Sign in
Trailer

Grand Illusion

1937Movie1 h 54 minNR

DramaHistory
90
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.0Rotten Tomatoes97%92%

A nostalgic, moving drama movie about history and class and money, with standout direction and performances.

Good for date night · friends night · teens

Where to watch

Set your services

Fingerprint

Not for laughs or scares.

Movies with

Story

A Great Drama of Human Emotions

A group of French soldiers, including the patrician Captain de Boeldieu and the working-class Lieutenant Maréchal, grapple with their own class differences after being captured and held in a World War I German prison camp. When the men are transferred to a high-security fortress, they must concoct a plan to escape beneath the watchful eye of aristocratic German officer von Rauffenstein, who has formed an unexpected bond with de Boeldieu.

Feels like

  • Classic Anti-War Film
  • World War I
  • Class Conflict
  • Humanism
  • Poignant
  • French Cinema
  • Character-Driven
  • Historical Drama

Cast

16 of 16

Crew

Directed by
Jean Renoir
Written by
Jean Renoir, Charles Spaak
Produced by
Albert Pinkovitch, Frank Rollmer
Music by
Joseph Kosma

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

June 18, 1937 · 1 h 54 min · NR

Released
June 18, 1937
Runtime
1 h 54 min
Age rating
NR
Content
Violence
Genres
Drama, History, War
Original language
French
Also spoken
Russian, German, English
Made in
France
Box office
$172,885
Available in
25 countries

Q&A

4 questions, like "Where can I stream Grand Illusion?"

Questions about Grand Illusion

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Grand Illusion?

KanopyDarkroom

In the United States, Grand Illusion streams on Darkroom, and it is free with ads on Kanopy. It also streams in 19 other countries.

Is Grand Illusion worth watching?

90
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 90 (IMDb 8 and Rotten Tomatoes 97%). Critics rate it higher (97 out of 100) than audiences (86).

Is Grand Illusion plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and dialogue centrality (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is Grand Illusion in English?

FrenchRussianGermanEnglish

No, it was made in French, with some Russian, German, and English.