Hunger

Play trailer

1:33

Hunger

2009

1h 32m

Drama

History

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

131 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Focusing on the 1981 hunger strikes by Republican prisoners in Northern Ireland. Bobby Sands is one of a group of prisoners who first "took to the blanket" with a "dirty protest" in pursuit of their claims for recognition as political prisoners. Sands then became the first one of the group to embark on a hunger strike that was to end in his death.

Watch on AMC+

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Unflinching, uncompromising, vivid and vital, Steve McQueen's challenging debut is not for the faint hearted, but it's still a richly rewarding retelling of troubled times.

Read Critics Reviews

Keith Uhlich

Time Out

Jul 25, 2020

3/6

McQueen seems too enamored of his shorthand art-house symbolism for [the film] to truly resonate.

Go to Full Review

Matt Singer

The Rumpus

Sep 18, 2017

There is very little context, because on the inside, prison has no context. There is just horror. And maybe, sometimes, in the least expected places, beauty.

Go to Full Review

Ryan Gilbey

New Statesman

Nov 2, 2015

The stylistic palette of McQueen's picture, and its grasp of cinematic vocabulary, elevate the film to a purely visceral realm, so that it seems to bypass your eyes and ears and go straight for your nerve endings.

Go to Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Aug 15, 2023

4/4

[Fassbender's] performance is a small sensation.

Go to Full Review

Fico Cangiano

CineXpress Podcast

May 14, 2022

3.5/5

Michael Fassbender is phenomenal in Steve McQueen's impressive and captivating feature debut. [Full review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

Tom Cassidy

Common Sense Media

Jan 5, 2022

5/5

It's a breathtaking piece of filming born out of a story riddled with violence, gore, maggots, and human waste.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Thomas V

@TomVee Aug 2, 2026

Steve McQueen's directorial debut was remarkable, showing all traits of an established auteur. Bleak, spare, and unflinchingly brutal, the film is a harrowing journey. Michael fassbender gives 110% in a remarkable, surprisingly quiet performance, and it's clear he put himself through hell to transform into the skeleton he finally was at the end. McQueen has a distinct visual style that is already apparent in this film, all fluorescent lights, and sickly greenish yellowish brownish hues, which effectively helps convey the atmosphere of dread, boredom and, finally, resignation. Dialogue is minimal, save for one long, one take scene between Bobby and a priest, but the film's message is powerfully delivered.

See more

patrick T

@RT46672350 Jun 27, 2026

Closer to the truth than a lot of the escapist crap normally released in the cinema. Colonialism gone wrong, a people subjugated to the brutality of unionist and British rule. Yes, 10/10 for the unflinching truth and superb directing and acting. Bobby Sands was a principled individual and gave a voice and drew attention to the suppression of the nationalist population

See more

Richard T

@ricardodeangelo Jun 22, 2025

A shame there wasn't much context provided, just the subjective and relentless experiences of horror, then slow but undeniable self-destruction as the last free act of someone whose every other freedom has been taken away.

See more

Faiz D

@RT95588871 May 13, 2025

Hunger is not an easy film to watch but it is a great film featuring a brave debut from a director and a powerhouse of an actor. It certainly succeeds on an artistic level as the cinematography is astonishing.

See more

Mark R

@RT11934059 Jan 27, 2025

An incredible piece. An insight into an extremely dark, troubled and violent part of our history.

See more

S R

@ScottR Jan 27, 2025

Saw it since it was on the SnS22 and BBF list and I was hoping that Fassbender would make it more promising. However, I was let down by the painful portrayal of the IRA's prison movement that was meant to be that way, but then I felt it lessened its potential impact and audience. Despite the one long scene of dialogue between him and the Priest, this movie was a chore. SLC library DVD.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Steve McQueen

Director

Michael Fassbender

Bobby Sands

Liam Cunningham

Father Moran

Stuart Graham

Ray Lohan

Brian Milligan

Davey Gillen

Liam McMahon

Gerry Campbell

Oranges and Sunshine

72%

70%

Oranges and Sunshine

Watchlist

Bloody Sunday

92%

90%

Bloody Sunday

Watchlist

Good

34%

32%

Good

Watchlist

Miral

19%

54%

Miral

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Hunger: Trailer 1

1:33

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Focusing on the 1981 hunger strikes by Republican prisoners in Northern Ireland. Bobby Sands is one of a group of prisoners who first "took to the blanket" with a "dirty protest" in pursuit of their claims for recognition as political prisoners. Sands then became the first one of the group to embark on a hunger strike that was to end in his death.

Director: Steve McQueen
Screenwriter: Steve McQueen, Enda Walsh
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Film 4, Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, Northern Ireland Screen
Genre: Drama, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 20, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 27, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $154.1K
Runtime: 1h 32m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings