The Reader
“Behind the mystery lies a truth that will make you question everything you know.”
Synopsis
The story of Michael Berg, a German lawyer who, as a teenager in the late 1950s, had an affair with an older woman, Hanna, who then disappeared only to resurface years later as one of the defendants in a war crimes trial stemming from her actions as a concentration camp guard late in the war. He alone realizes that Hanna is illiterate and may be concealing that fact at the expense of her freedom.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Reader (2008) official trailer HD
Type: Trailer • Published 2009-01-18
Top Cast
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Ralph Fiennes
Michael Berg
Kate Winslet
Hanna Schmitz
David Kross
Young Michael Berg
Lena Olin
Rose Mather
Bruno Ganz
Professor Rohl
Jeanette Hain
Brigitte
Hannah Herzsprung
Julia
Karoline Herfurth
Marthe
Volker Bruch
Dieter Spenz
Alexandra Maria Lara
Young Ilana Mather
Fabian Busch
Hanna's Defense Council
Vijessna Ferkic
Sophie
Susanne Lothar
Carla Berg
Matthias Habich
Peter Berg
Burghart Klaußner
Judge
Sylvester Groth
Prosecuting Council
Jürgen Tarrach
Gerhard Bade
Florian Bartholomäi
Thomas Berg
Release History & Theatrical Window
Berlin International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
December 10, 2008
Wide Cinema Exhibition
September 8, 2009
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$32M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$108.9M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
3.4x
+$76.9M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Stephen Daldry
- Screenplay & Story
- David Hare
- Original Score
- Nico Muhly
- Original Title
- The Reader
- Country of Origin
- Germany, United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, German, Greek, Latin
- Runtime
- 2h 4m
- Production Budget
- $32M
- Worldwide Gross
- $108.9M
- Production Studios
- The Weinstein Company, Mirage Enterprises, Studio Babelsberg
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Stephen Daldry
David Hare, Bernhard Schlink
Nico Muhly
Roger Deakins, Chris Menges
Claire Simpson
Donna Gigliotti, Anthony Minghella, Sydney Pollack, Redmond Morris, Harvey Weinstein
Department Leadership Roster
Roger Deakins
Director of Photography
Donna Gigliotti
Producer
Brigitte Broch
Production Design
Anthony Minghella
Producer
Sydney Pollack
Producer
Claire Simpson
Editor
Donna Maloney
Costume Design
Redmond Morris
Producer
Ann Roth
Costume Design
Nico Muhly
Original Music Composer
David Hare
Screenplay
Stephen Daldry
Director
Chris Menges
Director of Photography
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
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
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 Reader.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Reader.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Reader
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Reader about?
The story of Michael Berg, a German lawyer who, as a teenager in the late 1950s, had an affair with an older woman, Hanna, who then disappeared only to resurface years later as one of the defendants in a war crimes trial stemming from her actions as a concentration camp guard late in the war. He alone realizes that Hanna is illiterate and may be concealing that fact at the expense of her freedom.
Who directed The Reader?
The Reader was directed by Stephen Daldry.
Who stars in The Reader?
The principal cast of The Reader includes Ralph Fiennes, Kate Winslet, David Kross, Lena Olin, Bruno Ganz.
When was The Reader released and how long is it?
The Reader was released in 2008 with a total runtime of 2h 4m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Reader?
The Reader had a reported production budget of $32M and grossed $108.9M at the worldwide box office (3.4 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for The Reader?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Reader was composed by Nico Muhly.
Is The Reader based on a book or true story?
The Reader is adapted from the following source material: Book: "Bernhard Schlink".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Reader?
The Reader holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); CA: R; DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: 12 (Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).