The General

The General is currently streaming in Australia on Amazon Prime Video and Beamafilm, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and fuboTV, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 1,422 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Buster Keaton's performance alone is worth the time investment. Put it on tonight on Amazon Prime Video and see for yourself.

The General arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The jokes in The General land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. During America’s Civil War, Union spies steal engineer Johnny Gray's beloved locomotive, 'The General'—with Johnnie's lady love aboard an attached boxcar—and he single-handedly must do all in his power to both get The General back and to rescue Annabelle. Buster Keaton and Marion Mack lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1926. The General earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. The consistency throughout is what elevates it — not every moment is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, The General respects your intelligence. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Buster Keaton is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.