The Young Lions

This week's most kinetic pick is The Young Lions. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. Its 7/10 TMDB score, built from 149 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Marlon Brando's performance is the throughline that holds the set pieces together. Available now — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, The Young Lions earns its spot. The Young Lions understands that stakes only matter if you care who is at risk. The lives of three young men, a German and two Americans, during WWII. Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift lead a cast that earns every set piece rather than just filling it. The Young Lions came out in 1958. The Young Lions earns its bigger moments by making you care about the outcome before it happens. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

The Young Lions is the kind of thing you put on to unwind and find yourself sitting forward twenty minutes in. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Marlon Brando is the obvious draw, but the supporting cast gives the action the context it needs to land. The action holds up because the character work underneath it never lets up.

The Young Lions was released in 1958, directed by Edward Dmytryk. The full 167-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.