This film is currently unavailable
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_480x270/public/hero-images/american-friend2_0.jpg?itok=Yy8VwhQM)
The American Friend
Acclaimed director Wim Wenders, with the help of Dennis Hopper, transforms Patricia Highsmith's novel 'Ripley's Game' into a gripping European noir.
Director: Wim Wenders
Overview
Bruno Ganz plays professional frame maker Jonathan, who has been diagnosed with a terminal blood disease. A chance encounter with the enigmatic Tom Ripley, Dennis Hopper at his most charismatic offers him a way to ensure a stable future for his family. But as Jonathan embarks on his new and dangerous role, Tom questions his motives for involving his new friend.
Superbly shot by his consistent collaborator Robbie Müller, Wim Wenders draws on his love of American cinema and pays homage to the B-movie and Film Noir tradition. The result is one of the finest, most accessible and enthralling films of his career.
Related
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/5bbdc82121f16a334b64acc9df593a94.jpg?itok=SEzia4su)
Drunken Angel Drunken Angel
Film noir 1948 98 mins Director: Akira Kurosawa
Part gangster film, part melodrama and part social critique, Akira Kurosawa's first critical success follows the troubled friendship between a disillusioned doctor and a young yakuza.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/6400588b39af1382388dd95c195d8630.jpg?itok=VQOb9Kas)
Double Indemnity Double Indemnity
Crime 1944 108 mins Director: Billy Wilder
Barbara Stanwyck is the housewife who dupes an insurance salesman into a devious murder plot, in this giant of American cinema - the archetypal Film Noir.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/021-paris-texas-theredlist.jpg?itok=UGCFHkpa)
Paris, Texas Paris, Texas
Drama 1984 145 mins Director: Wim Wenders
The late, great Harry Dean Stanton's finest role came as the near-mute Travis, on a journey across America to reunite his family, in Wim Wenders' moving tale of loss and redemption.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/Buena_Vista_Social_Club.jpg?itok=uuyeX4js)
Buena Vista Social Club Buena Vista Social Club
Documentary 1999 101 mins Director: Wim Wenders
Cuba’s rich and colourful past comes vividly to life in this legendary, Oscar-nominated documentary from director Wim Wenders (Paris, Texas, Wings of Desire).
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/scarlet-letter-1.jpg?itok=YNSBH45J)
The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter
Period drama 1972 90 mins Director: Wim Wenders
Wim Wenders adapts the acclaimed novel in which a Puritan village chastises a young mother for giving birth out of wedlock.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/land_of_plenty_1920x1080.jpg?itok=IlGagihh)
Land of Plenty Land of Plenty
Drama 2004 124 mins Director: Wim Wenders
Michelle Williams teams up with Wim Wenders in this fascinating portrait of the contrasting worldviews between a dedicated missionary and a paranoid war veteran.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/wings-of-desire.jpg?itok=s47MX_aZ)
Wings of Desire Wings of Desire
Fantasy 1987 128 mins Director: Wim Wenders
In director Wim Wenders' (Paris, Texas) most metaphysical work, a guardian angel desires nothing more than to be human. Presented in a stunning new restoration.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/goalie1.jpg?itok=OfX9j9Dz)
The Goalie's Anxiety At The Penalty Kick The Goalie's Anxiety At The Penalty Kick
Crime 1971 103 mins Director: Wim Wenders
Unavailable for three decades, Wim Wenders’ 1972 classic about an errant footballer who turns to crime; restored and remastered in stunning 4K.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/LindaManzDennisHopperdriving.jpg?itok=wGaxBItz)
Out of the Blue Out of the Blue
Drama 1980 96 mins Director: Dennis Hopper
Directed by Dennis Hopper (Easy Rider) this story of a blue-collar family coming apart features an astonishing performance from Linda Manz (Days of Heaven).
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/wings-of-desire.jpg?itok=s47MX_aZ)
Wings of Desire Wings of Desire
Fantasy 1987 128 mins Director: Wim Wenders
In director Wim Wenders' (Paris, Texas) most metaphysical work, a guardian angel desires nothing more than to be human. Presented in a stunning new restoration.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/Nosferatu.jpg?itok=2ZGf_0xb)
Nosferatu the Vampyre Nosferatu the Vampyre
Horror 1979 107 mins Director: Werner Herzog
English language version of Herzog’s stimulating take on the Dracula story starring Klaus Kinski, with echoes of Murnau’s 1922 Nosferatu.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/Anselm-02_1920.jpg?itok=IumdrCkA)
Anselm Anselm
Biopic 2023 94 mins Director: Wim Wenders
Wim Wenders' stately and beautifully scored study of Anselm Kiefer.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/wings-of-desire.jpg?itok=s47MX_aZ)
Wings of Desire Wings of Desire
Fantasy 1987 128 mins Director: Wim Wenders
In director Wim Wenders' (Paris, Texas) most metaphysical work, a guardian angel desires nothing more than to be human. Presented in a stunning new restoration.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/021-paris-texas-theredlist.jpg?itok=UGCFHkpa)
Paris, Texas Paris, Texas
Drama 1984 145 mins Director: Wim Wenders
The late, great Harry Dean Stanton's finest role came as the near-mute Travis, on a journey across America to reunite his family, in Wim Wenders' moving tale of loss and redemption.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/After-Love-headroom.jpg?itok=mdXkugIU)
After Love After Love
Drama 2021 90 mins Director: Aleem Khan
In this knockout feature debut from Aleem Khan, Bafta-winner Joanna Scanlan is the woman who discovers her late husband’s secrets.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/Damsels-in-Distress_04.jpg?itok=itoCZrvO)
Damsels in Distress Damsels in Distress
Comedy 2011 99 mins Director: Whit Stillman
Greta Gerwig shines as a college student challenging the male dominated culture on campus, in Whit Stillman’s sweet, eccentric and frequently hilarious comedy.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/Sex-lies-and-videotape_05.jpg?itok=7oRHapOi)
sex, lies, and videotape sex, lies, and videotape
Drama 1989 100 mins Director: Steven Soderbergh
Steven Soderberg’s audacious debut, starring James Spader and Andie Macdowell, is an intimate exploration of sexual desire, and a landmark of 90’s American independent filmmaking.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/Bottle-Rocket-01.jpg?itok=3v6BuE4i)
Bottle Rocket Bottle Rocket
Comedy 1995 91 mins Director: Wes Anderson
Wes Anderson's rarely screened debut ditches the kitsch in favour of surprisingly subtle comedy, in this tale of a criminally inept gang led by Owen Wilson.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/ama-gloria-01.jpg?itok=SeT-WRGY)
Àma Gloria Àma Gloria
Drama 2023 84 mins Director: Marie Amachoukeli
Six-year-old Cléo spends a final summer with her beloved nanny Gloria, in this profoundly moving story of chosen family, duty and innocence lost.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/Morgiana-01.jpg?itok=NwFN0AiD)
Morgiana Morgiana
Crime 1972 97 mins Director: Juraj Herz
Delirious gothic tale of terror from Czech New Wave master Juraj Herz, about a jealous sister with dark desires and splintered minds.