Paths of Glory

Play trailer

Paths of Glory

1957

1h 26m

War

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

114 Reviews

95%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

During World War I, commanding officer General Broulard (Adolphe Menjou) orders his subordinate, General Mireau (George Macready), to attack a German trench position, offering a promotion as an incentive. Though the mission is foolhardy to the point of suicide, Mireau commands his own subordinate, Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas), to plan the attack. When it ends in disaster, General Mireau demands the court-martial of three random soldiers in order to save face.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Paths of Glory is a transcendentally humane war movie from Stanley Kubrick, with impressive, protracted battle sequences and a knock-out ending.

Read Critics Reviews

Philip Oakes

London Evening Standard

13 hrs ago

Paths of Glory is an adult, painful and absorbing film. It demands to be seen.

Go to Full Review

Mae Tinée

Chicago Tribune

13 hrs ago

It's a grim, forceful story, presented in blunt, unvarnished fashion, entirely lacking in the customary cliches, deftly directed. The supporting cast is first rate, as is the entire film.

Go to Full Review

Ronald Johnson

Globe and Mail

13 hrs ago

It has a sincerity and depth of emotion achieved by few of its larger, grander, more glorious brothers. This is due, largely, to the sensitive direction and crackling pace set by Mr. Kubrick.

Go to Full Review

R.H. Gardner

Baltimore Sun

13 hrs ago

Paths of Glory is a superb work of art. It may lack the sweep, the thematic grandeur of The Bridge on the River Kwai, but, in its own way, it's every bit as good. Its relation to the latter is, perhaps, the same as that of a sonnet to an epic poem.

Go to Full Review

C.A. Lejeune

Observer (UK)

13 hrs ago

Paths of Glory makes its points with power, and is about as cosy as an hydraulic drill.

Go to Full Review

Albert Goldstein

Times-Picayune

13 hrs ago

A successfully fashioned screenplay which, in spite of its all but forgotten setting, points up by vivid implication the futility.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Chase L

@RT62590826 1 day ago

Sometimes there's too much to say about a film's importance - that my brain shuts down and simply drools in awe of it's deep complexity. Easily one of the top 10 films in all of cinematic history. One must watch it to discover why.

See more

Lorenz L

@Lorenz1060 4 days ago

America has just announced – on 09 October 2026 – that it plans to livestream the execution by firing squad of a convicted mass murderer in December. As a result of his attack, the former United States Army major was paralysed from the waist down by a bullet. He will, ostensibly, be killed while sitting in a wheelchair. Everyone needs to see "Paths of Glory". Several times, throughout one's lifetime. Show it to your children.

See more

Mike N

@artcarney55 Sep 27, 2026

Excellent film. One of my top Kubrick films. One if the best anti war films ever made

See more

Roman T

@nomos Sep 26, 2026

ستانلێی کوبریک😍 ناتوانم وەسفی ئەم فلمە بکەم زۆر زۆر نایابە شایەنی سێرکردنە وە یەکێک لە چوار فلمە دڵخوازەکەم

See more

Tracy M

@RT47763928 Sep 17, 2026

Absolutely Incredible. A Movie with such deep meaning. The camera work is haunting and breath taking. So moving and just so good!

See more

Adelay C

@27adeco Aug 26, 2026

I honestly expected more depth and complexity from this film, but it made its point perfectly clear in a very blunt manner. The senseless execution of the three men surprised me in its simplicity- a part of me expected them to be let off. Kirk Douglas is also very good as Colonel Dax!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Stanley Kubrick

Director

Kirk Douglas

Col. Dax

Ralph Meeker

Cpl. Philip Paris

Adolphe Menjou

Gen. George Broulard

George Macready

Gen. Paul Mireau

Wayne Morris

Lt. Roget

Paths of Glory: Official Clip - The Execution

1:48

Now Playing

Paths of Glory: Official Clip - Your Men Died Very Well

2:16

Now Playing

Paths of Glory: Official Clip - Maintaining Discipline

2:09

Now Playing

Paths of Glory: Official Clip - They're Going to Kill Us

0:53

Now Playing

Paths of Glory: Official Clip - Charging the Ant Hill

2:36

Now Playing

Paths of Glory: Official Clip - A Stroll Through the Trenches

2:10

Now Playing

Paths of Glory: Official Clip - I Pity You

1:46

Now Playing

View more videos

Attack!

100%

79%

Attack!

Watchlist

Pork Chop Hill

88%

73%

Pork Chop Hill

Watchlist

The Bridge on the River Kwai

96%

93%

The Bridge on the River Kwai

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Bridge on the River Kwai

Hell Is for Heroes

86%

74%

Hell Is for Heroes

Watchlist

The Guns of Navarone

92%

86%

The Guns of Navarone

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Guns of Navarone

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Terry Gilliam’s Five Favorite Films

Mystery Science Theater 3000 and More on Netflix This Week

RT’s Top Holiday Thrillers — Christmas Countdown, Day Three

View more photos

Synopsis

During World War I, commanding officer General Broulard (Adolphe Menjou) orders his subordinate, General Mireau (George Macready), to attack a German trench position, offering a promotion as an incentive. Though the mission is foolhardy to the point of suicide, Mireau commands his own subordinate, Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas), to plan the attack. When it ends in disaster, General Mireau demands the court-martial of three random soldiers in order to save face.

Director: Stanley Kubrick
Producer: Kirk Douglas, James B. Harris
Screenwriter: Humphrey Cobb, Stanley Kubrick, Calder Willingham, Jim Thompson
Distributor: United Artists, Criterion Collection, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Bryna Productions
Genre: War, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 25, 1957, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Runtime: 1h 26m
Sound Mix: Mono, Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1), 35mm

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings