Breaking the Waves
“Love is a mighty power.”
Synopsis
In a small, conservative Scottish village, an oilman is paralyzed in an accident. His wife, who prayed for his return, feels guilty; even more, when he urges her to have sex with another.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Trailer (1996)Official
Type: Trailer • Published 2016-10-04
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Emily Watson
Bess McNeill
Stellan Skarsgård
Jan Nyman
Katrin Cartlidge
Dodo McNeill
Jean-Marc Barr
Terry
Adrian Rawlins
Dr. Richardson
Jonathan Hackett
Priest
Sandra Voe
Mother
Udo Kier
Sadistic Sailor
Mikkel Gaup
Pits
Roef Ragas
Pim
Robert Robertson
Chairman
Phil McCall
Grandfather
Desmond Reilly
An Elder
Sarah Gudgeon
Sybilla
Finlay Welsh
Coroner
David Gallacher
Glasgow Doctor
Ray Jeffries
Man on Bus
Owen Kavanagh
Man at Lighthouse
Release History & Theatrical Window
Cannes Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
November 13, 1996
Wide Cinema Exhibition
May 12, 2009
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$7.5M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$23M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
3.07x
+$15.5M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Lars von Trier
- Screenplay & Story
- David Pirie, Kirsten Bonnén Rask, Tómas Gislason, Lars von Trier, Peter Asmussen
- Original Score
- Joachim Holbek
- Original Title
- Breaking the Waves
- Country of Origin
- Denmark, France, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 39m
- Production Budget
- $7.5M
- Worldwide Gross
- $23M
- Production Studios
- Zentropa Entertainments, SVT Drama, Nordisk Film & TV Fond, La Sept Cinéma, VPRO, Media Investment Club, Trust Film Svenska, Liberator Productions, Argus Film Produktie, Northern Lights, DR TV, Villealfa Filmproductions, YLE, ZDF
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Lars von Trier
David Pirie, Kirsten Bonnén Rask, Tómas Gislason, Lars von Trier, Peter Asmussen
Joachim Holbek
Robby Müller, Eric Kress
Anders Refn
Peter Aalbæk Jensen, Vibeke Windeløv, Lars Jönsson
Department Leadership Roster
Lars von Trier
Director
Robby Müller
Director of Photography
Anders Refn
Editor
Peter Aalbæk Jensen
Producer
Terry Forrestal
Stunt Coordinator
Vibeke Windeløv
Producer
Lars von Trier
Writer
Karl Júlíusson
Production Design
Manon Rasmussen
Costume Design
Joachim Holbek
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Breaking the Waves.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Breaking the Waves.
European Cinema
Auto-generated by festival-lists — do not edit by hand.
Movie Collection
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***Dramă***
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Frequently Asked Questions About Breaking the Waves
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Breaking the Waves about?
In a small, conservative Scottish village, an oilman is paralyzed in an accident. His wife, who prayed for his return, feels guilty; even more, when he urges her to have sex with another.
Who directed Breaking the Waves?
Breaking the Waves was directed by Lars von Trier.
Who stars in Breaking the Waves?
The principal cast of Breaking the Waves includes Emily Watson, Stellan Skarsgård, Katrin Cartlidge, Jean-Marc Barr, Adrian Rawlins.
When was Breaking the Waves released and how long is it?
Breaking the Waves was released in 1996 with a total runtime of 2h 39m.
What was the box office and production budget of Breaking the Waves?
Breaking the Waves had a reported production budget of $7.5M and grossed $23M at the worldwide box office (3.07 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Breaking the Waves?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Breaking the Waves was composed by Joachim Holbek.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Breaking the Waves?
Breaking the Waves holds official age classifications: AU: R 18+; DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: 12 (Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.); GB: 18 (Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).