The Bridge on the River Kwai

It spans a whole new world of entertainment!

1957 • 162 min • Drama · History · War

Join the Angel Guild Write your review Sign in to rate and review

Synopsis

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.

Our family guide

Best from age 12

Movie Knight Score

2422 reviews

100 Reviewers · 1 · 51%
78 Audience · 2421 · 49%

During WWII, British POWs in Burma are forced by their Japanese captors to build a railway bridge. Their strict commanding officer sees the project as a way to maintain morale and prove British superiority, becoming deeply invested in its construction. Meanwhile, Allied commandos are sent to destroy the strategic bridge.

Violence & peril: 6/10
Language: 2/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 2/10
Romance & sensuality: 1/10
Scary moments: 5/10

Heads up

Depictions of wartime brutality
Some characters face execution
Explosions and combat sequences
Extended runtime

What it models well

Resilience in harsh conditions
Leadership and integrity
Sacrifice for a greater cause
The futility of war

Talk about it after

The psychological impact of captivity and war
Conflicting loyalties and duty
The concept of honor and pride
Why the bridge became so important to Colonel Nicholson

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The Bridge on the River Kwai. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

Where to watch

Country

Stream

Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel

Rent

Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Spectrum On Demand

Buy

Links go straight to each service. Some are affiliate links that support Movie Knight at no cost to you. Availability data by JustWatch via TMDB.

Top billed cast

Director: David Lean • Crew: Carl Foreman, Michael Wilson

Trailers & clips

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) Re-Release Trailer

Original Trailer

Reviewer notes

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
Colonel Bogey's Barmy Army. OK! Lets get it out there right away, for historical facts of the real Bridge on the River Kwai story, one should research elsewhere, this film is a fictionalised account of the said events. Sadly there are those out there who simply refuse to judge this purely as a piece of cinematic art - and cinematic art it is.…
John Chard, TMDB Community