The Bridge on the River Kwai

Play trailer

3:23

The Bridge on the River Kwai

PG

Released Dec 18, 1957

2h 41m

War

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

103 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Adaptation of the Pierre Bouelle 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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

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.

Jul 28, 2022

Full Review

Richard L. Coe

Washington Post

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.

Jul 25, 2022

Full Review

Helen Bower

Detroit Free Press

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.

Nov 17, 2021

Full Review

André Bazin

Cahiers du Cinéma

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.

Jun 15, 2023

Full Review

Mark Johnson

Awards Daily

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.

Jun 8, 2023

Full Review

Amy Thomasson

InSession Film

One of the greatest and most satisfying endings in all film history...

Apr 25, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Netta F

Excellent drama with great acting!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/28/24

Full Review

Stephen C

Success in 2 hours and 41 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/08/25

Full Review

Louise C

We now know there are historical inaccuracies in the telling of this tale. But, for what it's worth a very good film in it's day.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/20/25

Full Review

Chief B

Not much to say than that the bridge on the river Kwai is an absolute masterpiece in every aspect

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/25

Full Review

Daniel C. M

I though the ending was a little bit rushed, even with it's massive runtime, though fortunely that is the only problem on this otherwise masterpiece of a movie with absolutely amazing acting, sets, script and characters.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/25

Full Review

william s

Watched this for the first time last night and I can see why it was/is beloved by many, especially for it's time. Alec Guinness is superb, and it moves along quite well for a 2 hour and 40 minute film. The ending did muddy things for me a little. I actually thought the psychology of Nicholson (Guinness), and what he was doing FOR his men, and doing TO the Japanese was spot on thru the entire film. It felt uplifting, and the idea of demoralizing the enemy, through your own determination, willpower and competency really resonated with me. And while the ending wasn't unearned, as they foreshadow Nichols' pride, and have him talking about how we will be remembered, or what mark we leave on this world (paraphrasing), I feel like Nichols attempting to sabotage the demolition kind of chisels away at the foundation of the rest of the film. I think I would have rather just had Nichols witness the destruction of his bridge, and let Guinness act out the pain of realizing the necessary but nonetheless bittersweet nature of that moment.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/02/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

David Lean

Director

William Holden

Commander

Alec Guinness

Colonel Nicholson

Sessue Hayakawa

Colonel Saito

Jack Hawkins

Major Warden

James Donald

Major Clipton

The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - A Good Life

2:13

The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - Kill Him! Kill Him!

2:13

The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - What Have I Done?

2:10

The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - A Lot to Learn About the Army

2:12

The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - The Coward's Code

2:13

The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - Live Like a Human Being

2:13

The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - He's Done It!

2:12

The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - Dinner with Saito

2:13

View more videos

A Bridge Too Far

59%

85%

A Bridge Too Far

Watchlist

Voyage of the Damned

82%

52%

Voyage of the Damned

Watchlist

I Never Sang for My Father

100%

83%

I Never Sang for My Father

Watchlist

Hard Times

89%

81%

Hard Times

Watchlist

Black and White in Color

100%

69%

Black and White in Color

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The Bridge on the River Kwai: Trailer 1

3:23

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Adaptation of the Pierre Bouelle 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)

Most Popular at Home Now