Ivan's Childhood (1962)
Kernel Score: 89% · 813 ratings
Genres: Drama, War
Released: 1962-05-09
Runtime: 95 minutes
Where to watch Ivan's Childhood
- Stream: The Criterion Channel
- Free with ads: Plex
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
In WW2, twelve year old Soviet orphan Ivan Bondarev works for the Soviet army as a scout behind the German lines and strikes a friendship with three sympathetic Soviet officers.
Ivan's Childhood parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Ivan's Childhood is an unrated Soviet war drama about a 12-year-old orphan serving as a scout behind enemy lines during WWII.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — Depicts a child in wartime danger as a military scout, with intense and suspenseful war atmosphere though not graphic gore.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Ivan's Childhood
If you liked Ivan's Childhood, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Kalashnikov AK-47 (2020) — 84%
- The Book Thief (2013) — 85%
- Diplomacy (2014) — 79%
- The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008) — 87%
- Jojo Rabbit (2019) — 88%
- Europa Europa (1990) — 80%
- Infernal Affairs III (2003) — 76%
- The Last Full Measure (2020) — 81%
Director
Cast
- Nikolay Burlyaev as Ivan
- Valentin Zubkov as Kholin
- Yevgeni Zharikov as Galtsev
- Stepan Krylov as Katasonov
- Mykola Hrynko as Gryaznov
- Dmytro Milyutenko as Old Man
- Valentina Malyavina as Masha
- Irma Raush as Ivan's Mother
- Andrei Konchalovsky as Soldier with Glasses
- Ivan Savkin
Ivan's Childhood FAQ
Is Ivan's Childhood good?
Ivan's Childhood has an 89% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 813 audience ratings.
Where can I watch Ivan's Childhood?
In the US you can stream Ivan's Childhood on The Criterion Channel, watch it free with ads on Plex and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Ivan's Childhood OK for kids?
Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Ivan's Childhood is an unrated Soviet war drama about a 12-year-old orphan serving as a scout behind enemy lines during WWII.
What movies are like Ivan's Childhood?
If you liked Ivan's Childhood, try Kalashnikov AK-47, The Book Thief, Diplomacy and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.