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The Bridge on the River Kwai

1957Movie2 h 42 minPG

DramaHistory
87
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.1Metacritic888.0Rotten Tomatoes96%93%

A nerve-racking, cathartic drama movie about history and war, with standout direction and performances.

Good for date night · friends night · teens

Skip it if you want something to laugh at

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Not for laughs, scares or warmth.

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Story

It spans a whole new world of entertainment!

The classic story of English POWs in Burma forced to build a bridge to aid the war effort of their Japanese captors. British and American intelligence officers conspire to blow up the structure, but Col. Nicholson, the commander who supervised the bridge's construction, has acquired a sense of pride in his creation and tries to foil their plans.

Feels like

  • Epic War Drama
  • Psychological Thriller
  • Moral Ambiguity
  • Classic Cinema
  • Stoic Leadership
  • Cultural Conflict
  • Strategic Tension
  • Tragic Irony
  • Grand Spectacle

Cast

15 of 15

Crew

Directed by
David Lean
Written by
Carl Foreman, Pierre Boulle, Michael Wilson
Produced by
Sam Spiegel
Music by
Malcolm Arnold

Everyone

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

Facts

October 11, 1957 · 2 h 42 min · PG

Released
October 11, 1957
Runtime
2 h 42 min
Age rating
PG
Content
Violence
Genres
Drama, History, War
Original language
English
Also spoken
Japanese, Thai
Made in
United Kingdom
Budget
$3 million
Box office
$45 million
Available in
131 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

Dying Declaration of Hate, Trailers Always Spoil, Badass Crew +9

  • Dying Declaration of Hate
  • Trailers Always Spoil
  • Badass Crew
  • Contemplate Our Navels
  • Got Volunteered
  • He Who Fights Monsters
  • Percussive Maintenance
  • I Did What I Had to Do
  • Binocular Shot
  • Rated M for Manly
  • Oblivious Guilt Slinging
  • Instant Death Bullet

12 of 132 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream The Bridge on the River Kwai?"

Questions about The Bridge on the River Kwai

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Bridge on the River Kwai?

Sony Pictures Core

In the United States, The Bridge on the River Kwai streams on Sony Pictures Core. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Spectrum On Demand. It also streams in 128 other countries.

Is The Bridge on the River Kwai worth watching?

87
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 87 (IMDb 8.1, Rotten Tomatoes 96%, and Metacritic 88).

Is The Bridge on the River Kwai okay for kids?

PGViolence

Not for young kids: it's rated PG in the United States for violence, and the viewing guide lists it for teens and adults.

Was The Bridge on the River Kwai a box office hit?

Budget$3 million
Box office$45 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $3 million to make and earned $45 million worldwide, 16.0 times its budget.

What tropes does The Bridge on the River Kwai use?

Dying Declaration of HateTrailers Always SpoilBadass CrewContemplate Our NavelsGot VolunteeredHe Who Fights MonstersPercussive MaintenanceI Did What I Had to DoBinocular ShotRated M for ManlyOblivious Guilt SlingingInstant Death Bulletand 120 more

TV Tropes lists 132 tropes for it, including Dying Declaration of Hate, Trailers Always Spoil, and Badass Crew.