Ministry of Fear

Thrilling drama of the Invisible Network of Terror!

1944 • 86 min • Crime · Mystery · Thriller

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Synopsis

Stephen Neale is released into WWII England after two years in an asylum, but it doesn't seem so sane outside either. On his way back to London to rejoin civilization, he stumbles across a murderous spy ring and doesn't quite know to whom to turn.

Our family guide

Best from age 10

Movie Knight Score

205 reviews

100 Reviewers · 2 · 51%
69 Audience · 203 · 49%

Released from an asylum, Stephen Neale is thrust into a WWII spy ring in England. He uncovers a plot involving Nazis and murder, struggling to find allies in a world turned upside down. This classic film noir features suspense and moral ambiguity.

Violence & peril: 4/10
Language: 1/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 2/10
Romance & sensuality: 1/10
Scary moments: 4/10

Heads up

Classic spy thriller may be intense for some
Depicts wartime paranoia
Themes of mental health and mistaken identity

What it models well

Perseverance in the face of injustice
Seeking truth amidst deception
Resilience

Talk about it after

The impact of war on society
Trust and betrayal
The nature of sanity

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Ministry of Fear. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

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Top billed cast

Director: Fritz Lang • Crew: Seton I. Miller

Trailers & clips

Ministry of Fear Official Trailer #1 - Ray Milland Movie (1944) HD

Reviewer notes

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
Ray Milland is "Stephen Neale" who has recently been released from a psychiatric hospital. On his way back to London he stops off at a village fête where he guesses the weight of a cake correctly - and so has to lug it back on the train with him. When he shares it with a fellow passenger who proceeds to steal the thing, he guesses that there is more to it than just sponge and jam!…
CinemaSerf, TMDB Community

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
Innocent? Prove it! *Warning: Spoilers* Ministry Of Fear is directed by Fritz Lang & is adapted for the screen by Seton I. Miller from the Graham Greene novel "The Ministry Of Fear." It stars Ray Milland as Stephen Neale, an ex-insane asylum inmate who is released after a two year sentence for what was allegedly the "mercy" killing of his incurably ill wife.…
John Chard, TMDB Community