To Be or Not to Be (1942): cast, story & where to watch
1942 · Film · ★ 7.9
Released in 1942, To Be or Not to Be is a comedy and war film directed by Ernst Lubitsch, running about 99 minutes. “Hollywood's Happiest Star in the Picture You Must Not Miss!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. During the Nazi occupation of Poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a Polish soldier's efforts to track down a German spy.
Who’s in it. To Be or Not to Be stars Carole Lombard as Maria Tura, Jack Benny as Joseph Tura, Robert Stack as Lieut. Stanislav Sobinski and Felix Bressart as Greenberg, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.9/10, To Be or Not to Be has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $1.5M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel and HBO Max and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch To Be or Not to Be page.
If you liked it. Fans of To Be or Not to Be tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch To Be or Not to Be (1942)?
- In US, To Be or Not to Be is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and Criterion Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is To Be or Not to Be worth watching?
- To Be or Not to Be holds an audience score of 7.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy and war. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in To Be or Not to Be?
- To Be or Not to Be stars Carole Lombard, Jack Benny, Robert Stack, Felix Bressart and Lionel Atwill.
- When was To Be or Not to Be released?
- To Be or Not to Be was released in 1942, with a runtime of about 99 minutes.