8.4/10Drama · War
The Pianist
“Music was his passion. Survival was his masterpiece.”
- 2002
- 2h 30m
- R
- EN
- Released
The story
What The Pianist is about
The true story of pianist Władysław Szpilman's experiences in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. When the Jews of the city find themselves forced into a ghetto, Szpilman finds work playing in a café; and when his family is deported in 1942, he stays behind, works for a while as a laborer, and eventually goes into hiding in the ruins of the war-torn city.
The Pianist is a drama and war film from 2002, directed by Roman Polanski. It runs 2h 30m and is rated R in the US. It was produced by R.P. Productions, Heritage Films and Studio Babelsberg, with production in France, Germany, Poland.
The main cast is led by Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Maureen Lipman. The screenplay was written by Ronald Harwood. Reported worldwide gross stands at $120.1M.
Editor’s note
Should you watch The Pianist?
The Pianist is best suited to a slower, character-led evening. At 2h 30m, it is a long sitting, so plan the evening around it. The draw is Adrien Brody and Thomas Kretschmann, directed by Roman Polanski.
With 10,598 TMDB ratings averaging 8.4/10, this is one of the most widely seen titles in our library, so the score is a reliable signal.
TMDB tags the film with themes including concert, nazi, resistance and warsaw ghetto.
The US certification is R: restricted: it contains material intended for adults, including strong language or violence.
If you like this, try Schindler's List, Oppenheimer or Grave of the Fireflies.
Auto-generated from TMDB data (runtime, cast, ratings, keywords, certification). Last updated November 4, 2026.
Availability
Where to watch The Pianist
34 official sources across 5 regions. Rows with a direct link open this exact title on the provider’s own site; the others open that provider’s own search for the title, where price, video quality and audio options are confirmed before you pay.
Peacock Premium
Included with a Peacock Premium subscription, no extra charge · United States
United States13 options
Stream
3 sources
Lionsgate+ (Prime channel)Watch on Prime VideoOpen ↗Peacock PremiumWatch on PeacockOpen ↗
Peacock Premium PlusWatch on PeacockOpen ↗
Rent
4 sources
Prime VideoWatch on Prime VideoOpen ↗
Apple TVOpen on Apple TVOpen ↗Google TV & PlayOpen on Google TVOpen ↗
YouTubeOpen on YouTubeOpen ↗Buy
4 sourcesPrime VideoWatch on Prime VideoOpen ↗Apple TVOpen on Apple TVOpen ↗Google TV & PlayOpen on Google TVOpen ↗YouTubeOpen on YouTubeOpen ↗United Kingdom9 options
Rent
4 sourcesPrime VideoWatch on Prime VideoOpen ↗Apple TVOpen on Apple TVOpen ↗Rakuten TVWatch on Rakuten TVOpen ↗Sky StoreRent on Sky StoreOpen ↗Buy
4 sourcesPrime VideoWatch on Prime VideoOpen ↗Apple TVOpen on Apple TVOpen ↗Rakuten TVWatch on Rakuten TVOpen ↗Sky StoreRent on Sky StoreOpen ↗Canada4 options
Australia7 options
India1 option
Checked 4 November 2026. Listings from TMDB / JustWatch data and they change daily; the provider page always shows the final price. Compare every option on JustWatch. MovieState links only to licensed services.
Who is in it
The Pianist cast
Adrien BrodyWładysław 'Władek' Szpilman
Thomas KretschmannCaptain Wilm Hosenfeld
Frank FinlayFather
Maureen LipmanMother
Emilia FoxDorota
Ed StoppardHenryk Szpilman
Julia RaynerRegina Szpilman
Jessica Kate MeyerHalina Szpilman
Michał ŻebrowskiJurek
Wanja MuesSS Slapping Father
Richard RidingsMr. Lipa
Nomi SharronFeather WomanCharacter names follow the film's credits. Open a name to see that person's other work on MovieState.
Behind the camera
Direction and crew
Audience reaction
Ratings and reviews
The Pianist sits at 8.4 out of 10 from 10598 user ratings. For context, the film's worldwide gross is $120.1M.
Scores show TMDB user ratings at the time of publishing and shift as new votes arrive.
No public user reviews have been posted for this title yet. Ratings below come from TMDB user scores.
The facts
The Pianist key details
| Original title | The Pianist |
|---|---|
| Status | Released |
| Release date | December 4, 2002 |
| Runtime | 2h 30m |
| Certification | R in United States, 15 in United Kingdom |
| Original language | EN |
| Spoken languages | English, German, Polish |
| Country | France, Germany, Poland |
| Budget | $35.0M |
| Worldwide gross | $120.1M |
| Studios | R.P. Productions, Heritage Films, Studio Babelsberg, Runteam |
| Also known as | Пианист, Piyanist, 戰地琴人 |
Release information
Release dates by country
| Country | Date | Cert |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Dec 4, 2002 | R |
| United Kingdom | Jan 24, 2003 | 15 |
| Australia | Dec 11, 2002 | MA 15+ |
| Austria | Oct 25, 2002 | 12 |
| Brazil | Oct 8, 2002 | 14 |
| Czechia | Feb 6, 2003 | 12+ |
| France | May 24, 2002 | TP |
| Germany | Oct 24, 2002 | 12 |
| Greece | Oct 18, 2002 | 16 |
| Hungary | Mar 20, 2003 | 18 |
Official trailer for The Pianist, via Rialto Pictures. Open on YouTube
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
Who directed The Pianist?
The Pianist was directed by Roman Polanski.
Who is in the cast of The Pianist?
The main cast includes Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Maureen Lipman, Emilia Fox.
How long is The Pianist?
The Pianist runs 2h 30m.
When was The Pianist released?
It was released in the United States on December 4, 2002. Release dates vary by country — see the table above.
What is The Pianist rated?
Certification depends on the country: R in United States, 15 in United Kingdom. Always check your local rating before watching with family.
Where can I watch The Pianist online?
Availability changes by region and by week. The table above lists the streaming, rental and purchase services reported for major markets. Check the provider page for today's price and quality.
Can I watch The Pianist in HD or 4K?
Most digital stores offer The Pianist in HD, and newer releases are often available in 4K. Check the quality label on the provider's page before you pay.
How much did The Pianist earn?
Reported worldwide gross is $120.1M against a budget of $35.0M. Box office figures update over time.
Keep watching
More films like The Pianist
Data sources: TMDB (titles, cast, crew, release dates, provider listings and user ratings). Availability and box office figures change over time; this page was last rebuilt on November 4, 2026. We publish information only; we do not host or stream video files.
Exact record pages: IMDb record · TMDB record
At a glance: The Pianist runs 2h 30m, opened in US cinemas on December 4, 2002, has 34 licensed options across 5 regions tracked here.