The Pianist_
"Music was his passion. Survival was his masterpiece."
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.
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
Rakuten TV
6 countries
Curiosity Stream
3 countries
Prime Video
FREE
3 countries
Fandango at Home Free
FREE
1 country
The Roku Channel
FREE
1 country
Tubi
FREE
1 country
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Box office
The Pianist earned $120.1M worldwide on a $35.0M budget — a 243% return on investment.
Roman Polanski →
Year context
The Pianist was released 24 years ago in 2002.
CAST (20)
Adrien Brody
Władysław 'Władek' Szpilman
Thomas Kretschmann
Captain Wilm Hosenfeld
Frank Finlay
Father
Maureen Lipman
Mother
Emilia Fox
Dorota
Ed Stoppard
Henryk Szpilman
Julia Rayner
Regina Szpilman
Jessica Kate Meyer
Halina Szpilman
Michał Żebrowski
Jurek
Wanja Mues
SS Slapping Father
Richard Ridings
Mr. Lipa
Nomi Sharron
Feather Woman
Anthony Milner
Man Waiting to Cross
Lucy Skeaping
Street Musician
Roddy Skeaping
Street Musician
BH
Ben Harlan
Street Musician
Thomas Lawinky
Schutzpolizei
Joachim Paul Assböck
Schutzpolizei
Roy Smiles
Itzak Heller
Paul Bradley
Yehuda
CREW
Director
Writer
BOX OFFICE
$35.0M
Budget
$120.1M
Revenue
+243%
ROI
BLOCKBUSTER
Verdict
STUDIOS (4)
R.P. Productions
Heritage Films
Studio Babelsberg
Runteam
AWARDS (2)
B
WON
B
WON
DETAILS
Release
Status
Released
Runtime
150 min (2h 30m)
Language
English
Country
Rating
8.4/10 (9,905 votes)
Popularity
10
Budget
$35,000,000
Box Office
$120,098,945
Profit
+$85,098,945
IMDB
Trailer
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is The Pianist 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.
How long is The Pianist?
The Pianist has a runtime of 150 minutes (2h 30m).
Who directed The Pianist?
The Pianist was directed by Roman Polanski.
Who stars in The Pianist?
The cast of The Pianist includes Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Maureen Lipman, Emilia Fox.
How much did The Pianist make at the box office?
The Pianist earned $120,098,945 worldwide at the box office. The production budget was $35,000,000.
What is the rating of The Pianist?
The Pianist has a rating of 8.4 out of 10 based on 9,905 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (2)
Drama
War
KEYWORDS (26)
concert
nazi
resistance
warsaw ghetto
polish resistance
homeland
holocaust (shoah)
hunger
world war ii
prisoner of war
ghetto
deportation
jew persecution
liberation
biography
based on true story
survival
based on memoir or autobiography
pianist
poland
tearjerker
angry
complex
compassionate
fome
segunda guerra mundial