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Celluloid
WarDrama BFI London 1957

The Bridge on the River Kwai

Directed by David Lean · 1957 ·

Short answer

Is The Bridge on the River Kwai worth watching?

Yes. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) earns an 85% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

85%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

95% Editorial Rating
95% Audience snapshot · excluded
78 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4.3
8.1 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
2h 41m
Age rating
PG (US) · PG (UK) · PG (Australia) · 12 (South Korea) · G (Japan)
Cast
William Holden , Alec Guinness , Jack Hawkins
Language
English

Also known as El puente sobre el río Kwai Le Pont de la rivière Kwaï Die Brücke am Kwai A Ponte do Rio Kwai 戦場にかける橋 콰이강의 다리 桂河大桥 桂河大橋

Where to watch

Streaming availability varies by region — our catalogue lists Netflix in the United Kingdom. Check local listings for your region.

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home, Spectrum On Demand

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch The Bridge on the River Kwai by country

Country Streaming on
India Netflix
Indonesia Netflix
Japan Netflix, U-NEXT
Malaysia Netflix
Nigeria Netflix
Pakistan Netflix
Philippines Netflix
South Africa Netflix
South Korea Netflix
Thailand Netflix
Turkey Netflix
United Arab Emirates Netflix
United Kingdom Netflix

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (95/100).
  • Audiences widely enjoyed it (95%).
  • Metascore is generally favorable (78/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.3/5).
  • IMDb users score it 8.1/10.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded war, drama pick
  • Epic-length viewers who want a big-screen experience

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is The Bridge on the River Kwai worth watching?

    Yes — The Bridge on the River Kwai earns an 85% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded war, drama pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

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

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    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.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English The Bridge on the River Kwai

    The Bridge on the River Kwai Review: The Folly of Duty

    The Bridge on the River Kwai is David Lean's POW epic about a British colonel's obsession with doing a job well, even for the enemy, and it remains gripping.

    Yes. It is one of the great war films, gripping across its 161 minutes and anchored by Alec Guinness, though the jungle-mission strand is slower than the camp drama.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    The Bridge on the River Kwai stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    The Bridge on the River Kwai production still 1
    The Bridge on the River Kwai production still 2
    The Bridge on the River Kwai production still 3
    The Bridge on the River Kwai production still 4
    The Bridge on the River Kwai production still 5
    The Bridge on the River Kwai production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    The Bridge on the River Kwai: frequently asked questions

    Is The Bridge on the River Kwai worth watching?

    Yes. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) has a Celluloid Score of 85%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch The Bridge on the River Kwai?

    In the United States you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: Netflix in India; Netflix in Indonesia; Netflix, U-NEXT in Japan; Netflix in Malaysia. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is The Bridge on the River Kwai?

    The Bridge on the River Kwai runs 2 hours 41 minutes (161 minutes).

    What is The Bridge on the River Kwai rated?

    The Bridge on the River Kwai is rated PG in the United States, PG in the UK, PG in Australia, 12 in South Korea and G in Japan. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in The Bridge on the River Kwai?

    The Bridge on the River Kwai is directed by David Lean and stars William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins.

    What is the Metascore for The Bridge on the River Kwai?

    Metacritic's Metascore for The Bridge on the River Kwai is 78 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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