The Bridge
“Boys and Girls Dream of love,Manhood and Womanhood to DIscover a World of Violence !”
A group of German boys are ordered to protect a small bridge in their home village during the waning months of the second world war. Truckloads of defeated, cynical Wehrmacht soldiers flee the approaching American troops, but the boys, full of enthusiasm for the "blood and honor" Nazi ideology, stay to defend the useless bridge. The film is based on a West German anti-war novel of the same name, written by Gregor Dorfmeister.
Where to watch The Bridge in United States
Criterion Channel
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTubeClick a service to open The Bridge there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is The Bridge streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Criterion Channel | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| Canada | Criterion Channel | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| Germany | ARD Plus, Magenta TV+ | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Spain | Filmin | — |
About The Bridge
The Bridge is a 1959 German-language drama, history and war film directed by Bernhard Wicki. The cast is led by Folker Bohnet, Fritz Wepper, Michael Hinz. It has a runtime of 1h 43m. Viewers rate it 7.6/10 across 200 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.
The Bridge was produced by Fono Film and Taurus Produktion and made in Germany. It was released on October 21, 1959.
- Director
- Bernhard Wicki
- Writers
- Michael Mansfeld, Karl-Wilhelm Vivier, Bernhard Wicki
- Release date
- October 21, 1959
- Original language
- German
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Germany
- Production
- Fono Film, Taurus Produktion
The Bridge cast & crew
The Bridge was directed by Bernhard Wicki and written by Michael Mansfeld, Karl-Wilhelm Vivier, and Bernhard Wicki.
The cast features Folker Bohnet as Hans Scholten, Fritz Wepper as Albert Mutz, Michael Hinz as Walter Forst, Frank Glaubrecht as Jurgen Borchert, Karl Michael Balzer as Karl Horber, and Volker Lechtenbrink as Klaus Hager.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Hans-Martin Majewski, cinematography is by Gerd von Bonin, and it was produced by Hans Wolff.
Is The Bridge worth watching?
The Bridge holds an audience score of 7.6/10 from 196 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed drama films.
At 1h 43m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy drama, history, and war, The Bridge is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Bridge
In United States, you can stream The Bridge on Criterion Channel, or rent and buy it on Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. 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.
Rate & review
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Cast of The Bridge
Folker Bohnet
Hans Scholten
Fritz Wepper
Albert Mutz
Michael Hinz
Walter Forst
Frank Glaubrecht
Jurgen Borchert
Karl Michael Balzer
Karl Horber
Volker Lechtenbrink
Klaus Hager
Günther Hoffmann
Sigi Bernhard
Cordula Trantow
Franziska
Wolfgang Stumpf
Stern
Günter Pfitzmann
Heilmann
Heinz Spitzner
Fröhlich
Siegfried Schürenberg
Lieutenant Colonel
The Bridge — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Bridge in United States?
The Bridge is streaming on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸Is The Bridge on Criterion Channel?
Yes — The Bridge is currently available on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸What language is The Bridge in?
The Bridge is originally in German. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Bridge?
The Bridge runs 1 hours 43 minutes (103 minutes).
▸What is The Bridge rated?
It holds a 7.6/10 audience score from 196 ratings.
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