One of the best Netflix series of the year is based on a series that has already been filmed more than once. Probably the most famous one has as The talented Mr. Ripley Made its way to the big screen in 1999 and features mega stars like Matt Damon, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow.
If you want to see the Ripley predecessor again – or for the first time – this is the perfect opportunity to do so. Because the gripping psychological thriller can currently be streamed completely free of charge. But you have to hurry.
The talented Mr. Ripley in the free stream: Eat the Rich has rarely been so exciting
The penniless but talented Tom Ripley (Matt Damon) earns his living with odd jobs and infiltrates a graduate celebration at the renowned Princeton University as a pianist. There he meets the father of the wealthy Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law), who is enjoying the sweet life of Italy with his fiancée Marge Sherwood (Gwyneth Paltrow).
In order to bring the hedonistic marauder back to the USA, his father offers Tom a lucrative deal that he can hardly refuse. However, when he arrives in Italy, Tom learns on his own the life of the rich and famous know and love and become friends with the couple. He soon comes up with a sophisticated plan so that he will never have to give up his newfound status again…
In dreamy and sensual images between the Italian countryside and the big city, Anthony Minghella tells the story of the con artist Tom Ripley, which has already been filmed six times and which Patricia Highsmith put to paper in her iconic novel in 1955. Full of underlying tension gradually unfolds Psychodrama about morality and desirewhich also works as a perfect parable of the social class system.
Matt Damon is at his best as the reserved yet cunning identity fraudster throughout the film almost overflowing with great performances, right down to the smallest supporting roles ‒ from Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow to Philip Seymour Hoffman and a then little-known Cate Blanchett.
No wonder that the Moviepilot community gave the cult thriller a strong 7.1 points. On Rotten Tomatoes, The Talented Mr. Ripley has a similarly impressive rating of 85 percent press score against an audience rating of 80 percent.
This is how you can watch The Talented Mr. Ripley for free
The talented Mr. Ripley is still there until November 22, 2024 to the completely free stream in the ARD media library. If you miss the film there, it is currently also available as a streaming subscription on Paramount+.
And if you don’t get enough of Tom Ripley’s story, you have the opportunity to experience it again from a completely new perspective. Netflix has one this year with Ripley eight-hour film adaptation as a series released in which Sherlock villain Andrew Scott takes on the role of the cunning con artist.
Watch the trailer for Netflix’s Ripley here:
Ripley – S01 Trailer (English) HD
Also recommended is the film adaptation Only the Sun Was Witness by Alain Delon from 1960, which you can find for purchase and rental from VoD providers such as Amazon and Apple TV.