The Seventh Seal (1957)
The story of a challenge to death.
When disillusioned Swedish knight Antonius Block returns home from the Crusades to find his country in the grips of the Black Death, he challenges Death to a chess match for his life. Tormented by the belief that God does not exist, Block sets off on a journey, meeting up with traveling players Jof and his wife, Mia, and becoming determined to evade Death long enough to commit one redemptive act while he still lives.
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| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 16 February 1957 |
| Genre | Fantasy, Drama |
| Director | Ingmar Bergman |
| Starring | Gunnar Björnstrand, Bengt Ekerot and Nils Poppe |
| Runtime | 96 min |
| Rated | NR |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 9.2/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 93% · Metacritic 88/100 · IMDb 8.1/10 · TMDB users 8.1/10 |
Where to watch The Seventh Seal
The Seventh Seal is streaming on Max ($18.49 a month) in the US. It is also on Tubi. If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Max is $18.49 at list price.
We check availability daily. Page last updated 31 October 2026. Prices are standard monthly plans and change often, so check with the service before you sign up.
Rent or buy
You can rent or buy The Seventh Seal on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango at Home.
Where to watch The Seventh Seal in 8 other countries
| Country | Streaming on (price a month) |
|---|---|
| Canada | Tubi |
| Denmark | Tv2dk |
| Japan | Prime Video ¥600 JPY, Hulu |
| South Korea | Watcha |
| Spain | Prime Video €4.99, Filmin €9.99 |
| Sweden | TV4 Play free |
| Türkiye | Max |
| United Kingdom | BBC iPlayer free |
Subscription, free and ad-supported services we track; prices where Binge Boss has a price list for the country. "About" marks a price the service bills in another currency, converted at the day's rate. All countries as data.
What kind of watch this is
Ingmar Bergman’s 1957 drama is 96 minutes of a knight arguing with Death. The tone is quiet, cold, and deeply unsettled. It does not seek to entertain you with spectacle; it wants to disturb your peace. The hook is simple: Block bets his life on a chessboard because he cannot find a reason to live. It is a film that asks heavy questions and refuses to answer them, leaving you to sit in the silence. You will not forget the ending.
How it did with audiences
The Seventh Seal has no box office figures to discuss. Instead, look at the numbers that stick around. On TMDB, users give it an 8.1 out of 10. IMDb, using a weighted average, also lands on 8.1 as of May 2026. Two platforms, one score, zero receipts. It is a film that relies on reputation rather than receipts, and the audience seems to agree.
Where it left its mark
The 1957 Cannes Special Jury Prize did more than win an award; it introduced Ingmar Bergman to the world. Critics at Cahiers du Cinéma spotted him through this film, and within five years, he was recognized as the first true auteur of Swedish cinema. James Monaco noted the movie’s symbolism was instantly clear to readers of literature, making it a staple in high school and college courses.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched The Seventh Seal.
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Sources
- The Seventh Seal on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q217189 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “The Seventh Seal” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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