Defiance (2008)
Four Jewish brothers lead an epic, gritty fight for survival against Nazis in war-torn Belarus.
Based on a true story, during World War II, four Jewish brothers escape their Nazi-occupied homeland of West Belarus in Poland and join the Soviet partisans to combat the Nazis. The brothers begin the rescue of roughly 1,200 Jews still trapped in the ghettos of Poland.
How intense is Defiance?
Defiance is mildly scary, with graphic gore and brutal violence. Emotionally it is devastating. The pace is measured, and it is a full-attention watch. Rated R.
What Defiance feels like
- Tone
- grittyepicsuspensefulearnest
- Pace
- Measured
- Best for
- Full attention
- True story
- Yes, based on true events.
Where to stream Defiance
US availability via TMDB, last checked Sep 16, 2026. The app filters picks to the services you actually have.
Is Defiance for you?
Is Defiance scary?
Only a little. Defiance has a few tense moments (scare level 1 of 3), nothing that follows you to bed.
Is Defiance gory or violent?
Graphic gore (2 of 3) and brutal violence (3 of 3). If graphic gore is a dealbreaker, skip it.
Is Defiance sad or heavy?
Yes. Emotional weight 3 of 3. It hits hard; do not plan anything light after.
Is Defiance OK for kids?
It is rated R, so it is made for adults. Intensity: scare 1, gore 2, violence 3, each out of 3.
How long is Defiance?
Defiance runs 2h 17m.
Where can I stream Defiance?
Defiance is streaming on Paramount+, Kanopy and Hoopla.
Does Defiance have a happy ending? spoiler-safe answer
Bittersweet. It earns its ending, but not everyone gets what they want.
Cast and crew
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