# The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/the-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-1957/
Last reviewed: 2026-08-31

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 85% |
| Editorial Rating | 95/100 |
| Audience Snapshot | 95% (excluded from composite) |
| Metascore | 78/100 |
| Letterboxd | 4.3/5 |
| IMDb | 8.1/10 |
| Director | David Lean |
| Genres | War, Drama |
| Runtime | 161 min |
| Festival premiere | BFI London 1957 |

## Quick answer

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) earns a 85% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Lean's POW epic balances honor, madness, and whistling that echoes through cinema history. Metascore 78/100. Directed by David Lean.

## Celluloid verdict

Lean's POW epic balances honor, madness, and whistling that echoes through cinema history.

## Synopsis

Allied POWs build a railway bridge for their Japanese captors while a commando team plans to destroy it in the Burmese jungle.

## Cast

William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins

## Accolades

Premiered at BFI London 1957.

## Where to watch

the United States: not currently streaming
India: not currently streaming
South Korea: not currently streaming
Japan: U-NEXT

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Common questions

**Is The Bridge on the River Kwai worth watching?**
The Bridge on the River Kwai holds a 85% Celluloid Score. Lean's POW epic balances honor, madness, and whistling that echoes through cinema history.

**What is The Bridge on the River Kwai about?**
Allied POWs build a railway bridge for their Japanese captors while a commando team plans to destroy it in the Burmese jungle.

**Who directed The Bridge on the River Kwai?**
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) was directed by David Lean.

**What is the Celluloid Score of The Bridge on the River Kwai?**
85% — calculated from available Celluloid editorial (95/100), Metascore (78/100), Letterboxd (4.3/5), and IMDb (8.1/10) inputs. Audience sentiment is excluded.

**Where can I watch The Bridge on the River Kwai?**
The Bridge on the River Kwai is on U-NEXT in Japan. Availability varies by region.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

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