Where to watch The River in the United States
The River (1951) is streaming on Max.
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The River
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You can stream The River (1951) on Max with a subscription.
Director Jean Renoir’s entrancing first color feature—shot entirely on location in India—is a visual tour de force. Based on the novel by Rumer Godden, the film eloquently contrasts the growing pains of three young women with the immutability of the Bengal river around which their daily lives unfold. Enriched by Renoir’s subtle understanding and appreciation for India and its people, The River gracefully explores the fragile connections between transitory emotions and everlasting creation.
Can a shifting river dictate the destiny of those bound to its banks? Renoir captures the collision of human emotion and nature through vibrant, location-shot colors that make the Bengal landscape feel like a living character.
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Director
Jean Renoir
Cast
Nora Swinburne, Esmond Knight, Arthur Shields, Suprova Mukerjee, Thomas E. Breen, Patricia Walters, Radha Burnier, Adrienne Corri, June Tripp, Nimai Barik
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2 options ranked by value · 🇺🇸 United States
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Last verified 29 days ago
The River
You can stream The River (1951) on Max with a subscription.
IMDb
7.2/10
RT Critics
92%
Director
Jean Renoir
Cast
Nora Swinburne, Esmond Knight, Arthur Shields, Suprova Mukerjee, Thomas E. Breen, Patricia Walters, Radha Burnier, Adrienne Corri, June Tripp, Nimai Barik
2 options ranked by value · 🇺🇸 United States
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The River is streaming on Max. The River is streaming on Criterion Channel. We have not verified a current option on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV+. Availability last verified September 18, 2026.