The Pillow Book
Nagito has a fetish for calligraphy on the human body and meets her ideal soulmate Jerome, an English translator sent to Japan. However, once Nagiko's father's gay publisher rejoins the scene, the story is overtaken by treachery and bloodlust.
Where to watch The Pillow Book in United States
Hoopla
Fawesome
Plex
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At HomeClick a service to open The Pillow Book there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is The Pillow Book streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Hoopla, Fawesome, Plex | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| United Kingdom | — | Amazon Video |
| Germany | Netzkino | — |
| France | Molotov TV | Apple TV Store, Canal VOD, Sooner |
About The Pillow Book
The Pillow Book is a 1995 English-language drama and romance film directed by Peter Greenaway. The cast is led by Vivian Wu, Yoshi Oida, Ken Ogata. It has a runtime of 2h 6m. Viewers rate it 6.4/10 across 200 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Hoopla, Fawesome, Plex.
The Pillow Book was produced by Kasander & Wigman Productions, Alpha Films, and Nederlands Fonds voor de Film and made in France and United Kingdom. It was released on September 1, 1995, and carries a NC-17 certification.
- Director
- Peter Greenaway
- Writers
- Sei Shonagon, Peter Greenaway
- Release date
- September 1, 1995
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- NC-17
- Status
- Released
- Country
- France, United Kingdom
- Production
- Kasander & Wigman Productions, Alpha Films, Nederlands Fonds voor de Film
The Pillow Book cast & crew
The Pillow Book was directed by Peter Greenaway and written by Sei Shonagon and Peter Greenaway.
The cast features Vivian Wu as Nagiko, Yoshi Oida as The Publisher, Ken Ogata as The Father, Hideko Yoshida as The Aunt / The Maid, Ewan McGregor as Jerome, and Yutaka Honda as Hoki.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Brian Eno, cinematography is by Sacha Vierny, and it was produced by Kees Kasander and Terry Glinwood.
Is The Pillow Book worth watching?
The Pillow Book holds an audience score of 6.4/10 from 185 ratings, a solidly received drama films.
At 2h 6m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy drama and romance, The Pillow Book is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Pillow Book
In United States, you can stream The Pillow Book on Hoopla, Fawesome, and Plex, or rent and buy it on Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. 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 The Pillow Book
Vivian Wu
Nagiko
Yoshi Oida
The Publisher
Ken Ogata
The Father
Hideko Yoshida
The Aunt / The Maid
Ewan McGregor
Jerome
Yutaka Honda
Hoki
Judy Ongg
The Mother
Ken Mitsuishi
The Husband
Barbara Lott
Jerome's Mother
Lynne Langdon
Jerome's sister
Ronald Guttman
Calligrapher
Samuel Leung Cheuk-Moon
The Pillow Book — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Pillow Book in United States?
The Pillow Book is streaming on Hoopla, Fawesome, Plex in United States.
▸Is The Pillow Book on Hoopla?
Yes — The Pillow Book is currently available on Hoopla in United States.
▸What language is The Pillow Book in?
The Pillow Book is originally in English, with audio tracks including English, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Pillow Book?
The Pillow Book runs 2 hours 6 minutes (126 minutes).
▸What is The Pillow Book rated?
The Pillow Book is rated NC-17. It holds a 6.4/10 audience score from 185 ratings.
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