On the Waterfront

Audience Reviews

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Matt Jun 4, 2021 Fabulous movie. It seems like Brando's right and left hand are always in different worlds from each other. When he goes to confront Johnny Friendly about (SPOILER ALERT), his right hand is vice-tight around a revolver, while the other is frozen into a tense openness. This is thematically resonant, signaling the two worlds Brando straddles. And Kazan earns that clich label, "the actor's director," by choosing the wide frame to capture it. See more

David K @RT61474040 Oct 18, 2026 A great movie despite Kazan's less-than-honorable intentions in making it. Sometimes we have to let the art have its say for its own sake. See more

Matthew D @OceanSage Oct 7, 2026 One of the most thoughtful movies ever. Kazan has directed several great films in his career such as A Streetcar Named Desire, Viva Zapata!, On the Waterfront, and then East of Eden. I must mention Leonard Bernstein's iconic score for On the Waterfront. Bernstein's emotional and chaotic classical composition fits each scene perfectly. Notably, Marlon Brando gives the most emotional performance of his life in On the Waterfront. Brando captures the tough guy machismo of a former boxer with the empathetic sincerity of a decent young man. His take on romance as simple honesty is inspired. Brando uses his voice so well as he emotes such hopelessness and frustration throughout On the Waterfront. You can see for yourself why this role changed acting forever after. Brando delivers what is perhaps his finest acting herein and it is quite moving. Similarly, Eva Marie Saint absolutely nails it in her acting debut. She plays the innocent and naive girl trying to find justice for her brother. See more

Ma'ark T @RT57514104 Oct 5, 2026 On The Waterfront is a classic movie but I feel as if it is carried by Brando. It is hard to take your eyes off him on the screen. See more

Jens B @Jens97 Sep 6, 2026 An entertaining social drama; fortunately, more than 70 years later, humanity is no longer willing to be bossed around by a handful of elites. Brando gives a great performance, and Cobb was born to play furious villains. The film itself drags a bit in the middle, and for me, the ending doesn't quite match the atmosphere that had been built up. See more

Matt H @NormalAndBored Aug 23, 2026 Most over-rated B Movie ever. Practically unwatchable. Irritating nonsense throughout and overflowing with obvious holes. The movie starts with a guy getting thrown off the roof for ratting on The Mob, not the Italian Mob you understand, but the Irish Mob. I know they sound like the Mafia, act like the Mafia and look like the Mafia, but they're actually supposed to be Irish. The only actor who could pass for an Irish guy is the Irish priest Malley. Then there's the unconvincingly easy to turn on Mafia characters who just turn on the Mafia for no particular reason and a particularly noticeable absence of fearing for their lives despite their 100% kill ratio. Then there's the cringe worthy rooftop scenes. Half the movie is shot there and noone seems to care that her brother got thrown off it. In fact let's do the love scene there. Then Brando, the only decent acting, somehow doesn't notice the ship's horn during his big explanation, hands in pockets, did his very best. Laughably Stupid. See more

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On the Waterfront

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