# The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/the-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-1957/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-13

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 87% |
| Critic Score | 95% |
| Audience Score | 95% |
| Metascore | 78/100 |
| Letterboxd | 4.3/5 |
| IMDb | 8.1/10 |
| Director | David Lean |
| Genres | War, Drama |
| Runtime | 161 min |

## Quick answer

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) earns a 87% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Lean's POW epic balances honor, madness, and whistling that echoes through cinema history. Metascore 78/100. Directed by David Lean.

## Critics consensus

Lean's POW epic balances honor, madness, and whistling that echoes through cinema history.

## Synopsis

Allied POWs build a railway bridge for their Japanese captors while a commando team plans to destroy it in the Burmese jungle.

## Cast

William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Common questions

**Is The Bridge on the River Kwai worth watching?**
The Bridge on the River Kwai holds a 87% Celluloid Score. Lean's POW epic balances honor, madness, and whistling that echoes through cinema history.

**What is The Bridge on the River Kwai about?**
Allied POWs build a railway bridge for their Japanese captors while a commando team plans to destroy it in the Burmese jungle.

**Who directed The Bridge on the River Kwai?**
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) was directed by David Lean.

**What is the Celluloid Score of The Bridge on the River Kwai?**
87% — the average of five public sources: critics 95%, audience 95%, Metascore 78/100, Letterboxd 4.3/5, and IMDb 8.1/10.

**Where can I watch The Bridge on the River Kwai?**
Streaming availability varies by region — see the The Bridge on the River Kwai page for current options.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://mrkaiserkhan.com)

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