Grand Illusion
“A Great Drama of Human Emotions”
A group of French soldiers, including the patrician Captain de Boeldieu and the working-class Lieutenant Maréchal, grapple with their own class differences after being captured and held in a World War I German prison camp. When the men are transferred to a high-security fortress, they must concoct a plan to escape beneath the watchful eye of aristocratic German officer von Rauffenstein, who has formed an unexpected bond with de Boeldieu.
Where to watch Grand Illusion in United States
Darkroom
KanopyClick a service to open Grand Illusion there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is Grand Illusion streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Darkroom, Kanopy | — |
| United Kingdom | Studiocanal Presents Amazon Channel | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Australia | SBS On Demand | — |
| Germany | Amazon Arthaus Channel, Arthaus+ Apple TV channel, Arthaus+ | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, MagentaTV |
| France | — | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Canal VOD |
| Brazil | Belas Artes à La Carte | — |
| Japan | FOD | Amazon Video |
| South Korea | Watcha | — |
About Grand Illusion
Grand Illusion is a 1937 French-language drama, history and war film directed by Jean Renoir. The cast is led by Jean Gabin, Pierre Fresnay, Erich von Stroheim. It has a runtime of 1h 54m. Viewers rate it 7.9/10 across 800 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Darkroom, Kanopy.
Grand Illusion was produced by Réalisation d'Art Cinématographique and made in France. It was released on June 4, 1937, and carries a NR certification. At the box office it grossed around $0 million worldwide.
- Director
- Jean Renoir
- Writers
- Jean Renoir
- Release date
- June 4, 1937
- Original language
- French
- Age rating
- NR
- Status
- Released
- Country
- France
- Box office
- $0 million
- Production
- Réalisation d'Art Cinématographique
Grand Illusion cast & crew
Grand Illusion was directed by Jean Renoir and written by Jean Renoir.
The cast features Jean Gabin as Le lieutenant Maréchal, Pierre Fresnay as Le capitaine de Boëldieu, Erich von Stroheim as Le capitaine von Rauffenstein, Marcel Dalio as Le lieutenant Rosenthal, Dita Parlo as Elsa, and Julien Carette as Cartier, l'acteur.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Joseph Kosma, cinematography is by Christian Matras, and it was produced by Frank Rollmer and Albert Pinkovitch.
Is Grand Illusion worth watching?
Grand Illusion holds an audience score of 7.9/10 from 780 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed drama films.
At 1h 54m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy drama, history, and war, Grand Illusion is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Grand Illusion
In United States, you can stream Grand Illusion on Darkroom and Kanopy. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
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Cast of Grand Illusion
Jean Gabin
Le lieutenant Maréchal
Pierre Fresnay
Le capitaine de Boëldieu
Erich von Stroheim
Le capitaine von Rauffenstein
Marcel Dalio
Le lieutenant Rosenthal
Dita Parlo
Elsa
Julien Carette
Cartier, l'acteur
Gaston Modot
L'ingénieur
Georges Péclet
Le serrurier
Werner Florian
Le sergent Arthur
Jean Dasté
L'instituteur
Sylvain Itkine
Le lieutenant Demolder
Jacques Becker
L'officier anglais
Grand Illusion — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Grand Illusion in United States?
Grand Illusion is streaming on Darkroom, Kanopy in United States.
▸Is Grand Illusion on Darkroom?
Yes — Grand Illusion is currently available on Darkroom in United States.
▸What language is Grand Illusion in?
Grand Illusion is originally in French, with audio tracks including Russian, German, French, English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Grand Illusion?
Grand Illusion runs 1 hours 54 minutes (114 minutes).
▸What is Grand Illusion rated?
Grand Illusion is rated NR. It holds a 7.9/10 audience score from 780 ratings.
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