Stalker (1979): Cast, Box Office, Plot & Where to Watch
Stalker is a 1979 sci-fi drama directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, starring Aleksandr Kaydanovskiy as Stalker, Alisa Freyndlikh and Natalya Abramova. It is partly based on Roadside Picnic by Arkady Strugatsky and Boris Strugatsky. It runs 2 hours 42 minutes and earned $455,992 worldwide. Stream it on HBO Max, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 42m (162 min)
- Director
- Andrei Tarkovsky
- Original language
-
Russian - Studio
- Mosfilm
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Stalker About?
The premise of Stalker without spoilers, adapted from Roadside Picnic by Arkady Strugatsky and Boris Strugatsky. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Silence is required; you must concentrate and recall every memory of your past life, for reflection softens a man. Outside a bleak, nameless city lies the Zone, a barbed‑wire‑guarded area where physics bends and anomalies erupt. A stalker leads two men into the Zone, seeking the Room where the deepest wishes are fulfilled.
Stalker Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- dog
- postmodern
- art film
- breaking the fourth wall
- psychokinesis
- based on novel
- expedition
- no go zone
- exclusion zone
- jeep
- based on poem
- crown of thorns
+38 more Show fewer
- epic sci fi
- epic drama
- psychological drama
- ruins
- railway
- long take
- religion
- water
- russian science fiction
- guide
- writer
- professor
- reference to god
- telephone call
- train
- forbidden zone
- tour guide
- polluted environment
- contamination
- shepherd dog
- bleak landscape
- sand dune
- husband wife and daughter
- voice over narration
- chamber drama
- dystopian sci fi
- post apocalyptic sci fi
- poem
- pistol
- rucksack
- thermos
- 20 kiloton bomb
- carrying a child on shoulders
- bar
- liquor bottle
- pouring liquor out
- crutches
- family relationships
Where to Watch Stalker
Stream it on HBO Max, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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Stalker Cast & Characters
Aleksandr Kaydanovskiy leads the cast as Stalker, with Alisa Freyndlikh as Stalker's Wife and Natalya Abramova as Marta. Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky; 9 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Andrei Tarkovsky
- Aleksandr Kaydanovskiy as Stalker
- Alisa Freyndlikh as Stalker's Wife
- Natalya Abramova as Marta
- Anatoliy Solonitsyn as Writer
Also Starring in Stalker
· 5 more- Nikolay Grinko Professor
- Vladimir Zamanskiy Professor's Telephone Interlocutor (voice) (uncredited)
- Faime Jurno Writer's Companion
- Evgeniy Kostin Lyuger, Owner of Cafe
- Raimo Rendi Police Patrol
Stalker Plot Summary
What happens in Stalker from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
A man works as a Stalker, guiding people through the Zone, a mysterious expanse where the laws of physics bend and remnants of inexplicable, otherworldly activity lie scattered among the ruins. At the heart of this eerie landscape sits a rumored [Room] that supposedly grants the deepest wishes of anyone who dares to step inside. But the Zone is a living, treacherous thing, filled with ominous hazards that seem to respond to a traveler’s fears and desires. The government bans entry, and those who venture in—especially a Stalker—risk harsh prison sentences if caught.
Full summary
The whole story of Stalker, scene by scene
Stalker Box Office
Stalker grossed $455,992 worldwide. $292,049 came from the US and Canada and $136,261 (32%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$456K
- US & Canada
- $292K
- International
- $136.3K
Stalker Trailers & Videos
4 videos: 2 trailers and 2 featurettes.
- Trailer STALKER Trailer [1979]
- Featurette Geoff Dyer on STALKER
- Featurette Mark Kermode reviews Stalker (1979) | BFI Player
How Well Do You Know Stalker?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the profession of the guide who leads people through the Zone?
Cars in Stalker
4 cars on screen, including the 1958 Land-Rover 88'' Series II and the 1963 Fiat 1600 S Cabriolet.
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1958 Land-Rover 88'' Series II Important role -
1963 Fiat 1600 S Cabriolet Minor role -
Ural M-72 Minor role -
1938 Ford V8 Background role
Stalker Also Known As
22 alternative titles, including “La zona” and “İz Sürücü”.
- Also known as
-
- La zona
- İz Sürücü
- 스토커
- 잠입자
- 潜行者
- Vandringsmanden
- Stalkeri
- Στάλκερ
- Sztalker
- ストーカー（1979）
- Stalkeris
- Stalker: La zona
+10 more Show fewer
- Călăuza
- 潛行者
- Roadside Picnic
- Ստալկեր
- סטאלקר
- استالکر
- ストーカー
- Zona
- สทอล์คเกอร์ ปฎิหาริย์และความหวัง
- مطارد
Seen Stalker?
Movies Like Stalker
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Stalker, Stasis and Solaris.
Stalker FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Stalker, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Stalker?
Stalker runs 2 hours 42 minutes (162 minutes).
When was Stalker released?
Stalker was released on May 25, 1979.
Who directed Stalker?
Stalker was directed by Andrei Tarkovsky.
More films by Andrei Tarkovsky Who is in the cast of Stalker?
Stalker stars Aleksandr Kaydanovskiy as Stalker, Alisa Freyndlikh as Stalker's Wife and Natalya Abramova as Marta, among 9 credited actors.
Where can I watch Stalker?
In the US, Stalker is streaming on HBO Max and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did Stalker make at the box office?
Stalker grossed $455,992 worldwide ($292,049 domestic, $136,261 international).
Is Stalker based on a book?
Yes. Stalker is partly adapted from Roadside Picnic by Arkady Strugatsky, Boris Strugatsky and Olena Bormashenko.
Does Stalker have a post-credit scene?
No. Stalker has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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