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The Bridge on the River Kwai

Play trailer 3:23 Poster for The Bridge on the River Kwai PG 1957 2h 41m War Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 102 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Adaptation of the Pierre Boulle novel about POWs in Burma forced to build a bridge to aid the war effort of their Japanese captors. British and American officers plot to blow up the structure, but the commander of the bridge's construction has different plans.
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The Bridge on the River Kwai

The Bridge on the River Kwai

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Critics Consensus

This complex war epic asks hard questions, resists easy answers, and boasts career-defining work from star Alec Guinness and director David Lean.

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Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker Jul 28, 2022
The film is rather misshapen, particularly in the sections featuring William Holden, and the action that detonates the explosive finish isn't quite clear. However, Alec Guinness is compelling as the English Colonel Nicholson. Go to Full Review Richard L. Coe Washington Post Jul 25, 2022
This gripping tale will keep you tied to your seat thanks to the brilliant effectiveness with which Director David Lean has tied together script, casting and technical demands. Go to Full Review Helen Bower Detroit Free Press Nov 17, 2021
The madness of war has never been shown more graphically than in this Pierre Boulle screenplay from his own novel, set and filmed on location in Ceylon. Go to Full Review André Bazin Cahiers du Cinéma Jun 15, 2023
There are very few examples each year of cinematic enterprises that are carried out with such intelligence and above all with such care. But the quality of this film must ultimately be put in its artistic place, and that place is not the highest. Go to Full Review Mark Johnson Awards Daily Jun 8, 2023
One of the great, action-packed epics of the late 50s, The Bridge on the River Kwai is an exceptional case study about the hysteria of war and the pride that comes before the fall. Go to Full Review B.R. Crisler Christian Science Monitor Aug 17, 2022
For all of its grim setting and tragic conclusion, The Bridge on the River Kwai becomes a slyly humorous study in the limitations as well as the stoical splendors of the British “military mind." Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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richard b Sep 3, 2026 A great surprise of a film. Be ready, as this movie is quite long, but entertaining. See more Marsha Sep 2, 2026 Masterpiece from the golden age of Hollywood. See more Netta F Jul 28, 2024 Excellent drama with great acting! See more Ivan V @KidReviewsEverything Sep 18, 2026 It's pretty close to a masterpiece, but the runtime and kinda sorta tonal shift in the middle bring it down a bit. Some shots linger on too long even when the effect on the audience has run its course. It's still amazing though; the first act is so compelling and interesting to see how the character dynamics evolve, and the movie is stunningly gorgeous almost 70 years on. It captures amazing landscape shots with so much in the frame, and the climax of the movie is genuinely thrilling. It boasts interesting ideas about pride and authority, making it stand the test of time. It's not my kind of movie, and it is my first David Lean feature film I've seen, but I still recognise its brilliance. It's a must see! See more Chris H @RT60525826 Sep 5, 2026 Stunning and thought provoking. The scenes in the camp with Alec Guinness are spellbinding, which by contrast reduce the rest of the film, which would be more than acceptable in any other derring-do production, to mere filler. That's a shame in a way, but it's just that Guinness is wonderful. The scenery is beautiful too. See more Robert P @Superbad Sep 4, 2026 An excellent Movie about building a bridge over the River Kwai. See more Read all reviews
The Bridge on the River Kwai

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Cast & Crew

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David Lean

Director

William Holden

Commander

Alec Guinness

Colonel Nicholson

Sessue Hayakawa

Colonel Saito

Jack Hawkins

Major Warden

James Donald

Major Clipton

Movie Clips

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The Bridge on the River Kwai

The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - A Good Life The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - A Good Life 2:13 Now Playing The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - Kill Him! Kill Him! The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - Kill Him! Kill Him! 2:13 Now Playing The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - What Have I Done? The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - What Have I Done? 2:10 Now Playing The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - A Lot to Learn About the Army The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - A Lot to Learn About the Army 2:12 Now Playing The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - The Coward's Code The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - The Coward's Code 2:13 Now Playing The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - Live Like a Human Being The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - Live Like a Human Being 2:13 Now Playing The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - He's Done It! The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - He's Done It! 2:12 Now Playing The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - Dinner with Saito The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - Dinner with Saito 2:13 Now Playing View more videos

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The Bridge on the River Kwai

The Bridge on the River Kwai: Trailer 1 The Bridge on the River Kwai: Trailer 1 3:23 Now Playing View more videos
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The Bridge on the River Kwai

Poster Art The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) On the set of the film "The Bridge on the River Kwai." A scene from the film "The Bridge on the River Kwai." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Adaptation of the Pierre Boulle novel about POWs in Burma forced to build a bridge to aid the war effort of their Japanese captors. British and American officers plot to blow up the structure, but the commander of the bridge's construction has different plans.
Director
David Lean
Producer
Sam Spiegel
Screenwriter
Pierre Boulle, Michael Wilson, Carl Foreman
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Horizon Films, Columbia Pictures
Rating
PG
Genre
War, Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 18, 1957, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 3, 2013
Runtime
2h 41m
Sound Mix
Surround, Mono, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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