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DramaWar Cannes 2002 · Palme d'Or Editor's Pick

The Pianist Review (2002) — 88% Celluloid Score

Directed by Roman Polanski · 2002 ·

Short answer

Is The Pianist worth watching?

Yes. The Pianist (2002) earns an 88% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

88%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

95% Editorial Rating
96% Audience snapshot · excluded
85 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4.3
8.5 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
2h 30m
Age rating
R (US) · 15 (UK) · MA 15+ (Australia) · 12 (South Korea) · R18+ (Japan)
Cast
Adrien Brody , Thomas Kretschmann , Frank Finlay , Maureen Lipman , Emilia Fox , Ed Stoppard , Julia Rayner , Jessica Kate Meyer , Michał Żebrowski , Wanja Mues
Streaming
Peacock
Country
France
Language
English

Also known as El Pianista Le Pianiste Der Pianist O Pianista 戦場のピアニスト 피아니스트 钢琴家 戰地琴人

Where to watch

  • Peacock

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch The Pianist by country

Country Streaming on
Japan U-NEXT
Malaysia Lionsgate Play
United Kingdom StudioCanal Presents
United States Peacock

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (95/100).
  • Audiences widely enjoyed it (96%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (85/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.3/5).
  • IMDb users score it 8.5/10.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded drama, war pick
  • Epic-length viewers who want a big-screen experience

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is The Pianist worth watching?

    Yes — The Pianist earns an 88% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded drama, war pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    The Pianist — Palme d'Or at Cannes 2002. A landmark festival winner on Celluloid.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is The Pianist 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.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English The Pianist

    The Pianist (2002) Review: Survival Without Heroics

    The Pianist is Roman Polanski's Holocaust drama about Władysław Szpilman's survival in occupied Warsaw, an austere, harrowing film anchored by Adrien Brody.

    Yes. It is one of the most powerful films about the Holocaust, essential for viewers ready for a harrowing, unsentimental portrait of survival in wartime Warsaw.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    The Pianist stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    The Pianist production still 1
    The Pianist production still 2
    The Pianist production still 3
    The Pianist production still 4
    The Pianist production still 5
    The Pianist production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    The Pianist: frequently asked questions

    Is The Pianist worth watching?

    Yes. The Pianist (2002) has a Celluloid Score of 88%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch The Pianist?

    In the United States, The Pianist streams on Peacock with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: U-NEXT in Japan; Lionsgate Play in Malaysia; StudioCanal Presents in the United Kingdom. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is The Pianist?

    The Pianist runs 2 hours 30 minutes (150 minutes).

    What is The Pianist rated?

    The Pianist is rated R in the United States, 15 in the UK, MA 15+ in Australia, 12 in South Korea and R18+ in Japan. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in The Pianist?

    The Pianist is directed by Roman Polanski and stars Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Maureen Lipman, Emilia Fox.

    What is the Metascore for The Pianist?

    Metacritic's Metascore for The Pianist is 85 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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