Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983): cast, story & where to watch
1983 · Film · ★ 7.3
Released in 1983, Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence is a drama, war and history film directed by Nagisa Ōshima, running about 124 minutes. “Java, 1942— A clash of cultures, a test of the human spirit.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Island of Java, 1942, during World War II. British Major Jack Celliers arrives at a Japanese prison camp, run by the strict Captain Yonoi. Colonel John Lawrence, who has a profound knowledge of Japanese culture, and Sergeant Hara, brutal and simpleton, will witness the struggle of wills between two men from very different backgrounds who are tragically destined to clash.
Who’s in it. Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence stars David Bowie as Celliers, Tom Conti as Lawrence, Ryuichi Sakamoto as Yonoi and Takeshi Kitano as Hara, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.3/10, Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $2.3M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence page.
If you liked it. Fans of Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983)?
- In US, Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence is available to stream on Criterion Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence worth watching?
- Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence holds an audience score of 7.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, war and history. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence?
- Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence stars David Bowie, Tom Conti, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Takeshi Kitano and Jack Thompson.
- When was Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence released?
- Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence was released in 1983, with a runtime of about 124 minutes.