Back to trending
The Eighth Day

The Eighth Day

Drama · 1996

An unusual and wonderful friendship develops between a busy but unhappy salesman and a resident of a mental asylum.

Movie details

The Eighth Day

“What a difference a day makes…”

1996 Drama 1h 58m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.3 / 10

Community rating

An unusual and wonderful friendship develops between a busy but unhappy salesman and a resident of a mental asylum.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Eighth Day?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

The Son

The Son

Drama · 2002

A joinery instructor at a rehab center refuses to take a new teen as his apprentice, but then begins to follow the boy through the hallways and streets.

Shepherds

Shepherds

Drama · 2024

A young Montreal advertising executive, converted to a Provençal shepherd, has various misadventures with a civil servant who has cavalierly quit her job.

It All Starts Today

It All Starts Today

Drama · 1999

In a mining town which has been blighted by economic downturns, an elementary school headmaster struggles to obtain social services on behalf of his students.

Céline

Céline

Drama · 1992

After the death of her father, 22-year-old Céline inherits most of his estate, but gives it to her stepmother, causing her greedy fiancé to leave her. Following several failed suicide attempts, Céline is hospitalized and comes to the attention of a nurse, Genevieve, who has struggled with depression. Under her personal care, Céline gradually recovers, and the two women grow close.

Houria

Houria

Drama · 2023

A young woman who is passionate about ballet dancing and experiences a trauma, and then she meets other women who have experienced similar situations and they find a creative way to pursue their passion.

Red Soil

Red Soil

Drama · 2021

Freshly hired as a labor nurse in a chemical factory, Nour discovers that small arrangements exist between management and her father, Slimane, the staff representative, and the company's pivot. Lies about polluting discharges, hidden illnesses of employees, hidden accidents ... Nour, little by little, no longer accepts the compromises of his father to preserve the image of the company. She decides to launch the alert.

Young Mothers

Young Mothers

Drama · 2025

Housed in a shelter for young mothers, Jessica, Perla, Julia, Ariane, and Naïma, all of whom have grown up in difficult circumstances, struggle to obtain a better life for themselves and their children.

Hadewijch

Hadewijch

Drama · 2009

A troubled young woman is thrown out of a convent and forms a relationship with a radical Muslim.

Chaos

Chaos

Drama · 2001

A bourgeois couple, modern yet conventional. One night by accident, a young prostitute barges into their lives. Hounded down, beaten up, threatened, she will continue to struggle, with the help of a well off lady, first for her survival-her resurrection-then for her dignity and freedom. Stormy encounters for everyone involved.

Haute Couture

Haute Couture

Drama · 2021

Esther is at the end of her career as Head Seamstress at Dior Avenue Montaigne workshop. One day, she gets her handbag stolen in the metro by a 20 years old girl, Jade. Instead of calling the police she decides to take care of Jade. She sees in her the opportunity to pass on her skills, the craft of dressmaking, her only wealth. In the frenetic world of Haute Couture, Esther will give Jade la beauté du geste, a way to reach beyond herself.

Where it lives

Watch in your region.

Cinema release signals and current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region.

Streaming availability data supplied by JustWatch.

Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Jaco Van Dormael

Written by

Jaco Van Dormael

Daniel Auteuil

Daniel Auteuil

Harry

Pascal Duquenne

Pascal Duquenne

Georges

Miou-Miou

Miou-Miou

Julie

Henri Garcin

Henri Garcin

Bank manager

Isabelle Sadoyan

Isabelle Sadoyan

Georges' Mother

Fabienne Loriaux

Fabienne Loriaux

Fabienne, Georges's sister

Juliette Van Dormael

Juliette Van Dormael

Juliette

Court is in session

Put The Eighth Day on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.