The Wave (2008): cast, story & where to watch
2008 · Film · ★ 7.5
Released in 2008, The Wave is a thriller and drama film directed by Dennis Gansel, running about 107 minutes. “Evil is something that you learn” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A school teacher discusses types of government with his class. His students find it too boring to repeatedly go over national socialism and believe that dictatorship cannot be established in modern Germany. He starts an experiment to show how easily the masses can become manipulated.
Who’s in it. The Wave stars Jürgen Vogel as Rainer Wenger, Frederick Lau as Tim, Max Riemelt as Marco and Jennifer Ulrich as Karo, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.5/10, The Wave has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $19M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Wave page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Wave tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Wave (2008)?
- In US, The Wave is available to rent or buy from Google Play Movies and YouTube. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Wave worth watching?
- The Wave holds an audience score of 7.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller and drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Wave?
- The Wave stars Jürgen Vogel, Frederick Lau, Max Riemelt, Jennifer Ulrich and Christiane Paul.
- When was The Wave released?
- The Wave was released in 2008, with a runtime of about 107 minutes.