
A Star Is Born
1937 · Movie · NR · 111 min · ★ 7.2 · 89% critics
A farm girl heads to Hollywood with hopes of becoming a star, and a chance encounter lands her a screen test and rapid fame. As she rises, her marriage to a once-famous actor strains under his worsening alcoholism.
Where to watch
Watch free on Kanopy, Hoopla, The Roku Channel +7 more — also streaming on Great American Pure Flix.
2 hours to watch.
Stream (included)
Free
Rent
Streaming availability and prices may be inaccurate or change — verify with the provider before subscribing.
unSUB's subscription recommendations are informational only, not financial advice.
More value for your money
Similar titles, ranked by watch-hours per subscription dollar.
Details
- Years
- 1937
- Release date
- 1937-04-20
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 111 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 89/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.2/10 (239 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this classic Hollywood rise-and-fall romance if you like timeless showbiz stories and heartfelt drama; Not for you if you want modern pacing or prefer the musical versions like A Star Is Born (1954) or A Star Is Born (2018).
Pros: sharp dialogue; quick pace; classic Hollywood story | Cons: dated feel; distracting color; melodramatic moments
Themes
- husband wife relationship
- waitress
- movie business
- show business
- alcoholism
- hollywood
- alcoholic
- has been
- movie star
- fading star
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Story · 1938
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- Academy Award — Best Picture · 1938 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Actor · 1938 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Story · 1938 · nominated
Show all 8 awards →
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 1938 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Actress · 1938 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Director · 1938 · nominated
Cast & crew

Janet Gaynor
as Esther Blodgett / Vicki Lester

Fredric March
as Norman Maine

Adolphe Menjou
as Oliver Niles

May Robson
as Lettie Blodgett

Andy Devine
as Danny McGuire

Lionel Stander
as Matt Libby

Owen Moore
as Casey Burke

Peggy Wood
as Miss Phillips

Elizabeth Jenns
as Anita Regis

Edgar Kennedy
as Pop Randall
Directed by William A. Wellman