The General (1926)
Kernel Score: 89% · 1,384 TMDB ratings · Rated NR
Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, War, Romance
Released: 1926-12-25
Runtime: 79 minutes
Where to watch The General
- Stream: Prime Video, Fubo, MGM+, FlixFling, Kino Film Collection, Artiflix
- Free with ads: JustWatch TV Free, Kanopy, Hoopla, FlixHouse, Darkroom
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-11-12.
Overview
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.
The General parents' guide: ages 5+
Parents need to know that The General is a 1926 silent Civil War comedy-adventure with train chases and stunts but no real gore or language.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Civil War setting includes battle scenes, a train chase, cannons, and physical stunts, but violence is played for slapstick/comedy rather than graphic harm.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The General
If you liked The General, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Operation Petticoat (1959) — 81%
- To Be or Not to Be (1942) — 88%
- Safety Last! (1923) — 87%
- Duck Soup (1933) — 82%
- One Week (1920) — 89%
- Our Hospitality (1923) — 84%
- Paths of Glory (1957) — 91%
- Gettysburg (1993) — 74%
Director
Cast
- Buster Keaton as Johnnie Gray
- Marion Mack as Annabelle Lee
- Glen Cavender as Captain Anderson
- Jim Farley as General Thatcher
- Frederick Vroom as A Southern General
- Frank Barnes as Annabelle's Brother
- Charles Henry Smith as Annabelle's Father
- Joe Keaton as Union General
- Mike Donlin as Union General
- Tom Nawn as Union General
The General FAQ
Is The General good?
The General has an 89% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels, our own critic-informed editorial score.
Where can I watch The General?
In the US you can stream The General on Prime Video, Fubo, MGM+, FlixFling, Kino Film Collection and Artiflix, watch it free with ads on JustWatch TV Free, Kanopy, Hoopla, FlixHouse and Darkroom and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The General OK for kids?
The General is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 5+. Parents need to know that The General is a 1926 silent Civil War comedy-adventure with train chases and stunts but no real gore or language.
What movies are like The General?
If you liked The General, try Operation Petticoat, To Be or Not to Be, Safety Last! and Duck Soup.