Eraserhead
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Where to watch: Not on major US streamers — check digital rental.
How it scared people
The vibe
Five years of weekend shooting in the AFI's stables produced something with no plot to speak of and the most oppressive sound design in cinema — Alan Splet's factory hum never stops, not for one frame. Lynch took the secret of how the baby was built to his grave. Not scary exactly. Worse than scary.
Eraserhead (1977) Parents Guide
| MPA rating | No MPAA certificate (released outside the US system) |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 89 minutes |
| Jump scares | 2/5 — on the gentler side — it favors mood and atmosphere over hard scares |
| Gore | 2/5 — only light gore |
| Dread | 5/5 — the kind of film that follows you around for days |
| Themes | graphic bodily transformation; psychological distress |
Eraserhead carries no MPAA certificate. We score it 2/5 for jump scares, 2/5 for gore and 5/5 for lingering dread, over 89 minutes. Very little blood — the hard part here is atmosphere and aftermath, not graphic content. Older teens and adults — less for what it shows than for how long it stays with you.
We rate what the film does — scares, gore, dread — not scene-level content like language or nudity, which we don't track.
Before you press play
- How scary is Eraserhead?
- On our intensity scale, Eraserhead rates 4/10 for jump scares and 10/10 for dread. It is on the gentler side — it favors mood and atmosphere over hard scares. Expect little in the way of jump scares, but a sense of dread that builds steadily and lingers after the credits.
- How gory is Eraserhead?
- Eraserhead rates 4/10 for gore — expect only light gore.
- How long is Eraserhead?
- Eraserhead runs 89 minutes (1h 29m).
- What is Eraserhead rated?
- Eraserhead has no MPAA certificate — common for films released outside the US. On our scale it rates 4/10 for jump scares, 4/10 for gore and 10/10 for dread.
- Where to watch Eraserhead (1977)?
- Eraserhead is not on major US subscription streamers right now — look for it on digital rental or purchase (Apple TV, Prime Video, or your usual store).
