They Were Expendable movie poster

They Were Expendable

1945 · 2h 15m · Released

NR Drama, War

After a demonstration of new PT boats, Navy brass are still unconvinced of their viability in combat, leaving Lt. "Rusty" Ryan frustrated. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, however, Ryan and his buddy Lt. Brickley are told they can finally take their squadron into battle. The PT boats quickly prove their worth, successfully shooting down Japanese planes, relaying messages between islands, and picking off a multitude of enemy ships.

Read the book by William L. White

Ratings

Based on audience scores
6.5 The Movie Database
N/A IMDb
N/A Rotten Tomatoes
N/A Metacritic

Where to stream They Were Expendable

Streaming now in the United States on Philo, Plex, and Tubi TV.

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Rent or buy in the United States on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home.

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Trailers and promos

Trailer
Destroying a Japanese Cruiser
Air Raid on the U.S. Base
Ed Neumeier on THEY WERE EXPENDABLE

Top cast and crew

John Ford Director
Robert Montgomery Lt. John Brickley
John Wayne Lt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan
Donna Reed Lt. Sandy Davyss
Jack Holt General Martin
Ward Bond "Boats" Mulcahey, Chief Boatswain's Mate
Marshall Thompson Ens. 'Snake' Gardner
Paul Langton Ens. 'Andy' Andrews
Leon Ames Major James Morton
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Frequently asked questions about They Were Expendable

Where can I watch They Were Expendable in the United States?

They Were Expendable is available to stream on Philo, Plex, and Tubi TV in the United States, and to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. Streaming availability is provided by JustWatch and can change over time.

Can I watch They Were Expendable for free?

They Were Expendable streams free with ads in the United States on Plex and Tubi TV. A subscription is not required, though the service may ask you to register.

What are the ratings for They Were Expendable?

They Were Expendable scores 6.5 on The Movie Database.

Who stars in They Were Expendable?

They Were Expendable stars Robert Montgomery, John Wayne, Donna Reed, Jack Holt, and Ward Bond. John Ford is the director.

How long is They Were Expendable?

They Were Expendable runs 2h 15m (135 minutes).

When did They Were Expendable come out?

They Were Expendable was released on December 7, 1945.

Which studio made They Were Expendable?

They Were Expendable was produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the United States.

Ratings and streaming availability are aggregated from third-party sources; metadata from The Movie Database (TMDB), streaming data from JustWatch. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Streaming availability checked September 2026.

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