On the Beach (1959): cast, story & where to watch
1959 · Film · ★ 6.6
Released in 1959, On the Beach is a drama, romance and science fiction film directed by Stanley Kramer, running about 134 minutes. “The Biggest Story of Our Time!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. In 1964, atomic war wipes out humanity in the northern hemisphere; one American submarine finds temporary safe haven in Australia, where life-as-usual covers growing despair. In denial about the loss of his wife and children in the holocaust, American Captain Towers meets careworn but gorgeous Moira Davidson, who begins to fall for him. The sub returns after reconnaissance a month (or less) before the end; will Towers and Moira find comfort with each other?
Who’s in it. On the Beach stars Gregory Peck as Dwight Towers, Ava Gardner as Moira Davidson, Fred Astaire as Julian Osborn and Anthony Perkins as Lt. Peter Holmes, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.6/10, On the Beach has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In GB you can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Amazon Video and Sky Store. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch On the Beach page.
If you liked it. Fans of On the Beach tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch On the Beach (1959)?
- In GB, On the Beach is available to rent or buy from Apple TV Store, Amazon Video and Sky Store. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is On the Beach worth watching?
- On the Beach holds an audience score of 6.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, romance and science fiction. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in On the Beach?
- On the Beach stars Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, Anthony Perkins and Donna Anderson.
- When was On the Beach released?
- On the Beach was released in 1959, with a runtime of about 134 minutes.