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Faust

Name: Faust
Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Horror
Released: 1926-10-14
Cast: Gösta Ekman, Emil Jannings, Camilla Horn, Frida Richard, William Dieterle

1926 | 106 min | Fantasy, Drama, Horror

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (91% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for horror fans and fantasy fans. If you loved The Witches or The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood: Scary.
The pace: Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 46 min.
What might put you off: It's in German, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
Made in 1926: an older pace and style.

Murnau’s epic adaptation of Goethe’s tragedy stands with Fritz Lang’s Metropolis among the supreme achievements of German silent cinema. Gösta Ekman plays the alchemist who, his faith shaken in a time of plague, is offered the gift of healing and eternal youth… in exchange for his soul.

How it earned its rating

CriticsVery strong
91% on Rotten Tomatoes
AudiencesSolid
7.9 out of 10
AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a modest audience; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 53K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by F. W. Murnau

Gösta EkmanFaust
Emil JanningsMephisto
Camilla HornGretchen Marguerite
Frida RichardGretchens's Mother
William DieterleValentin
Werner FuettererErzengel
Yvette GuilbertMarthe Schwerdtlein
Eric BarclayDuke of Parma
Hanna RalphDuchess of Parma
Hans BrausewetterFarmboy (uncredited)