Movie
Where to Watch Tess (1980) in the US
- 1980
- PG
- 3h 6m
- 7.3IMDb
- 81%Rotten Tomatoes
- 82Metascore
Tess is available with a subscription or to rent in the United States.
Rent
- Apple TV StoreSD172 minPGAudioEnglish$3.99Opens in a new tab.
- Apple TV StoreHD172 minPGAudioEnglish$3.99Opens in a new tab.
- Prime VideoSD172 minPGAudioEnglish$5.99Opens in a new tab.
- Fandango at HomeSD172 minPGAudioEnglish$5.99Opens in a new tab.
- Prime VideoHD172 minPGAudioEnglish$6.99Opens in a new tab.
- Fandango at HomeHD172 minPGAudioEnglish$6.99Opens in a new tab.
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Availability last checked Oct 9, 2026.
Report a wrong listingAvailability
- Watch the movie with a subscription on The Criterion Channel (HD).
- Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.
What it's about
Wessex County, England during the Victorian era. Christian values dominate what are social mores. These mores and her interactions with two men play a large part in what happens in the young life of peasant girl, the shy, innocent, proper yet proud Tess Durbeyfield. The first of these men is Alec d'Urberville. After learning from a local historian that they are really descendants of the aristocratic d'Urberville family which has died out due to lack of male heirs, Tess' parents send her to a nearby mansion where they know some d'Urbervilles actually reside. This move is in order for the family to gain some benefit from their heritage. Upon her arrival at the mansion, Tess quickly learns that the family of Tess' "cousin" Alec are not true d'Urbervilles, but rather an opportunistic lot who bought the family name in order to improve their own standing in life. Tess is pulled between what she was sent to accomplish for her family against her general disdain for Alec, who will give her anything she wants in return for sexual favors. The second of these men is Angel Clare, the son of a parson and an apprentice farmer. Angel and Tess fall in love with each other. Tess has to decide if she will divulge to Angel her past relationship with Alec, which if she does may jeopardize their own relationship. But if she doesn't, Tess also has to figure out if the secret will haunt her and thus jeopardize their relationship in other ways.
Cast and crew
- Director
- Roman Polanski
- Writer
- Thomas Hardy, Gérard Brach, Roman Polanski
- Starring
- Nastassja Kinski, Peter Firth, Leigh Lawson
Details
- Release date
- Dec 12, 1980
- Language
- English
- Country
- United Kingdom, France
- Box office
- $20,093,330
- Awards
- Won 3 Oscars. 16 wins & 17 nominations total
Where to Watch Tess (1980) in the US — common questions
- Where to watch Tess in the United States?
- Tess is available with a subscription or to rent in the United States. Watch the movie with a subscription on The Criterion Channel (HD). Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.
- Can I stream Tess or do I have to rent it in the United States?
- Watch the movie with a subscription on The Criterion Channel (HD). Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.
- Can I watch Tess for free in the United States?
- We have not confirmed a free option for Tess in the United States.
