Love is a mighty power.
In a small, conservative Scottish village, an oilman is paralyzed in an accident. His wife, who prayed for his return, feels guilty; even more, when he urges her to have sex with another.
Breaking the Waves (1996) is a drama and romance film directed by Lars von Trier, released on July 5, 1996 with a runtime of 2h 39m. It stars Emily Watson, Stellan Skarsgård, Katrin Cartlidge and Jean-Marc Barr. Viewers rate it 7.5 out of 10 across 1,143 ratings.
Watch the official trailer for Breaking the Waves before you stream it.
Official trailers, teasers, clips and featurettes for Breaking the Waves.
Trailer
Trailer
Featurette
Emily Watson
as Bess McNeill
Stellan Skarsgård
as Jan Nyman
Katrin Cartlidge
as Dodo McNeill
Jean-Marc Barr
as Terry
Adrian Rawlins
as Dr. Richardson
Jonathan Hackett
as Priest
Sandra Voe
as Mother
Udo Kier
as Sadistic Sailor
Mikkel Gaup
as Pits
Roef Ragas
as Pim
Robert Robertson
as Chairman
Phil McCall
as Grandfather
Directed by Lars von Trier, written by David Pirie, Tómas Gislason and Kirsten Bonnén Rask, produced by Peter Aalbæk Jensen and Vibeke Windeløv.
Average viewer score of 7.5/10 from 1,143 ratings.
Though I really didn't rate the story so much here, I thought the performance from Emily Watson as "Bess" is formidable. She lives on a remote Scottish island and is to marry oil rig worker "Jan" (Stellan Skarsgård). Somewhat reluctantly, the islanders embrace this and all is happy until she feels the wrench of his return to the rig. Pining for him, she regularly has conversations with God in their small kirk. It's…
Reviewed on August 6, 2023
**An ugly film on all levels that insults our intelligence.** For me, cinema is an art that tells good stories, whether fictional, true or a mix of fiction and real facts. It has a clear social role, often makes people think or raises difficult questions. However, there are directors who seem to live off controversy, that is, they try to use cinema to shock or impress, attracting attention for the worst and most…
Reviewed on April 14, 2024
** A Movie That Doesn’t Just Move You, It Breaks You ** not just a film—it’s a raw, transcendent piece of art that pierces straight through the heart. From the hauntingly beautiful cinematography to Lars von Trier’s uncompromising direction, every frame of this movie is crafted with such emotional intensity that it becomes an unforgettable experience. Emily Watson delivers one of the most powerful performances I’ve…
Reviewed on July 3, 2025
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Breaking the Waves (1996) is available to stream on MUBI and MUBI Amazon Channel, and to rent or buy from Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home. Streaming availability is checked against JustWatch data and can change by region.
The main cast of Breaking the Waves (1996) includes Emily Watson, Stellan Skarsgård, Katrin Cartlidge, Jean-Marc Barr and Adrian Rawlins. The film was directed by Lars von Trier. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
Breaking the Waves was released on July 5, 1996 and runs for 2h 39m.
Breaking the Waves (1996) holds an average rating of 7.5 out of 10 from 1,143 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy drama and romance films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Yes. The official Breaking the Waves trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.
