# The Lives of Others (2006) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/the-lives-of-others-2006/
Last reviewed: 2026-08-31

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 89% |
| Editorial Rating | 93/100 |
| Audience Snapshot | 94% (excluded from composite) |
| Metascore | 89/100 |
| Letterboxd | 4.4/5 |
| IMDb | 8.4/10 |
| Director | Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck |
| Genres | Drama, Thriller |
| Runtime | 137 min |
| Major awards | 2 wins, 0 nominations |

## Quick answer

The Lives of Others (2006) earns a 89% Celluloid Score — Recommended. A surveillance-state thriller that humanizes both watcher and watched with devastating restraint. Metascore 89/100. Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck.

## Celluloid verdict

A surveillance-state thriller that humanizes both watcher and watched with devastating restraint.

## Synopsis

A Stasi officer assigned to spy on a playwright in East Berlin becomes unexpectedly moved by the art and love he is meant to destroy.

## Cast

Ulrich Mühe, Martina Gedeck, Sebastian Koch

## Accolades

- Won Best Foreign Language Film — Academy Awards 2007
- Won Best Film — European Film Awards 2006

## Where to watch

the United States: not currently streaming
South Korea: Wavve, TVING
Japan: U-NEXT

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Common questions

**Is The Lives of Others worth watching?**
The Lives of Others holds a 89% Celluloid Score. A surveillance-state thriller that humanizes both watcher and watched with devastating restraint.

**What is The Lives of Others about?**
A Stasi officer assigned to spy on a playwright in East Berlin becomes unexpectedly moved by the art and love he is meant to destroy.

**Who directed The Lives of Others?**
The Lives of Others (2006) was directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck.

**What is the Celluloid Score of The Lives of Others?**
89% — calculated from available Celluloid editorial (93/100), Metascore (89/100), Letterboxd (4.4/5), and IMDb (8.4/10) inputs. Audience sentiment is excluded.

**What awards did The Lives of Others win?**
The Lives of Others won Best Foreign Language Film (Academy Awards 2007), Best Film (European Film Awards 2006).

**Where can I watch The Lives of Others?**
The Lives of Others is on Wavve, TVING in South Korea; on U-NEXT in Japan. Availability varies by region.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

Markdown mirror: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/the-lives-of-others-2006.md