Skip to content
What's After the Movie?

Jump to
What's After the Movie?
Biographical drama

Schindler's List (1993): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Schindler's List (1993) movie poster

Schindler's List is a 1993 biographical drama directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes. It is based on Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally. It runs 3 hours 15 minutes and earned $322.2 million worldwide on a $22 million budget. It won 7 Oscars, including Best Picture and Art Direction, and 18 awards in all. Critics gave it 95 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 9.0/10.

IMDb rating
9.0/10
worldwide gross
$322.2M
Oscars won
7
Metascore
95
Loading streaming availability…
Watch the trailer Read the plot summary
Schindler's List (1993) movie poster
Released
Runtime
3h 15m (195 min)
Director
Steven Spielberg
Genres
Biography , Drama , History , War
Original language
English
Studio
Universal Pictures
Budget
$22M
Based on
Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Schindler's List About?

The premise of Schindler's List without spoilers, adapted from Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In 1939, Oskar Schindler, a German businessman, travels to Krakow seeking profit. He joins the Nazi party to facilitate his factory's operations, employing Jewish workers. As the persecution of Jews intensifies and the SS begins systematic exterminations, Schindler witnesses the escalating horrors of World War II. Increasingly troubled by the violence, he begins to protect his workers, ultimately risking his own life to save them from the atrocities of the Holocaust.

Schindler's List Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • holocaust
  • nazi
  • nazi concentration camp
  • german
  • jewish
  • world war two
  • auschwitz
  • based on true story
  • nazi occupied poland
  • accountant
  • anti semitism
  • 1940s
+38 more
  • list
  • ghetto
  • shot in the head
  • mass grave
  • krakow poland
  • ss
  • extermination camp
  • mass murder
  • identification papers
  • schindler jews
  • pistol
  • liberation
  • racism
  • good versus evil
  • rescue
  • rabbi
  • industrialist
  • gratitude
  • shower
  • swastika
  • enamelware
  • what happened to epilogue
  • 1930s
  • coat
  • cracow poland
  • nazi officer
  • genocide
  • anti nazi
  • national film registry
  • oskar schindler character
  • shoah
  • death of title character
  • champagne
  • child in jeopardy
  • soap
  • murder of a child
  • progeny
  • poland
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

Schindler's List Cast

Liam Neeson leads the cast, with Ralph Fiennes. Directed by Steven Spielberg.

From the director

More from Steven Spielberg

More films directed by Steven Spielberg, best-rated first: Saving Private Ryan, The Fabelmans, Jaws and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Full filmography
Ratings

Schindler's List Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Schindler's List 95 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 9.0/10.

Plot

Schindler's List Plot Summary

What happens in Schindler's List from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The relocation of Polish Jews to Krakow initiates in late 1939, shortly after World War II erupts when the German Army swiftly defeats the Polish forces. Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), an ambitious businessman hailing from Czechoslovakia, seizes the opportunity to exploit the plentiful and inexpensive Jewish labor for his enamelware production aimed at supplying the German military. Initially a self-serving member of the Nazi party, Schindler uses his cunning and charm to bribe army and SS officials overseeing procurement.

Full summary

The whole story of Schindler's List, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Schindler's List Box Office & Budget

Schindler's List grossed $322.2 million worldwide on a $22 million budget, 15 times what it cost. $96.9 million came from the US and Canada and $225.3 million (70%) from the rest of the world.

1993 box office

Worldwide gross

$322.2M

15× its budget

US & Canada
$96.9M
International
$225.3M
Budget
$22M
US & Canada 30% Rest of the world 70%
Awards

Schindler's List Awards & Nominations

Schindler's List won 7 Oscars, including Best Picture and Art Direction, and 18 awards in all. Its biggest night was the BAFTA 1994, with 7 wins from 13 nominations.

18 wins32 nominations4 ceremonies

Videos

Schindler's List Trailers & Videos

26 videos: 3 trailers, 6 clips and 17 featurettes.

All 26 videos
20th Anniversary Blu-ray Trailer
  • Trailer Trailer
  • Trailer 25th Anniversary Trailer
  • Clip Miscalibrating The Machines
  • Clip The Children Wave Goodbye
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Schindler's List?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the main character in Schindler's List?
Cars

Cars in Schindler's List

12 cars on screen, including the 1946 Daimler DE36 Straight Eight and the 1937 Horch 951 Pullman-Cabriolet.

All 12 cars
  • 1946 Daimler DE36 Straight Eight in Schindler's List 1946 Daimler DE36 Straight Eight Important role
  • 1937 Horch 951 Pullman-Cabriolet in Schindler's List 1937 Horch 951 Pullman-Cabriolet Important role
  • 1937 Mercedes-Benz 320 Cabriolet W142 in Schindler's List 1937 Mercedes-Benz 320 Cabriolet W142 Important role
  • BMW R 75 in Schindler's List BMW R 75 Minor role
Details

Schindler's List Also Known As

39 alternative titles, including “قائمة شندلر” and “舒特拉的名單”.

Also known as
  • قائمة شندلر
  • 舒特拉的名單
  • Lista Shindlera
  • シンドラーのリスト
  • シンドラーのリスト：1993
  • Schindlers List
  • Η Λίστα του Σίντλερ
  • La lista de Schindler
  • 辛德勒的名單
  • Շինդլերի Ցուցակը
  • רשימת שינדלר
  • Schindler's List - La lista di Schindler
+27 more
  • Спіс Шындлера
  • Schindlers Liste
  • La Liste de Schindler
  • Список Шиндлера
  • Schindler listája
  • Schindler'in Listesi
  • A Lista de Schindler
  • 辛德勒的名单
  • Lista Schindlera
  • Schindlerův seznam
  • Списъкът на Шиндлер
  • ชะตากรรมที่โลกไม่ลืม
  • Schindlerov zoznam
  • Lista lui Schindler
  • فهرست شیندلر
  • 쉰들러 리스트
  • La llista de Schindler
  • Шиндлерова листа
  • Schindlerin lista
  • Šindlerio sąrašas
  • Schindlerova lista
  • Schindlerjev seznam
  • Šindlera saraksts
  • Bản Danh Sách Của Schindler, შინდლერის სია
  • Schindleri nimekiri
  • La listo de Schindler
  • शिन्लडर्स लिस्ट

Seen Schindler's List?
More like this

Movies Like Schindler's List

Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Schindler, Schindler’s List: 25 Years Later and The Pianist.

From the blog

Articles About Schindler's List

20 articles about Schindler's List. The latest: “Analyzing the Role of Prop Design in Film”.

Search the blog
FAQ

Schindler's List FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Schindler's List, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Schindler's List?

Schindler's List runs 3 hours 15 minutes (195 minutes).

When was Schindler's List released?

Schindler's List was released on December 15, 1993.

Who directed Schindler's List?

Schindler's List was directed by Steven Spielberg.

More films by Steven Spielberg

Who is in the cast of Schindler's List?

Schindler's List stars Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes.

How much did Schindler's List make at the box office?

Schindler's List grossed $322.2 million worldwide ($96.9 million domestic, $225.3 million international) on a budget of $22 million.

How is Schindler's List rated?

Schindler's List has 9.0/10 on IMDb, 95 on Metacritic and 86% on TMDB.

Is Schindler's List based on a book?

Yes. Schindler's List is adapted from Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally.

What awards did Schindler's List win?

Schindler's List won 18 awards from 32 nominations, including Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the BAFTA 1994.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app