The Pianist
“Music was his passion. Survival was his masterpiece.”
Synopsis
The true story of pianist Władysław Szpilman's experiences in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. When the Jews of the city find themselves forced into a ghetto, Szpilman finds work playing in a café; and when his family is deported in 1942, he stays behind, works for a while as a laborer, and eventually goes into hiding in the ruins of the war-torn city.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
4K Restoration TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2023-12-20
Top Cast
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Adrien Brody
Władysław 'Władek' Szpilman
Thomas Kretschmann
Captain Wilm Hosenfeld
Frank Finlay
Father
Maureen Lipman
Mother
Emilia Fox
Dorota
Ed Stoppard
Henryk Szpilman
Julia Rayner
Regina Szpilman
Jessica Kate Meyer
Halina Szpilman
Michał Żebrowski
Jurek
Wanja Mues
SS Slapping Father
Richard Ridings
Mr. Lipa
Nomi Sharron
Feather Woman
Anthony Milner
Man Waiting to Cross
Lucy Skeaping
Street Musician
Roddy Skeaping
Street Musician
Ben Harlan
Street Musician
Thomas Lawinky
Schutzpolizei
Joachim Paul Assböck
Schutzpolizei
Release History & Theatrical Window
Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
December 25, 2002
Wide Cinema Exhibition
September 29, 2003
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$35M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$120.1M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
3.43x
+$85.1M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Roman Polanski
- Screenplay & Story
- Ronald Harwood
- Original Score
- Wojciech Kilar
- Original Title
- The Pianist
- Country of Origin
- France, Germany, Poland, United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English, German, Polish, Russian
- Runtime
- 2h 30m
- Production Budget
- $35M
- Worldwide Gross
- $120.1M
- Production Studios
- R.P. Productions, Heritage Films, Studio Babelsberg, Runteam, StudioCanal
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Roman Polanski
Ronald Harwood, Władysław Szpilman
Wojciech Kilar
Paweł Edelman
Hervé de Luze
Alain Sarde, Robert Benmussa, Roman Polanski, Timothy Burrill, Henning Molfenter
Department Leadership Roster
Alain Sarde
Producer
Ronald Harwood
Screenplay
Robert Benmussa
Producer
Roman Polanski
Director
Paweł Edelman
Director of Photography
Wojciech Kilar
Original Music Composer
Hervé de Luze
Editor
Roman Polanski
Producer
Allan Starski
Production Design
Anna B. Sheppard
Costume Design
Jim Dowdall
Stunt Coordinator
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.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Pianist.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Pianist
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Pianist about?
The true story of pianist Władysław Szpilman's experiences in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. When the Jews of the city find themselves forced into a ghetto, Szpilman finds work playing in a café; and when his family is deported in 1942, he stays behind, works for a while as a laborer, and eventually goes into hiding in the ruins of the war-torn city.
Who directed The Pianist?
The Pianist was directed by Roman Polanski.
Who stars in The Pianist?
The principal cast of The Pianist includes Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Maureen Lipman, Emilia Fox.
When was The Pianist released and how long is it?
The Pianist was released in 2002 with a total runtime of 2h 30m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Pianist?
The Pianist had a reported production budget of $35M and grossed $120.1M at the worldwide box office (3.43 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for The Pianist?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Pianist was composed by Wojciech Kilar.
Is The Pianist based on a book or true story?
The Pianist is adapted from the following source material: Book: "Władysław Szpilman".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Pianist?
The Pianist holds official age classifications: AU: MA 15+; DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: TP; GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).