To Be or Not to Be (1983): cast, story & where to watch
1983 · Film · ★ 6.8
Released in 1983, To Be or Not to Be is a comedy film directed by Alan Johnson, running about 107 minutes. “THAT is the movie!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A bad Polish actor is just trying to make a living when Poland is invaded by the Germans in World War II. His wife has the habit of entertaining young Polish officers while he's on stage, which is also a source of depression to him. When one of her officers comes back on a Secret Mission, the actor takes charge and comes up with a plan for them to escape.
Who’s in it. To Be or Not to Be stars Mel Brooks as Dr. Frederick Bronski, Anne Bancroft as Anna Bronski, Tim Matheson as Lt. Andre Sobinski and Charles Durning as Col. Erhardt, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, To Be or Not to Be has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $13M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Shout! Factory Amazon Channel. 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 (1983)?
- In US, To Be or Not to Be is available to stream on Shout! Factory Amazon Channel. 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 6.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in To Be or Not to Be?
- To Be or Not to Be stars Mel Brooks, Anne Bancroft, Tim Matheson, Charles Durning and José Ferrer.
- When was To Be or Not to Be released?
- To Be or Not to Be was released in 1983, with a runtime of about 107 minutes.