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On the Beach

1959·Movie
2h 14min

Where to watch

No stream option in US yet.

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

On the Beach fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, a touch of humor.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension8
  • Spectacle6
  • Fast Pace4

Heart

Deeply moving and profoundly sad

  • Pathos9
  • Melancholy9
  • Catharsis7

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Dark Humor3
  • Satire & Parody2

World

War, society, and politics

  • World Immersion7
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout performances and characters

  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8
  • Direction7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Music Composition7
  • Editing6

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchTeensDrop-in FriendlyThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You need an uplifting moodYou want fast pacing

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

The Biggest Story of Our Time!

In 1964, atomic war wipes out humanity in the northern hemisphere; one American submarine finds temporary safe haven in Australia, where life-as-usual covers growing despair. In denial about the loss of his wife and children in the holocaust, American Captain Towers meets careworn but gorgeous Moira Davidson, who begins to fall for him. The sub returns after reconnaissance a month (or less) before the end; will Towers and Moira find comfort with each other?
Post-ApocalypticNuclear WarMelodramaExistentialTragic RomanceSocial CommentaryCold WarAustralian SettingThought-Provoking

Crew

Produced by:
Composed by:

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about On the Beach

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream On the Beach legally?

GoodWatch doesn't know of a legal streaming option for On the Beach in the United States right now. Pick another country in the Where to Watch section to check elsewhere.

Is On the Beach worth watching?

67
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 67/100 (IMDb 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes 77%, and Metacritic 55). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is On the Beach rated?

Suicide themes

Content advisories: suicide themes.

How long is On the Beach?

2 h 14 min

On the Beach runs 2 h 14 min.

Is On the Beach based on a true story?

No. It's adapted from a novel.

Do critics and audiences agree on On the Beach?

Critics66
Audiences69

Yes. Critics average 66 and audiences 69 out of 100, so both groups see On the Beach much the same way.

Was On the Beach a box office hit?

Budget$3 million
Box office$2 million

No. It cost about $3 million to make and earned $2 million worldwide, 76% of its budget.

What language is On the Beach in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch On the Beach?

79ADAEARATAUBEBGBOBRBYBZCACHCL+65

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for On the Beach in 79 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does On the Beach use?

Driven to SuicideSalt the EarthBeta CoupleFalse Flag OperationFace Death with DignityJust Following Orders"Everybody Dies" EndingSafe Zone Hope SpotPlanning for the Future Before the EndDying RaceApocalypse HowVomit Discretion Shotand 33 more

TV Tropes lists 45 storytelling tropes for On the Beach, including Driven to Suicide, Salt the Earth, Beta Couple.