The Handmaid's Tale
Seen it?1990 | 108 min | Drama, Science Fiction
Weeknight WatchWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
It's still drawing plenty of interest, but middling reviews (32% on Rotten Tomatoes) and a lukewarm 6.1 out of 10 from audiences held it back. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for sci-fi fans. If you loved A Clockwork Orange or Children of Men, start here.
- The mood
- Mind-bending.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 48 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: expect sex.
In a dystopian, polluted right-wing religious tyranny, a young woman is put in sexual slavery on account of her now rare fertility.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
32% on Rotten Tomatoes, 53 on Metacritic
- AudiencesBelow par
6.1 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$5 million worldwide on a $13 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 211K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Volker Schlöndorff
- Natasha RichardsonKate
- Faye DunawaySerena Joy
- Aidan QuinnNick
- Elizabeth McGovernMoira
- Victoria TennantAunt Lydia
- Robert DuvallCommander
- Blanche BakerOfglen
- Traci LindOfwarren / Janine
- Zoey WilsonAunt Helena
- Kathryn DobyAunt Elizabeth