtime

Long watch · 2h 17m

At 2h 17m it runs over two hours.

Genres

Drama · Thriller

TMDB files it under drama and thriller.

US availability

6 to rent · 5 to buy

Not listed on a subscription service. Listed to rent from 6 stores. Listed to buy from 5 stores.

TMDB audience score

8.0 / 10 on TMDB

TMDB users rate it 8.0 out of 10 across 4,307 votes, a strong audience score. That is a large sample of voters.

Why watch The Lives of Others tonight

  • It needs the whole evening: 2h 17m.
  • It can be rented tonight from 6 US stores.
  • TMDB users rate it 8.0 out of 10 across 4,307 votes.
  • There is a trailer on this page if you want a look first.

How scary is The Lives of Others?

The scare meter is MyCinema's own rating, given by a person who has watched the film. It is not a TMDB score.

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Questions about The Lives of Others

Is The Lives of Others scary?
MyCinema has not rated The Lives of Others for scares yet. TMDB lists it as a drama and thriller film. It is rated R in the United States.
Where can I watch The Lives of Others in the US?
The Lives of Others can be rented from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and 3 more in the US. Listings come from JustWatch and can change, so check the service before paying.
How long is The Lives of Others?
The Lives of Others runs 2 hours 17 minutes (137 minutes).
Is The Lives of Others suitable for kids?
The Lives of Others is rated R in the United States, which means viewers under 17 need an adult with them. No, it is not suitable for children.

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Next movie

Two Lives

2012, 1h 37m

Europe 1990, the Berlin wall has just crumbled: Katrine, raised in East Germany, but now living in Norway for the last 20 years, is a “war child”; the result of a love relationship between a Norwegian woman and a German occupation soldier during World War II. She enjoys a happy family life with her mother, her husband, daughter and granddaughter. But when a lawyer asks her and her mother to witness in a trial against the Norwegian state on behalf of the war children, she resists. Gradually, a web of concealments and secrets is unveiled, until Katrine is finally stripped of everything, and her loved ones are forced to take a stand: What carries more weight, the life they have lived together, or the lie it is based on?

Open Two Lives