The Reader
Behind the mystery lies a truth that will make you question everything you know.
The story of Michael Berg, a German lawyer who, as a teenager in the late 1950s, had an affair with an older woman, Hanna, who then disappeared only to resurface years later as one of the defendants in a war crimes trial stemming from her actions as a concentration camp guard late in the war.
- Director
- Stephen Daldry
- Worldwide
- $109M
Who's in it
Cast
The billed ensemble, with character names. Open any performer for their Nutevio filmography.
Story overview
What It's About
Spoiler-free. Read the analysis below for the full argument.
The story of Michael Berg, a German lawyer who, as a teenager in the late 1950s, had an affair with an older woman, Hanna, who then disappeared only to resurface years later as one of the defendants in a war crimes trial stemming from her actions as a concentration camp guard late in the war. He alone realizes that Hanna is illiterate and may be concealing that fact at the expense of her freedom.
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
Checking regional listings…
The record
Awards
12 wins · 35 nominations
Academy Awards
1 win · 5 nominations
- WinnerAcademy Award for Best Actress
Golden Globes
1 win · 4 nominations
- WinnerGolden Globe Award for Best Director
BAFTA Awards
1 win · 4 nominations
- WinnerBAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
Screen Actors Guild Awards
1 win · 1 nomination
- WinnerScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Critics' Choice Awards
1 win · 3 nominations
- WinnerBroadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Film
- WinnerBroadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
- WinnerBroadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Young Performer
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
1 win · 1 nomination
- WinnerChicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
European Film Award for Best Actress
1 win · 1 nomination
- WinnerEuropean Film Award for Best Actress
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
1 win · 1 nomination
- WinnerLas Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
London Film Critics Circle Award for Actress of the Year
1 win · 1 nomination
- WinnerLondon Film Critics Circle Award for Actress of the Year
San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
1 win · 1 nomination
- WinnerSan Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
1 win · 1 nomination
- WinnerVancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
World Soundtrack Award for Discovery of the Year
1 win · 1 nomination
- WinnerWorld Soundtrack Award for Discovery of the Year
American Society of Cinematographers Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases
No wins yet · 1 nomination
- WinnerAmerican Society of Cinematographers Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases
David di Donatello for Best European Film
No wins yet · 1 nomination
- WinnerDavid di Donatello for Best European Film
European Film Award for Best Actor
No wins yet · 1 nomination
- WinnerEuropean Film Award for Best Actor
European Film Award for Best Film
No wins yet · 1 nomination
- WinnerEuropean Film Award for Best Film
London Film Critics Circle Award for British Actress of the Year
No wins yet · 1 nomination
- WinnerLondon Film Critics Circle Award for British Actress of the Year
MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance
No wins yet · 1 nomination
- WinnerMTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
No wins yet · 1 nomination
- WinnerOnline Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture
No wins yet · 1 nomination
- WinnerSatellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture
Satellite Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
No wins yet · 1 nomination
- WinnerSatellite Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
Satellite Award for Best Director
No wins yet · 1 nomination
- WinnerSatellite Award for Best Director
Satellite Award for Best Film
No wins yet · 1 nomination
- WinnerSatellite Award for Best Film
The numbers
Box Office & Release
The Reader returned 3.4× its budget worldwide.
- Budget
- $32M
- Opening weekend
- —
- Domestic gross
- —
- International gross
- —
- Worldwide gross
- $109M
- Release date
- Dec 10, 2008
- Runtime
- 2h 4m
- MPAA rating
- R
- Language
- German, Greek
- Country
- Germany, United States of America
Figures from the verified production record. Fields we cannot source are left blank rather than estimated.
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