Oedipus Rex
“Pasolini’s Terrifying… Compassionate… Magnificent…”
In pre-war Italy, a young couple have a baby boy. The father, however, is jealous of his son - and the scene moves to antiquity, where the baby is taken into the desert to be killed. He is rescued, given the name Oedipus, and brought up by the King and Queen of Corinth as their son. One day an oracle informs Oedipus that he is destined to kill his father and marry his mother. Horrified, he flees Corinth and his supposed parents - only to get into a fight and kill an older man on the road…
Where to watch Oedipus Rex in United States
Can I watch Oedipus Rex in United States? Yes — you can stream Oedipus Rex in United States on Criterion Channel.
Criterion ChannelClick a service to open Oedipus Rex there. Availability last verified on August 1, 2026.
Where is Oedipus Rex streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Criterion Channel | — |
| United Kingdom | — | Amazon Video |
| Canada | Criterion Channel | — |
| France | — | Canal VOD, Orange VOD, Sooner |
About Oedipus Rex
Oedipus Rex is a 1967 Italian-language drama film directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini. The cast is led by Franco Citti, Silvana Mangano, Alida Valli. It has a runtime of 1h 45m. Viewers rate it 6.8/10 across 400 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.
Oedipus Rex was produced by Somafis and Arco Film and made in Italy. It was released on September 7, 1967, and carries a 15 certification.
- Director
- Pier Paolo Pasolini
- Writers
- Pier Paolo Pasolini
- Release date
- September 7, 1967
- Original language
- Italian
- Age rating
- 15
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Italy
- Production
- Somafis, Arco Film
Oedipus Rex cast & crew
Oedipus Rex was directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini and written by Pier Paolo Pasolini.
The cast features Franco Citti as Oedipus, Silvana Mangano as Jocasta, Queen of Thebes (and unnamed Italian young mother), Alida Valli as Merope, Queen of Corinth, Carmelo Bene as Creon, Julian Beck as Tiresias, and Luciano Bartoli as Laius, King of Thebes (and unnamed Italian young father).
Behind the camera, cinematography is by Giuseppe Ruzzolini and it was produced by Alfredo Bini.
Is Oedipus Rex worth watching?
Oedipus Rex holds an audience score of 6.8/10 from 365 ratings, a solidly received drama films.
At 1h 45m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy drama, Oedipus Rex is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Oedipus Rex
In United States, you can stream Oedipus Rex on Criterion Channel. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
Rate & review
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Cast of Oedipus Rex
Franco Citti
Oedipus
Silvana Mangano
Jocasta, Queen of Thebes (and unnamed Italian young mother)
Alida Valli
Merope, Queen of Corinth
Carmelo Bene
Creon
Julian Beck
Tiresias
Luciano Bartoli
Laius, King of Thebes (and unnamed Italian young father)
Francesco Leonetti
Servo di Laio
Ahmed Belhachmi
Polybus, King of Corinth
Giovanni Ivan Scratuglia
Sacerdote
Giandomenico Davoli
Pastore di Polibo
Ninetto Davoli
Angelo
Laura Betti
Jocasta's Maid (uncredited)
Oedipus Rex — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Oedipus Rex in United States?
Oedipus Rex is streaming on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸Is Oedipus Rex on Criterion Channel?
Yes — Oedipus Rex is currently available on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸What language is Oedipus Rex in?
Oedipus Rex is originally in Italian. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Oedipus Rex?
Oedipus Rex runs 1 hours 45 minutes (105 minutes).
▸What is Oedipus Rex rated?
Oedipus Rex is rated 15. It holds a 6.8/10 audience score from 365 ratings.
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