

They Were Expendable
“A Tribute to Those Who Did So Much... With So Little!”
After a demonstration of new PT boats, Navy brass are still unconvinced of their viability in combat, leaving Lt. "Rusty" Ryan frustrated. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, however, Ryan and his buddy Lt. Brickley are told they can finally take their squadron into battle. The PT boats quickly prove their worth, successfully shooting down Japanese planes, relaying messages between islands, and picking off a multitude of enemy ships.
Where to watch They Were Expendable in United States
Click a service to open They Were Expendable there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is They Were Expendable streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | YouTube TV, Plex, Tubi TV | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| United Kingdom | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Canada | — | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| Australia | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Germany | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, maxdome Store |
| France | Molotov TV, Cine+ OCS Amazon Channel , SFR Play | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| Spain | Movistar Plus+, Movistar Plus+ Ficción Total , Filmin | Amazon Video |
| Japan | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, FOD | — |
| South Korea | Watcha | — |
About They Were Expendable
They Were Expendable is a 1945 English-language drama and war film directed by John Ford. The cast is led by Robert Montgomery, John Wayne, Donna Reed. It has a runtime of 2h 15m. Viewers rate it 6.5/10 across 100 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on YouTube TV, Plex, Tubi TV.
They Were Expendable was produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and made in United States of America. It was released on December 7, 1945, and carries a NR certification.
- Director
- John Ford
- Writers
- Frank Wead, Christina Stead
- Release date
- December 7, 1945
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- NR
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United States of America
- Production
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
They Were Expendable cast & crew
They Were Expendable was directed by John Ford and written by Frank Wead and Christina Stead.
The cast features Robert Montgomery as Lt. John Brickley, John Wayne as Lt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan, Donna Reed as Lt. Sandy Davyss, Jack Holt as General Martin, Ward Bond as "Boats" Mulcahey, Chief Boatswain's Mate, and Marshall Thompson as Ens. 'Snake' Gardner.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Herbert Stothart, cinematography is by Joseph H. August, and it was produced by John Ford.
Is They Were Expendable worth watching?
They Were Expendable holds an audience score of 6.5/10 from 135 ratings, a solidly received drama films.
At 2h 15m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy drama and war, They Were Expendable is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch They Were Expendable
In United States, you can stream They Were Expendable on YouTube TV, Plex, and Tubi TV, 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 They Were Expendable

Robert Montgomery
Lt. John Brickley

John Wayne
Lt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan

Donna Reed
Lt. Sandy Davyss

Jack Holt
General Martin

Ward Bond
"Boats" Mulcahey, Chief Boatswain's Mate

Marshall Thompson
Ens. 'Snake' Gardner

Paul Langton
Ens. 'Andy' Andrews

Leon Ames
Major James Morton

Arthur Walsh
Seaman Jones

Donald Curtis
Lt. (J.G.) 'Shorty' Long

Cameron Mitchell
Ens. George Cross

Louis Jean Heydt
'Ohio'
They Were Expendable — FAQs
▸Where can I watch They Were Expendable in United States?
They Were Expendable is streaming on YouTube TV, Plex, Tubi TV in United States.
▸Is They Were Expendable on YouTube TV?
Yes — They Were Expendable is currently available on YouTube TV in United States.
▸What language is They Were Expendable in?
They Were Expendable is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is They Were Expendable?
They Were Expendable runs 2 hours 15 minutes (135 minutes).
▸What is They Were Expendable rated?
They Were Expendable is rated NR. It holds a 6.5/10 audience score from 135 ratings.











