Tess_
OSCAR WINNER
"She was born into a world where they called it seduction, not rape. What she did would shatter that world forever."
A strong-willed peasant girl is sent by her father to the estate of some local aristocrats to capitalize on a rumor that their families are from the same line, but is left traumatised from her experiences.
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
Tubi
3 countries
Criterion Channel
2 countries
A
Amazon Arthaus Channel
1 country
A
Arthaus+
1 country
A
Acontra Plus
1 country
Tivify
FREE
1 country
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Box office
Tess earned $20.1M worldwide on a $12.0M budget — a 68% return on investment.
Roman Polanski →
Year context
Tess was released 47 years ago in 1979.
CAST (20)
Nastassja Kinski
Tess Durbeyfield
Peter Firth
Angel Clare
Leigh Lawson
Alec d'Urberville
John Collin
John Durbeyfield
Rosemary Martin
Mrs. Durbeyfield
Carolyn Pickles
Marian
Richard Pearson
Vicar of Marlott
DM
David Markham
Reverend Mr. Clare
Pascale de Boysson
Mrs. Clare
Suzanna Hamilton
Izz Huett
CE
Caroline Embling
Retty
TC
Tony Church
Parson Tringham
Lesley Dunlop
Girl in Henhouse
SC
Sylvia Coleridge
Mrs. d'Urberville
FB
Fred Bryant
Dairyman Crick
DA
Dicken Ashworth
Farmer Groby
PR
Patsy Rowlands
Landlady
John Barrett
Old Dairy Hand
PS
Patsy Smart
Housekeeper
BE
Brigid Erin Bates
Girl in Meadow
CREW
BOX OFFICE
$12.0M
Budget
$20.1M
Revenue
+68%
ROI
PROFITABLE
Verdict
STUDIOS (1)
Renn Productions
AWARDS (5)
G
Academy Award for Best Costume Design
1981
WON
G
Academy Award for Best Cinematography
1981
WON
G
Academy Award for Best Production Design
1981
WON
B
César Award for Best Film
WON
DETAILS
Release
Status
Released
Runtime
172 min (2h 52m)
Language
English
Country
Rating
7.1/10 (371 votes)
Popularity
4
Budget
$12,000,000
Box Office
$20,101,247
Profit
+$8,101,247
IMDB
Trailer
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Tess about?
A strong-willed peasant girl is sent by her father to the estate of some local aristocrats to capitalize on a rumor that their families are from the same line, but is left traumatised from her experiences.
How long is Tess?
Tess has a runtime of 172 minutes (2h 52m).
Who directed Tess?
Tess was directed by Roman Polanski.
Who stars in Tess?
The cast of Tess includes Nastassja Kinski, Peter Firth, Leigh Lawson, John Collin, Rosemary Martin.
How much did Tess make at the box office?
Tess earned $20,101,247 worldwide at the box office. The production budget was $12,000,000.
What is the rating of Tess?
Tess has a rating of 7.1 out of 10 based on 371 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (2)
Drama
Romance
KEYWORDS (16)
rape
based on novel or book
peasant
marriage
love
revenge
murder
mansion
family
farmer
nobility
social climbing
aristocratic
strong
stonehenge
19th century