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Poster for Wings of Desire

Wings of Desire

Seen it?

1987 | 128 min | Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Friday Night Flick

Why it’s a Friday Night Flick

Critics loved it (95% on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences rate it highly (7.8 out of 10) and it's still drawing plenty of interest. Make plans for this one.

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

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for romantics and fantasy fans. If you loved Ghost, start here.
The mood
Warm and romantic.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 8 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
  • It's in German, so expect subtitles (or a dub).

Two angels, Damiel and Cassiel, glide through the streets of Berlin, observing the bustling population, providing invisible rays of hope to the distressed but never interacting with them. When Damiel falls in love with lonely trapeze artist Marion, the angel longs to experience life in the physical world, and finds — with some words of wisdom from actor Peter Falk — that it might be possible for him to take human form.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 79 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesStrong

    7.8 out of 10

  • AwardsSolid

    Won 1 Cannes award: Cannes Film Festival: Best Director. Won 1 Independent Spirit Award: Independent Spirit Awards: Best Foreign Film. Also nominated for 1 BAFTA. Plus 10 other awards.

  • Box office & staying powerSolid

    $4 million worldwide on a $3 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactStrong

    About 241K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Wim Wenders

  • Bruno GanzDamiel
  • Solveig DommartinMarion
  • Otto SanderCassiel
  • Curt BoisHomer
  • Peter FalkThe Filmstar
  • Hans Martin StierThe Dying Man
  • Elmar WilmsA Sad Man
  • Sigurd RachmanThe Suicide
  • Beatrice ManowskiYoung Prostitute
  • Bruno RosazThe Clown