Where to Watch The Decline of the American Empire (1986) in the US

What it's about

A group of academics at the University of Montreal--most long time friends--plan to gather at the lakeside recreational home of Rémy and Louise, who have been together for 20 years, married for 15 of them, for dinner. Louise knows Rémy cheats on her, but believes he only does so when she is not around, which she accepts. Their recreational home is adjacent to many of the recreational homes of the others, who are: divorced Pierre and his much younger current girlfriend Danielle who is a student at the university; divorced mother Diane; independent-minded Dominque; single homosexual Claude; and graduate student Alain; While the four men prepare the dinner, the four women are working out together in the gym. The common factor between the two groups is the topic of conversation: sex, especially as it relates to themselves. But underlying each of the conversations is their own academic and intellectual backgrounds, which shapes the nature of the discussions. When the two groups finally converge for dinner, a ninth person is added peripherally, brusque working-class Mario, Diane's current sexual partner. This relationship is a first for Diane in that not only their sexual encounters but the way they interact with each other in general is predicated on S and M, dictated largely by Diane, the submissive. What happens with the group as dinner goes into evening and evening goes into morning is further shaped by them listening to a prerecorded interview Dominique did for CBC Radio earlier in the day to promote her new book, which discusses how the quest for individual happiness in modern western society is leading to the decline of the society in general.

Cast and crew

Director

Denys Arcand

Writer

Denys Arcand, Gabriel Arcand, Mark Blandford

Starring

Dominique Michel, Dorothée Berryman, Louise Portal

Details

Release date

Nov 14, 1986

Language

French, English

Country

Canada

Box office

$1,902,706

Awards

Nominated for 1 Oscar. 13 wins & 8 nominations total

Where to Watch The Decline of the American Empire (1986) in the US — common questions

Where to watch The Decline of the American Empire in the United States?

The Decline of the American Empire is available with a subscription, free with ads, free with a participating library card, to rent, or to buy in the United States. Watch the movie with a subscription on Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel (HD) and OVID. Watch the movie free with ads on Fandango at Home Free (HD), Plex Channel (HD), Plex Player (HD), and Tubi. Watch the movie free with a participating library card on hoopla and Kanopy (HD). Rent the movie on Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. Buy the movie on Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.

Can I stream The Decline of the American Empire or do I have to rent it in the United States?

Watch the movie with a subscription on Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel (HD) and OVID. Rent the movie on Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. Buy the movie on Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.

Can I watch The Decline of the American Empire for free in the United States?

Watch the movie free with ads on Fandango at Home Free (HD), Plex Channel (HD), Plex Player (HD), and Tubi. Watch the movie free with a participating library card on hoopla and Kanopy (HD).