The Needle (1988): cast, story & where to watch
1988 · Film · ★ 6.8
Released in 1988, The Needle is a thriller, drama and mystery film directed by Rashid Nugmanov, running about 77 minutes. “Tsoi, drugs and Soviet rock.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Moro returns to Alma-Ata to collect money owed to him. While waiting out an unexpected delay, he visits his former girlfriend Dina and discovers she has become a morphine addict. He decides to help her kick the habit and to fight the local drug mafia responsible for her condition.
Who’s in it. The Needle stars Viktor Tsoy as Моro, Marina Smirnova as Dina, Aleksandr Bashirov as Spartak and Pyotr Mamonov as Artur, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, The Needle has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Klassiki and rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Needle page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Needle tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Needle (1988)?
- In US, The Needle is available to stream on Klassiki, and rent or buy from Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Needle worth watching?
- The Needle holds an audience score of 6.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller, drama and mystery. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Needle?
- The Needle stars Viktor Tsoy, Marina Smirnova, Aleksandr Bashirov, Pyotr Mamonov and Archimed Iskakov.
- When was The Needle released?
- The Needle was released in 1988, with a runtime of about 77 minutes.