Prick Up Your Ears (1987): cast, story & where to watch
1987 · Film · ★ 6.6
Released in 1987, Prick Up Your Ears is a drama film directed by Stephen Frears, running about 111 minutes.
What it’s about. When the young, attractive Joe Orton meets the older, more introverted Kenneth Halliwell at drama school, he befriends the kindred spirit and they start an affair. As Orton becomes more comfortable with his sexuality and starts to find success with his writing, Halliwell becomes increasingly alienated and jealous, ultimately tapping into a dangerous rage.
Who’s in it. Prick Up Your Ears stars Gary Oldman as Joe Orton, Alfred Molina as Kenneth Halliwell, Vanessa Redgrave as Peggy Ramsay and Frances Barber as Leonie Orton, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.6/10, Prick Up Your Ears has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel and Philo. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Prick Up Your Ears page.
If you liked it. Fans of Prick Up Your Ears tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Prick Up Your Ears (1987)?
- In US, Prick Up Your Ears is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV and MGM+ Amazon Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Prick Up Your Ears worth watching?
- Prick Up Your Ears holds an audience score of 6.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Prick Up Your Ears?
- Prick Up Your Ears stars Gary Oldman, Alfred Molina, Vanessa Redgrave, Frances Barber and Lindsay Duncan.
- When was Prick Up Your Ears released?
- Prick Up Your Ears was released in 1987, with a runtime of about 111 minutes.