Two lighthouse keepers (Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe) fight each other for survival and sanity on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s. From Robert Eggers, the visionary filmmaker behind horror masterpiece The Witch.
Where to Watch The Lighthouse
- AngusMcNutzApril 3, 2025ALL MY HOMIES HATE CINEMASCOPE. WHAT UP 1:19:1 ENJOYERS I could talk about this film for hours on end. Technically wondrous, emotionally soul-clenching and, somehow, able to appear neatly self-contained while bursting with mystic symbolism and mortal strife. A criminal understatement to call Dafoe's and Pattinson's performance anything short of stark, flawless and full of human grit. The true essence of the violence that often binds men and has no mercy in its consequence. Cinematographic sidebar: wowowowowow balls out for not only busting out the Millennium XL2, but also building custom density filters for the old bird. I cannot begin to imagine the labor hours spent on color correction to get that perfect orthochromatic look. Eggers is such a nerd lol
- maddiechismSeptember 28, 2025this is what an age gap relationship does to you
- The Gutter MonkeyOctober 18, 2024Aesthetically interesting but narratively perplexing. It may have had something deep to say, but I didn't care enough to try to figure out what it was.
- Garrett WilkinsJuly 28, 2026Robert Eggers understands that isolation isn't frightening because people are alone. It's frightening because, eventually, there's nobody left to tell them they're losing their minds. The Lighthouse commits itself completely to that idea, trapping two men on a barren rock until every conversation, every silence, and every drunken argument begins to feel like another step away from reality. The striking black-and-white photography and claustrophobic aspect ratio don't exist simply to look distinctive. They make the island feel like a prison where neither man can escape, and before long neither can the audience. Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe throw themselves completely into Eggers' uncompromising vision, and the growing hostility between them gives the film a tension that's often more compelling than the mysteries surrounding it. The Lighthouse never lacked my attention. It struggled to earn my investment. Eggers never feels obligated to explain himself. He trusts the imagery, Mark Korven's unsettling musical score, and the audience's willingness to wrestle with uncertainty instead of handing over clean answers. I respect that confidence, even if the film's relentless ambiguity eventually kept me at an emotional distance. When it was over, I appreciated the craftsmanship behind what I'd seen, but I wasn't nearly as moved by it as I expected to be. I understand why The Lighthouse has earned such a passionate following. It just never became an experience that resonated with me in the same way.
- seanblaze87June 4, 2026Wasn't as good as I thought it would be. Was a nice slow burn, but I don't think the ending was worth the build.
- TomVaderMay 17, 2026The Lighthouse is disturbing but definitely engaging. The decision to make it look like a film from the 1930s adds a really cool, intangible quality to the whole experience. It feels like a lost artifact that was recently discovered. Instead of a traditional soundtrack, the movie relies on sparse, incidental sounds like the constant repetitive foghorn, screaming seagulls, and clanking machinery, which really drives up the freak-out factor. The highlight is easily Willem Dafoe. He completely transforms into an old-timer sailor and his performance will give you literal chills. Half the time I couldn't even understand the old nautical colloquialisms he was throwing around, but his delivery was amazing anyway. Robert Pattinson was decent, but he pales in comparison and mostly just felt like he was playing himself. The biggest downside is the story. It’s incredibly engaging while you're watching it, but it's hard to follow since there isn't a hero's journey type of format. If you're like me and you need to know why something is happening without having to decipher it, you might be just as confused as I was. The ending feels like an intentional, artsy choice, but instead of a satisfying reveal, it just leaves you wondering what you actually just watched.
- CravanThePugilistJanuary 1, 2026I always assumed the movie would be pretty great, but it still managed to surprise me. I don't want to - & can't - say too much. But... if you're ready for the ride, don't fear of missing out. The ride is there, & then some. Hell of a film.
- FranBizJuly 28, 2025Great film directed by Robert Eggers. I love the presentation of the film with its dark atmosphere and claustrophobic look. This actually works in its black and white and 4:3 presentation, respectively. The story is simple, but the journey to the story is where you question the 2 characters' sanity. I recommend checking it out, especially if you enjoyed Eggers' other works like The VVitch and Nosferatu. Those movies will give you a period experience, and The Lighthouse is no exception.
- Detonator1310December 5, 2025Masterpiece! Absolutely brilliant and stunning piece of dramaturgy. Its so dark and captivating. A true piece of Art!
- ChrisDecember 29, 2024Damn ye! Let Neptune strike ye dead Winslow! HAAARK! - Thomas Wake The “Witch” the Robert Eggers maiden voyage was a dark twisted mind bender that had me intensely lock in on from start to finish. While “The Lighthouse” is cinematically beautiful, shot in 1.19:1 scale to give it the very claustrophobic look and feel. As well as in black and white to give it all the 1800s ambiance. The acting was superb. I just didn’t have the feel of dread and madness I believe was intended. It is a good follow up, but A little bit of a bummer. Can’t wait for his next project. 🚢⚓️🕯
- Christopher ParkNovember 11, 2024What a trip! And these two? Magic! I think they should pair up again!
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The Lighthouse was released on May 19, 2019.
The Lighthouse was directed by Robert Eggers.
The Lighthouse has a runtime of 1h 49m.
The Lighthouse was produced by Youree Henley, Jay Van Hoy, Lourenço Sant'Anna, Rodrigo Teixeira, Robert Eggers.
Two lighthouse keepers (Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe) fight each other for survival and sanity on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s. From Robert Eggers, the visionary filmmaker behind horror masterpiece The Witch.
The key characters in The Lighthouse are Thomas Howard (Robert Pattinson), Thomas Wake (Willem Dafoe), Mermaid (Valeriia Karaman).
The Lighthouse is rated R.
The Lighthouse is a Drama, Horror, Thriller film.
The Lighthouse has an audience rating of 7.2 out of 10.
The Lighthouse had a budget of $11M.
The Lighthouse has made $18.3M at the box office.