TMBTMB
TMBTMB

Track, discover and find where to watch TV shows and movies.

Discover

  • Movies
  • TV Shows
  • Browse
  • Topics

Account

  • Watchlist
  • Watched
  • Ratings

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Content Policy

© 2026 Movie Browser. All rights reserved.

Data provided by TMDB

Home
Browse
Watchlist
backdrop
backdrop
logo
A Soviet kid runs away to the Arctic to find Dad. Ice. Cold. Family drama.
TMDB
100

The Return (1940)

heartfeltadventuremelodrama

Overview

Family

Little Nikita, the son of polar scientist Sergei Ivanov, runs away from home with the intention of reaching the Arctic, where he believes his father works. The boy manages to reach Leningrad, where he ends up at the Arctic Institute. Sergei is tasked with returning the runaway home, but Nikita stubbornly hides his origins and the purpose of his escape. Soon, his grandmother arrives, and Ivanov learns that Nikita is his son. He writes a letter to his ex-wife and convinces her of the need to return to him. The couple reconciles, and, preparing for another expedition, Sergei promises his wife and young son that he will return to the mainland on time.

Flag of SUSURussian
Content warning

Standout Aspects

Production

Arctic expedition authenticity

Acting

Child actor's stubborn charm

Costume

Period polar gear perfection

Best for:Family: Vintage family bonding with grandparents·Solo: Soviet cinema deep-dive curiosity·Rewatch: Spotting 1940s Leningrad details
Yan Frid

Director

Yan Frid

ReleasedNov 29, 1940
0
StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacesteady
Intensitymedium
Tonemixed
Feelmedium
Lenfilm

Top Cast

Aleksandr Chistyakov

Aleksandr Chistyakov

Pogodin, Nikita's grandfather

Tatyana Guretskaya

Tatyana Guretskaya

Nikolai Simonov

Nikolai Simonov

Valentina Telegina

Valentina Telegina

Boris Poslavsky

Boris Poslavsky

Vladimir Lukin

Vladimir Lukin

Ask about The Return

Opens AI chat

Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Cultural

Released during WWII, this celebrates Soviet Arctic exploration while millions fought—propaganda or escapism? You decide.

Trivia

Director Yan Frid survived the Siege of Leningrad filming nearby—this may be his last pre-siege project.

Reviews

No ratings yet

Start the discussionBe the first to post — spoiler-safe
Rate & reviewBe the first to weigh in

Recommended

Ploey: You Never Fly Alone movie poster (2018)
6.1

Ploey: You Never Fly Alone

PAW Patrol: Jet to the Rescue movie poster (2020)
7.1

PAW Patrol: Jet to the Rescue

Far from the Tree movie poster (2021)
8.1

Far from the Tree

Angela's Christmas Wish movie poster (2020)
6.4

Angela's Christmas Wish

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie movie poster (1998)
6.1

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie

Bratz: Rock Angelz movie poster (2005)
7.4

Bratz: Rock Angelz

Yours, Mine & Ours movie poster (2005)
6.2

Yours, Mine & Ours

The Nutcracker movie poster (1993)
5.8

The Nutcracker

Nocturna movie poster (2007)
7.1

Nocturna

The Willoughbys movie poster (2020)
7.0

The Willoughbys

Life with Father movie poster (1947)
6.7

Life with Father

Thunderstruck movie poster (2012)
6.2

Thunderstruck

Kikoriki. Legend of the Golden Dragon movie poster (2016)
5.9

Kikoriki. Legend of the Golden Dragon

Junior and Karlson movie poster (1968)
7.0

Junior and Karlson

Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling movie poster (2019)
6.6

Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling

Discussion

Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.

Discussion starters

View all comments →