The 2021 thriller Girl in the Basement is now available on multiple streaming services, bringing the horrific true story of Elisabeth Fritzl to your home. Based on real-life events, Girl in the Basement gives viewers a terrifying overview of the chilling events that unfolded in Austria from 1984 all the way until 2008.
The film is a must-watch for true crime lovers. But it contains a large amount of distressing scenes, such was the horrifying nature of the real story. Director Elisabeth Röhm does an exceptional job of bringing the story to the big screen, allowing Fritzl’s story to live on.
For thriller and crime fans, Girl in the Basement is now available to watch via a number of different streaming platforms. Discover where to watch Girl in the Basement on streaming TV in this guide.
What’s in this Guide?
Girl in the Basement preview
The characters in the movie are fictional but are very closely based on the real-life people involved in the Josef Fritzl case. Events that transpire in the film stay largely truthful to the real-world events that occurred in Amstetten, Austria, albeit with some additions, omissions, and changes.
The film begins when a young girl named Marie (portrayed by Emma Myers) is taken to the hospital after falling ill. She is being driven by a worried mother and a stern old man in the front seat of the car. The old man seems threatening, intimidating the woman by muttering “Not a word”. It is here that things begin to come to light, but the film then takes us back 24 years to where the story truly begins.
Sarah Cody (Stefanie Scott) is a young girl on the cusp of her 18th birthday. She is a somewhat rebellious child, having already run away from home in the past. When her controlling father Don (Judd Nelson) learns of her plans to leave home after her birthday, he tricks her into his bomb shelter basement and locks her in.
The film tells the story of the next 24 years of captivity, torture, and other shockingly graphic events that Sarah suffers through in her underground prison.
Girl in the Basement release date
Commissioned by American cable channel Lifetime as part of their “Ripped from the Headlines” feature films series, the movie was released initially in the USA on 27 February 2021. The film was released via streaming in Australia more than a year later, on 16 August 2022.
It’s now made its way onto some of the biggest movie streaming services in the country, so crime fans can watch the sad story of Josef Fritzl and Elisabeth Fritzl come to life. Watch Girl in the Basement now on Foxtel or Foxtel Now. Paramount+ also streams the movie from 15 October 2023.
| Movie | Running Time | Streaming Services |
|---|---|---|
| Girl in the Basement | 1 hr 28 mins | Foxtel Now / Paramount+ |
Watch the Girl in the Basement trailer
For a quick preview of what the movie is about, check out the trailer for Girl in the Basement below.
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Where to watch Girl in the Basement in Australia?
If you want to watch Girl in the Basement in Australia, there are a number of ways you can do so. The thriller is available to watch on Foxtel and Foxtel Now (it’s no longer on BINGE). There is talk of the film arriving on Netflix, but fans of this movie might have to wait a little longer for that. It will instead begin streaming on Paramount+.
Seeing that paid streaming is how you can watch Girl in the Basement if you’re a resident of Australia without needing to use a VPN (which is often too difficult and dodgy), you’ll want to check out the libraries of streaming platforms like Foxtel Now and Paramount+.
To watch the film on Foxtel, you’ll need access to Lifetime Movie Network, which is part of the Movies HD package. Luckily, Foxtel’s latest offers lets you add premium bundles to the standard Foxtel Plus package discounted for 12 months!
Stream Girl in the Basement on Foxtel Now
Foxtel and Foxtel Now are established streaming services that give you access to a whole range of movies, TV shows, and live sports. There’s a Foxtel Now limited time offer if you’d like to try it out, but we’re sure you’ll want a paid subscription plan after discovering heaps of channels and content on the platform.
The base Essentials package costs $25 every month, but you can add premium packages like Drama Extra and Sport on top. The movie is also available to stream with Foxtel Now’s Movies package, which you’ll need to add on if you want to watch the film, or get All Packs to access everything.
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Watch Girl in the Basement on Paramount+
Another option for streaming Girl in the Basement online is through Paramount Plus. The service also features an exciting catalogue of movies and TV shows from CBS, Channel 10, Showtime, MTV, and Nickelodeon. To start watching the film, all you need to do is sign up for the service, which includes a 7-day free trial.
With just a single tier, there’s no need to pick more expensive plans to stream what’s on Paramount+ on many devices, since you can stream on up to three screens for $9.99/month. If you want to save a little bit, you can opt for the $89.99 annual plan, which works out to be only around $7.50 per month.
Is Girl in the Basement a true story?
While some parts of the film are embellished and dramatised, the film is largely based on the true story of Elisabeth Fritzl, who was imprisoned in the basement of her Austrian home by her father Josef Fritzl.
For obvious reasons, the person who provided inspiration for Sarah Cody in Girl in the Basement is in witness protection. Elisabeth Fritzl and her children live together with new names somewhere in the Austrian countryside, and the house has constant CCTV surveillance. The village where she lives can also not be named, allowing her to lead as protected a life as possible.
Josef Fritzl was initially locked away in a psychiatric detention centre, but was recently allowed to transfer to a regular prison, where he would continue to serve his life sentence. Prosecutors appealed, sending the case to a higher court in Vienna. In the end, the court rejected his appeal to move to a regular prison.
While the transfer was not completed, Josef Fritzl would have been eligible for parole in 2023 should it have been realised. Revoltingly, a 2023 release would mean he spent less time behind bars than the time he kept his daughter imprisoned in the basement.
Similar movies to watch on streaming
The Foxtel library offers heaps of classic films and the latest blockbusters, which you can explore by checking out what’s on Foxtel. If you’re after riveting crime thrillers that are riveting as they are disturbing, you can check out movies like Berlin Syndrome, Watcher, Secret Obsession, and The Lovely Bones, just to name a few.
You can also explore more movies and TV shows using the streaming search bar at the bottom of this article.
What people are asking about Girl in the Basement?
Want to know more about the true crime film? Check out the frequently asked questions below.
Is Girl in the Basement on Netflix?
The Girl in the Basement movie is not yet on Netflix. In Australia, the thrilling feature is currently available on Foxtel, Foxtel Now, and Paramount+.
Where to watch Girl in the Basement online free?
You can stream Girl in the Basement online free through BINGE and Paramount+’s trial offers for customers signing up for the first time.
What true story is the Girl in the Basement based on?
The chilling movie is based on the true story of Elisabeth Fritzl, who was held captive and tortured by her own father for 24 years. It’s worth noting that the movie is a milder account of the actual unimaginable events that took place, changing the timelines, and, of course, the names of the people involved.
