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The Pianist
CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by Roman Polanski. With Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay.
8.4/10
MOVIHERO RATINGWHAT IT'S 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.
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8.4/10
MOVIHERO RATINGYOUR WATCHLISTThe 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, Szpilm…
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RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for The Pianist.
MoviHero lists September 17, 2002 as the release date for The Pianist. Roman Polanski is the listed director. The listed cast includes Adrien Brody as Władysław 'Władek' Szpilman, Thomas Kretschmann as Captain Wilm Hosenfeld, Frank Finlay as Father, Maureen Lipman as Mother. A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateSeptember 17, 2002
GenresDrama · War
Runtime2h 30m
DirectorRoman Polanski
CastAdrien Brody as Władysław 'Władek' Szpilman, Thomas Kretschmann as Captain Wilm Hosenfeld, Frank Finlay as Father, Maureen Lipman as Mother
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is The Pianist right for tonight?
Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.
How much time should I set aside?
The Pianist runs 2h 30m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 3/10: a more patient pace.
Is it a good choice when I am tired?
The attention estimate is 6/10. Expect to follow the story rather than use it as background viewing.
How emotionally intense is it?
The emotional-impact estimate is 9/10, suggesting a stronger emotional experience. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.
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MOVIE RATING
MoviHero Rating
MoviHero Rating: 8.4/10 from 10,595 votes. Updated Nov 4, 2026.
Rating data supplied by TMDB, shown on a 10-point scale. MoviHero audience ratings are calculated separately from scores submitted here.
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WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE
Watch Profile
Seven estimates of the viewing experience, based on the stored Watch Profile. These are separate from the movie rating and are not verified scene-by-scene assessments.
Pacing3/10
Emotional Impact9/10
Mind-Bending2/10
Scary1/10
Violence7/10
Rewatchability6/10
Attention Required6/10
A CLOSER LOOK
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CAST & CREW
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CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE
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PART OF A WATCH JOURNEY
Where The Pianist fits.
SIMILAR GENRES & STORY THEMES
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