Destiny

Destiny follows a young couple who stop at a quiet village inn for a rest, only to see the man taken by a hidden force. He vanishes behind a vast doorless wall that seems to trap him from the world. The woman discovers a mysterious doorway and encounters Death himself. Instead of ending his capture, Death proposes a different path: he will tell her three separate tales set in far flung places, each echoing some version of their own bind. She follows the specter through these stories, watching how chance, love, and fate collide in landscapes of deserts, seas, and bustling cities, all while the stories unfold and the outcome remains a mystery. Its look blends shadows with stark light.

Released in 1921, Destiny was directed by Fritz Lang with a screenplay by Thea von Harbou, built from their collaborative vision. The film exemplifies early German expressionism and Lang's atmospheric storytelling, with sets and stark visual contrasts defined an era.

Box office data for Destiny from 1921 is not readily available. As a silent era art film, it did not generate reported grosses, though it helped cement Lang's reputation abroad. Scholars focus on its influence and technique rather than revenue.

Destiny is regarded as a landmark of German expressionism and fantasy cinema. Its iconic imagery of Death as a gatekeeper, the dreamlike three tales, and the blending of myth with modern setting influenced later art house filmmakers and the look of fantasy epics. Its imagery echoes in modern fantasy cinema.

Critics have praised its poetic blend of fate and romance, along with bold visual invention. The film trades bleak inevitability for a lyrical meditation on mercy and choice, pairing stark imagery with a subtle critique of power and ritual. The film invites discussion about mortality mercy and price of love.