200 Motels (1971): cast, story & where to watch
1971 · Film · ★ 5.5
Released in 1971, 200 Motels is a comedy, fantasy, science fiction and music film directed by Frank Zappa, running about 98 minutes.
What it’s about. "Touring makes you crazy," Frank Zappa says, explaining that the idea for this film came to him while the Mothers of Invention were touring. The story, interspersed with performances by the Mothers and the Royal Symphony Orchestra, is a tale of life on the road. The band members' main concerns are the search for groupies and the desire to get paid.
Who’s in it. 200 Motels stars Frank Zappa as Member of Mothers of Invention (uncredited), Mark Volman as Member of Mothers of Invention, Ringo Starr as Larry the Dwarf / Frank Zappa and Howard Kaylan as Member of Mothers of Invention, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.5/10, 200 Motels 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 200 Motels page.
If you liked it. Fans of 200 Motels tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch 200 Motels (1971)?
- In US, 200 Motels 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 200 Motels worth watching?
- 200 Motels holds an audience score of 5.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, fantasy, science fiction and music. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in 200 Motels?
- 200 Motels stars Frank Zappa, Mark Volman, Ringo Starr, Howard Kaylan and Theodore Bikel.
- When was 200 Motels released?
- 200 Motels was released in 1971, with a runtime of about 98 minutes.