The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
0.2032Canon Score · ranked #101 all time
Aggregated from 10 of 31 authoritative lists, weighted by authority and adjusted for each list's scope and age. How scoring works →
About the film
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.
Why it ranks #101
Every list on which The Bridge on the River Kwai appears, with its position as published.
| List | Authority | Position |
|---|---|---|
| DGA 80 Greatest Directorial (2016) | Critics' canon | #40 / 78 |
| WGA 101 Greatest Screenplays (2006) | Critics' canon | #48 / 101 |
| THR Hollywood's 100 Favorite (2014) | Critics' canon | #75 / 100 |
| Halliwell's Top 1000 (2005) | Critics' canon | #131 / 1041 |
| Empire 500 Greatest (2008) | Editorial list | #163 / 500 |
| Letterboxd Top 500 (2026-07 snapshot) | Editorial list | #238 / 500 |
| Ebert Great Movies (I–IV) | Critics' canon | Selected |
| 1001 Movies (2003-2024 union) | Critics' canon | Selected |
| NYT Best 1000 Movies (2004) | Critics' canon | Selected |
| Academy Award Best Picture winners | Award | Winner |