The Bridge on the River Kwai
“It spans a whole new world of entertainment!”
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.
Where to watch The Bridge on the River Kwai in United States
Can I watch The Bridge on the River Kwai in United States? Yes — you can stream The Bridge on the River Kwai in United States on YouTube Free, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
YouTube Free
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Spectrum On DemandClick a service to open The Bridge on the River Kwai there. Availability last verified on November 9, 2026.
Where is The Bridge on the River Kwai streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | YouTube Free | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| India | Netflix, Sony Pictures Amazon Channel | Apple TV Store, YouTube, Amazon Video |
| United Kingdom | Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads | Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Amazon Video |
| Canada | Netflix, Hollywood Suite, Hollywood Suite Amazon Channel, Netflix Standard with Ads | Apple TV Store, CosmoGo, YouTube |
| Australia | Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads, Britbox Apple TV channel | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, YouTube |
| Germany | Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads, Magenta TV+ | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, YouTube |
| France | Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads | Apple TV Store, Orange VOD, YouTube |
| Spain | Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads, rtve | Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Amazon Video |
| Brazil | Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads | Claro video, Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| Japan | Netflix, U-NEXT, Netflix Standard with Ads | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, FOD |
About The Bridge on the River Kwai
The Bridge on the River Kwai is a 1957 English-language drama, history and war film directed by David Lean. The cast is led by William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins. It has a runtime of 2h 42m. Viewers rate it 7.8/10 across 2500 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on YouTube Free.
The Bridge on the River Kwai was produced by Horizon Pictures and made in United Kingdom. It was released on October 11, 1957, and carries a PG certification. Made on a budget of about $3 million, it went on to gross $45 million worldwide.
- Director
- David Lean
- Writers
- Carl Foreman, Michael Wilson
- Release date
- October 11, 1957
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- PG
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Budget
- $3 million
- Box office
- $45 million
- Production
- Horizon Pictures
The Bridge on the River Kwai cast & crew
The Bridge on the River Kwai was directed by David Lean and written by Carl Foreman and Michael Wilson.
The cast features William Holden as Cmdr. Shears, Alec Guinness as Col. Nicholson, Jack Hawkins as Maj. Warden, Sessue Hayakawa as Col. Saito, James Donald as Maj. Clipton, and Geoffrey Horne as Lt. Joyce.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Malcolm Arnold, cinematography is by Jack Hildyard, and it was produced by Sam Spiegel.
Is The Bridge on the River Kwai worth watching?
The Bridge on the River Kwai holds an audience score of 7.8/10 from 2,507 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed drama films.
At 2h 42m, it's a full-evening commitment.
If you enjoy drama, history, and war, The Bridge on the River Kwai is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Bridge on the River Kwai
In United States, you can stream The Bridge on the River Kwai on YouTube Free, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, 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.
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Cast of The Bridge on the River Kwai
William Holden
Cmdr. Shears
Alec Guinness
Col. Nicholson
Jack Hawkins
Maj. Warden
Sessue Hayakawa
Col. Saito
James Donald
Maj. Clipton
Geoffrey Horne
Lt. Joyce
André Morell
Col. Green
Peter Williams
Capt. Reeves
John Boxer
Major Hughes
Percy Herbert
Grogan
Harold Goodwin
Baker
Ann Sears
Nurse
The Bridge on the River Kwai — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Bridge on the River Kwai in United States?
The Bridge on the River Kwai is streaming on YouTube Free in United States.
▸Is The Bridge on the River Kwai on YouTube Free?
Yes — The Bridge on the River Kwai is currently available on YouTube Free in United States.
▸What language is The Bridge on the River Kwai in?
The Bridge on the River Kwai is originally in English, with audio tracks including Japanese, Thai, English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Bridge on the River Kwai?
The Bridge on the River Kwai runs 2 hours 42 minutes (162 minutes).
▸What is The Bridge on the River Kwai rated?
The Bridge on the River Kwai is rated PG. It holds a 7.8/10 audience score from 2,507 ratings.
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