On the Beach poster

On the Beach

The Biggest Story of Our Time!

6.7(258)19592h 14m4

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?

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Status
Released
Budget
$2.9M
Box office
$2.2M
Language
English
  • australia
  • based on novel or book
  • nuclear war
  • submarine
  • san francisco, california
  • dystopia
  • post-apocalyptic future
  • nuclear radiation
  • end of the world
  • melbourne, australia
  • nuclear holocaust
  • black and white

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Produced in

United States of America

Where to watch

All options

Availability for India. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.

Gallery

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Videos

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • Theatrical17 Dec 1959
  • United KingdomGB

    • TheatricalPG17 Dec 1959
    • PhysicalPGDVD3 May 2004
  • AustraliaAU

    • TheatricalPG17 Dec 1959
  • CanadaCA

    • Theatrical17 Dec 1959
  • ArgentinaAR

    • Theatrical+1310 Mar 1960
  • BrazilBR

    • Theatricale 1231 Dec 1959
  • DenmarkDK

    • Theatrical1 Jan 1960
  • FinlandFI

    • Theatrical26 Feb 1960
  • FranceFR

    • TheatricalTP17 Dec 1959
    • TVTPCiné+ Classic22 Oct 2026
  • GermanyDE

    • Theatrical16West Germany17 Dec 1959
  • ItalyIT

    • TheatricalTRome17 Dec 1959
  • JapanJP

    • Theatrical17 Dec 1959

Frequently asked questions

On the Beach was released on 17 December 1959.

Audience reviews

3
  • J

    John Chard

    9/13/2015

    4/10

    Like watching paint dry. Stanley Kramer and John Paxton adapt from Nevil Shute's novel. Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, Anthony Perkins and Donna Anderson star, with music by Ernest Gold and cinematography by Giuseppe Rotunno. After a global nuclear war, the inhabitants of Australia realise that the radiation clouds are heading their way. A group of people try to come to terms with this fact. A well…

  • F

    Frank

    6/10/2017

    Well acted story with an obvious anti-war theme, written during the cold war provided an interesting portrayal of how different people may react facing impending doom. Fearful, Angry, Fatalistic. It developed feelings for the characters as they dealt with the situation each in their own way. Overall, at the end, there was a sadness that prevailed and led one to contemplate the possibility of this occurring. That …

  • C

    CinemaSerf

    9/5/2025

    7/10

    With nuclear warfare having eradicated most of the population of the world, it seems that only Australia still has a population - and they know that it is only a matter of time before the irradiated dust reaches their coastline and death will follow. Just ahead of that, though, is the USS Sawfish under the command of the now widowed “Towers” (Gregory Peck) who arrives with a grateful but demoralised crew. Their hosts…

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