49th Parallel (1941): cast, story & where to watch
1941 · Film · ★ 6.9
Released in 1941, 49th Parallel is a thriller, drama, adventure and war film directed by Michael Powell, running about 123 minutes. “THE MIGHTEST MANHUNT THAT EVER SWEPT THE SCREEN!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. In the early days of World War II, a German U-boat is sunk in Canada's Hudson Bay. Hoping to evade capture, a small band of German soldiers led by commanding officer Lieutenant Hirth attempts to cross the border into the United States, which has not yet entered the war and is officially neutral. Along the way, the German soldiers encounter brave men such as a French-Canadian fur trapper, Johnnie, a leader of a Hutterite farming community, Peter, an author, Philip and a soldier, Andy Brock.
Who’s in it. 49th Parallel stars Leslie Howard as Philip Armstrong Scott, Laurence Olivier as Johnnie, the Trapper, Raymond Massey as Andy Brock and Adolf Wohlbrück as Peter, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.9/10, 49th Parallel has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
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 and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch 49th Parallel page.
If you liked it. Fans of 49th Parallel tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch 49th Parallel (1941)?
- In US, 49th Parallel 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 Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is 49th Parallel worth watching?
- 49th Parallel holds an audience score of 6.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller, drama, adventure and war. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in 49th Parallel?
- 49th Parallel stars Leslie Howard, Laurence Olivier, Raymond Massey, Adolf Wohlbrück and Eric Portman.
- When was 49th Parallel released?
- 49th Parallel was released in 1941, with a runtime of about 123 minutes.