The Search
“Everybody agrees MGM's The Search is a wonderful motion picture!”
In postwar Germany, a displaced Czech boy, separated from his family during wartime, is befriended by an American GI while the boy's mother desperately searches for him.
Where to watch The Search in United States
HBO Max Amazon Channel
HBO Max
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At HomeClick a service to open The Search there. Availability last verified on July 11, 2026.
Where is The Search streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| Canada | — | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| Germany | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Freenet meinVOD |
| France | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| Brazil | Looke, NetMovies | — |
| Japan | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, FOD | Amazon Video |
About The Search
The Search is a 1948 English-language drama and war film directed by Fred Zinnemann. The cast is led by Montgomery Clift, Ivan Jandl, Aline MacMahon. It has a runtime of 1h 44m. Viewers rate it 7.0/10 across 100 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max.
The Search was produced by Praesens-Film and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and made in Switzerland and United States of America. It was released on March 26, 1948, and carries a NR certification.
- Director
- Fred Zinnemann
- Writers
- Richard Schweizer
- Release date
- March 26, 1948
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- NR
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Switzerland, United States of America
- Production
- Praesens-Film, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
The Search cast & crew
The Search was directed by Fred Zinnemann and written by Richard Schweizer.
The cast features Montgomery Clift as Ralph Stevenson, Ivan Jandl as Karel Malik aka 'Jim'/'Jimmy', Aline MacMahon as Mrs. Murray, Wendell Corey as Jerry Fisher, Jarmila Novotná as Hannah Malik, and Mary Patton as Mrs. Fisher.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Robert Blum, cinematography is by Emil Berna, and it was produced by Lazar Wechsler.
Is The Search worth watching?
The Search holds an audience score of 7.0/10 from 85 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed drama films.
At 1h 44m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy drama and war, The Search is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Search
In United States, you can stream The Search on HBO Max Amazon Channel and HBO Max, 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 Search
Montgomery Clift
Ralph Stevenson
Ivan Jandl
Karel Malik aka 'Jim'/'Jimmy'
Aline MacMahon
Mrs. Murray
Wendell Corey
Jerry Fisher
Jarmila Novotná
Hannah Malik
Mary Patton
Mrs. Fisher
Ewart G. Morrison
Mr. Crookes
Leopold Borkowski
Joel Markowsky
Claude Gambier
Raoul Dubois
William Rogers
Tom Fisher
Fred Zinnemann
Interpreter (uncredited)
The Search — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Search in United States?
The Search is streaming on HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max in United States.
▸Is The Search on HBO Max Amazon Channel?
Yes — The Search is currently available on HBO Max Amazon Channel in United States.
▸What language is The Search in?
The Search is originally in English, with audio tracks including English, Czech, French, Hebrew. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Search?
The Search runs 1 hours 44 minutes (104 minutes).
▸What is The Search rated?
The Search is rated NR. It holds a 7.0/10 audience score from 85 ratings.
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