A boatload of classics are heading to streaming come 2026, and some of your favorites are among the bunch, including several war flicks. One such title is The Americanization of Emily, one of the most controversial World War II comedies of the 1960s,released in the US on October 27, 1964. Decades later, we can confirm that the film will make its debut on a new streaming home soon, where it will join a collection of anti-war movies. Oscar winner Paddy Chayefsky wrote the war comedy as a loose adaptation of the 1959 novel of the same name by William Bradford Huie, who had been a Seabee officer during Operation Overlord, a.k.a. the Battle of Normandy in 1944.
Directed by Canadian filmmaker Arthur Hiller, The Americanization of Emily arrives on HBO Max on January 1, 2026. The black comedy stars Oscar nominee James Garner (The Rockford Files) and Oscar winner Julie Andrews, widely recognized for her acclaimed roles in The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins. The duo portray lovebirds US Navy Lieutenant Commander Charles Madison and Englishwoman Emily Barham during the WWII era, and are joined by Oscar winners Melvyn Douglas (Being There) and James Coburn (The Great Escape).
As teased by the movie’s synopsis, in 1944, Charles Madison (Garner) prides himself on being a cynical coward unwilling to set foot on shore during D-Day. His relaxed lifestyle attracts a British ATS driver, Emily Barham (Andrews), whose husband and brother died in the war. But when Rear Admiral William Jessup (Douglas) resolves to earn the Navy’s prestige by ensuring that a sailor will be the first to die in the invasion, he assigns the ill-fated duty to Madison, who will now be among the vanguard.
Why Is ‘The Americanization of Emily’ Considered Controversial?
Upon its release, the black-and-white anti-war film generated significant debate for its cynical take on heroism and its glorification of war. Several also didn’t approve of how it depicted military leadership as unprincipled, ego-driven, and more concerned with interservice strife and logistics than with human life. Nevertheless, The Americanization of Emily holds a rating of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and went on to be nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography. Additionally, Garner and Andrews have considered it among the best of their films.
The Americanization of Emily will hit HBO Max this week. Follow Collider for future updates.
Release Date
October 27, 1964
James Garner
Lt. Commander Charles E. Madison
Melvyn Douglas
Admiral William Jessup
James Coburn
Lt. Commander Paul “Bus” Cummings