Where to Watch Fanny and Alexander (1982) in the US

What it's about

It's the early twentieth century Sweden. Adolescent siblings Alexander and Fanny Ekdahl lead a relatively joyous and exuberant life with their well-off extended paternal family, led by the family matriarch, their grandmother, Helena Ekdahl. The openness of the family culture is exemplified by Helena's now deceased husband ending up becoming best friends with one of her lovers, a Jewish puppet maker named Isak Jacobi, and their Uncle Gustav Adolf's open liaison with one of the family maids, Maj, who everyone in the family adores, even Gustav Adolf's wife, Alma. Between the siblings, Alexander in particular has inherited the family's love of storytelling, his parents and his grandmother who are actors and who manage their own theater. Things change for Alexander and Fanny when their father, Oscar, dies shortly after Christmas 1907. Although she truly does believe she loves him, the children's mother, Emilie, decides to marry Bishop Edvard Vergérus, who she first met as the officiate at Oscar's funeral. She also wants a father figure for the children. Going into the marriage, Emilie has inclinations that it will be a much different life than she had with the Ekdahls, but is not prepared for the harsh, austere and strict life Edvard rules with an iron fist. Emilie, Alexander and Fanny end up being prisoners in the bishop's stark and humorless house. As Alexander butts head with his stepfather and tries to learn how to keep to his own principles while obeying Edvard, Emilie tries to figure out a way to regain her and her children's own destiny, as Edvard will not consent to divorce, and her "desertion" in the eyes of the law means that Alexander and Fanny would become his wards.

Cast and crew

Director

Ingmar Bergman

Writer

Ingmar Bergman

Starring

Bertil Guve, Pernilla Allwin, Kristina Adolphson

Details

Release date

Dec 17, 1982

Language

Swedish, German, Yiddish, English, French

Country

Sweden, France, West Germany

Box office

$6,783,304

Awards

Won 4 Oscars. 25 wins & 13 nominations total

Where to Watch Fanny and Alexander (1982) in the US — common questions

Where to watch Fanny and Alexander in the United States?

Fanny and Alexander is available with a subscription, free with ads, free with a participating library card, or to rent in the United States. Watch the movie with a subscription on HBO Max (HD). Watch the movie free with ads on Free Movies Plus, Plex Channel (HD), Plex Player (HD), Shout! Factory TV (HD), and Tubi TV. Watch the movie free with a participating library card on Kanopy. Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.

Can I stream Fanny and Alexander or do I have to rent it in the United States?

Watch the movie with a subscription on HBO Max (HD). Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.

Can I watch Fanny and Alexander for free in the United States?

Watch the movie free with ads on Free Movies Plus, Plex Channel (HD), Plex Player (HD), Shout! Factory TV (HD), and Tubi TV. Watch the movie free with a participating library card on Kanopy.