---
title: "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
year: 2009
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-2009"
fi1m_id: "the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-2009"
imdb_id: "tt1132620"
tmdb_id: 15472
wikidata_id: "Q276343"
fi1m_score: 75
critics_score: 73
critics_reviews: 14
published: "2026-10-01T21:27:22.300699+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-01T21:27:22.803906+00:00"
region: "BR"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)

Directed by Niels Arden Oplev · 2h 32m · ClassInd 16 · Drama, Thriller, Crime, Mystery

## Identity

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-2009
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-2009
- **IMDb ID:** tt1132620
- **TMDB ID:** 15472
- **Wikidata ID:** Q276343
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1132620/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/15472, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q276343

**Fi1m score: 75** · Critics 73 from 14 reviews

*In a sentence:* The clues can wait; we want to know what Noomi Rapace is thinking

> Niels Arden Oplev’s crime thriller is worth seeing for Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist, whose rapport keeps a familiar mystery engaging. Its treatment of violence against women deserves more scepticism than its detective work.

## Synopsis

Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) and Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) form the central pair in a crime mystery adapted from Stieg Larsson’s novel. The story also includes Henrik Vanger (Sven-Bertil Taube), Martin Vanger (Peter Haber) and Erika Berger (Lena Endre). Violence against women and misogyny run through the investigation, while Lisbeth’s anger and resourcefulness shape her partnership with Mikael. Her vulnerability complicates that picture. Their relationship develops alongside the whodunit, bringing the investigation into contact with questions about how women are treated. Niels Arden Oplev directs from a screenplay by Nikolaj Arcel and Rasmus Heisterberg.

## Review

Niels Arden Oplev’s [*The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo*](https://film.one/film/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo) is a good crime thriller, made worth the time by its central pair. Adapted from Stieg Larsson’s novel by Nikolaj Arcel and Rasmus Heisterberg, it has the pleasures of a whodunit and the occasional impatience to get its people into position for the next discovery. Noomi Rapace makes that machinery considerably less noticeable whenever Lisbeth Salander is on screen. We recommend it for her and for the partnership with Michael Nyqvist, with a firm warning about the violence.

Noomi Rapace plays Lisbeth as an angry, resourceful woman who can still be hurt. We found her vulnerability moving because the performance never asks us to forget her anger in order to sympathise with her. There is a risk with such a character that every difficulty becomes another demonstration of how formidable she is, until concern gives way to waiting for the next display of competence. Noomi Rapace keeps us concerned for Lisbeth even when the writing seems chiefly interested in what she can do.

Michael Nyqvist’s Mikael Blomkvist is essential to that effect, even if he attracts less attention. His performance gives Noomi Rapace someone to work with, and their rapport supplies an interest that does not depend on the next answer to the mystery. We enjoy their scenes because neither performer seems to be competing to make the stronger impression. For a crime film with so much else to accommodate, it is sensible to leave room for two people to hold our attention without another complication being introduced.

Eric Kress’s cinematography sustains the bleak atmosphere without making the images the only reason to keep watching. Niels Sejer’s production design contributes to that severity, giving the drama a suitably unwelcoming setting. The visual restraint works because the story supplies enough ugliness of its own. Niels Arden Oplev is generally sensible about letting the cast carry the tension, though some of the more emphatic thriller effects are less persuasive.

Anne Østerud’s editing keeps the investigation understandable, although a little more compression would have helped. At 152 minutes, the film has stretches in which we remain interested without feeling much pressure to discover what comes next. Jacob Groth’s music reinforces the gravity of the material, but it contributes less to the tension than the performers do. The screenplay by Nikolaj Arcel and Rasmus Heisterberg holds our attention through these passages, even when its more familiar turns seem to take too long to arrive.

The more serious reservation concerns the violence against women. The film recognises misogyny as something its characters live with, yet some scenes of brutality press the point harder than they need to. We were horrified by that violence, and sometimes troubled by the insistence with which it is presented. Niels Arden Oplev gives Lisbeth’s anger sufficient weight, but there are moments when the thriller seems too interested in making us recoil.

Against the standards of the crime thriller, this is strongest in its performances and fairly conventional in the mechanics of its mystery. The characters remain worth following through the less surprising stretches, and that is enough to justify the length for us. An 18 certificate is worth taking seriously here, particularly if violence against women rules a film out for the evening. Choose it for the two leads, and do not mistake the recommendation for a promise of comfortable viewing.

*Fi1m score 75, published 1 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics find The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo a compelling, unsettling thriller, with praise clustering around Noomi Rapace’s performance as Lisbeth Salander. Her anger, resourcefulness and vulnerability impress even reviewers less persuaded by the detective story. The lead performances and their chemistry draw wider approval, while several reviews value the bleak atmosphere and the adaptation’s retention of the novel’s Scandinavian detail. Supporters also praise its pacing and examination of misogyny.

The reservations concern familiar detective conventions, length and the handling of violence against women, with a wide gap between enthusiastic support and outright rejection. Variety finds the whodunit more successful than the thriller, despite admiring Rapace. Paste welcomes the scrutiny of social prejudice but questions the depiction of violence against women. Slant Magazine offers the sharpest dissent, rejecting the film’s sensationalism, familiar visual tricks and increasingly melodramatic twists. Elsewhere, complaints about plot holes and a commonplace payoff temper otherwise favourable responses.

## Straight answers

**Is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo worth watching?**

*The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo* is worth watching for crime-thriller fans who can tolerate brutal material, and we score it 75. Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist make the central partnership engaging even when the mystery turns familiar, though the 152-minute running time could use trimming and the violence against women warrants a firm warning.

**How long is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and what is it rated?**

*The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo* runs 2h 32m and is rated 16 by the ClassInd in Brazil. It is a drama and thriller film.

**Where can I watch The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in Brazil?**

*The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo* is streaming on Amazon Prime Video in Brazil. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and is it suitable for children?**

*The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo* carries a UK 18 certificate and is not suitable for children or younger teenagers. We found its violence against women horrifying, with some scenes dwelling on brutality longer than necessary; the bleak atmosphere adds to the discomfort, making this a poor choice for anyone particularly sensitive to that material.

**How does The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo compare to Zodiac?**

*The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo* offers a more conventional whodunit than [*Zodiac*](https://film.one/film/zodiac), though both sustain their investigations through patient performances rather than quick answers. We recommend *Zodiac* more widely for making investigative work engrossing despite some repetition; the stronger reason to choose *The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo* is Rapace and Nyqvist’s rapport.

**Is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo based on a true story or a book?**

*The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo* is adapted from Stieg Larsson’s novel, with a screenplay by Nikolaj Arcel and Rasmus Heisterberg. We recommend it on the strength of its central performances rather than its fidelity to the book, and its understandable investigation gives newcomers no reason to treat reading the novel as homework.

**What should I watch after The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo?**

After *The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo*, try [*Zodiac*](https://film.one/film/zodiac) (2007, Fi1m 91): For another investigation sustained by patient performances rather than quick answers. Then [*Memories of Murder*](https://film.one/film/memories-of-murder) (2003, Fi1m 91): A darker, stranger police investigation, with frustration built into every lead; and [*Prime Suspect*](https://film.one/tv/prime-suspect) (1991, Fi1m 88): For investigative patience and a central woman who resists easy admiration.

### Reviews we read (14)

- **Los Angeles Times**, Betsy Sharkey (90/100, inferred): Sharkey calls the film a mesmerizing, satisfying thriller that successfully adapts the novel despite substantial changes. She especially praises Noomi Rapace’s unforgettable performance as Lisbeth Salander. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-mar-19-la-et-dragon19-2010mar19-story.html)
- **The AV Club**, Tasha Robinson (A-): Robinson praises the film as a disturbing, emotionally effective adaptation that would be difficult to improve upon. She singles out Noomi Rapace’s fierce, vulnerable performance, while noting that some scenes veer into grotesquerie. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-1798164552)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, THR Staff (90/100, inferred): The critic finds the adaptation compelling and emotionally powerful despite some familiar whodunit conventions. Noomi Rapace’s performance is singled out for praise, bringing Lisbeth’s anger and complexity vividly to life. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/girl-dragon-tattoo-film-review-29378/)
- **Empire**, Kim Newman (85/100, inferred): The review finds the thriller satisfying and strongly recommends it as the start of a franchise. It especially praises Noomi Rapace’s intense, resourceful portrayal of Lisbeth Salander. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/girl-dragon-tattoo-review/)
- **Radio Times**, Terry Staunton (4/5): The critic calls it a dark-hearted, twist-filled adaptation that stays faithful to the source novel. They praise its preservation of the book’s bleak, murky atmosphere. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-wsr6gz/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo/)
- **Time Out** (4/5): The review is positive, awarding the film four out of five stars. Its visible description singles out an actor’s emergence as a major talent, though the article text is unavailable. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-1)
- **The Guardian**, Philip French (75/100, inferred): Philip French finds the adaptation successful and first-rate, preserving the novel’s distinctive Scandinavian details. He praises the appealing lead performances and Eric Kress’s photography, though he finds the eventual payoff commonplace. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/mar/14/girl-with-dragon-tattoo-film-review)
- **Variety**, Boyd van Hoeij (55/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a disappointment as a thriller, though it works as a more-than-workmanlike whodunit. Noomi Rapace’s mesmerizing, contradictory performance as Lisbeth Salander is singled out for praise. [Read](https://variety.com/2009/film/reviews/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-2-1200474451/)
- **Slant Magazine**, Ed Gonzalez (1/4): Gonzalez dismisses the film as lurid, sensationalist trash. He faults its reliance on familiar visual tricks and escalating soap-operatic twists. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo/)
- **Eye for Film**, Jennie Kermode (90/100, inferred): Kermode calls the film a compelling, bold, distinctive work of cinema. She praises its atmospheric visual style and the compelling performance by Noomi Rapace, while highlighting its forceful examination of misogyny. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/millennium-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-film-review-by-jennie-kermode)
- **The Skinny**, Gail Tolley (★★★★): The review calls the film an exhilarating ride with clear appeal beyond the books’ existing fans. It praises the film’s pacing, gripping narrative and intelligent construction despite its lengthy runtime. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/cineskinny/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo)
- **Paste**, Paste Staff (65/100, inferred): The review finds the adaptation refreshing despite some lingering detective-film clichés. It praises its exposure of social misogyny and racism, while criticizing its depictions of violence against women. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo/post-86)
- **Den of Geek**, Rupert de (3/5): The critic finds it engaging but overlong and overly conventional, with serious plot holes. He praises the dynamic between the leads, especially Noomi Rapace’s portrayal of Lisbeth. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-review-2/)
- **Digital Spy**, Ben Rawson-Jones (60/100, inferred): The critic finds the film flawed and overlong, but engaging enough to sustain interest in the trilogy. The performances and chemistry of the leads, alongside the characters’ compelling portrayal, are singled out for praise. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a204226/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo/)

## Details

- **Director:** Niels Arden Oplev
- **Director:** Niels Arden Oplev
- **Screenplay:** Rasmus Heisterberg, Nikolaj Arcel
- **Novel:** Stieg Larsson
- **Cinematography:** Eric Kress
- **Editor:** Anne Østerud
- **Music:** Jacob Groth
- **Production design:** Niels Sejer
- **Costume design:** Cilla Rörby
- **Producer:** Søren Stærmose
- **Cast:** Michael Nyqvist as Mikael Blomkvist; Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander; Lena Endre as Erika Berger; Sven-Bertil Taube as Henrik Vanger; Peter Haber as Martin Vanger; Peter Andersson as Nils Bjurman; Marika Lagercrantz as Cecilia Vanger; Ingvar Hirdwall as Dirch Frode
- **Runtime:** 2h 32m
- **Certificate (ClassInd):** 16
- **Release (Brazil):** 14 May 2010
- **Genres:** Drama, Thriller, Crime, Mystery
- **Budget:** $13 million
- **Box office:** $109 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIrjgFphVIc

## Where to watch in Brazil

- Amazon Prime Video: add-on

*Checked 2026-10-01.*

Also available in: AT, AU, BR, CA, CL, CO, DK, FI, GB, IT, MX, NO, NZ, SE, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- European Film Award for Best Actress 2009: European Film Award for Best Actress (nominated)
- European Film Award for Best Composer 2009: European Film Award for Best Composer (nominated)
- European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film 2009: European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *Zodiac* (2007), Fi1m 91: For another investigation sustained by patient performances rather than quick answers. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/zodiac.md)
- *Memories of Murder* (2003), Fi1m 91: A darker, stranger police investigation, with frustration built into every lead. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/memories-of-murder.md)
- *Tell No One* (2006): For another tangled mystery, pursued with greater speed and mounting personal risk.
- *Prime Suspect* (1991), Fi1m 88: For investigative patience and a central woman who resists easy admiration. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/tv/prime-suspect.md)
- *Klute* (1971), Fi1m 82: For the uneasy partnership and a woman more interesting than the mystery. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/klute.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-2009