The harrowing scene from Sophie's Choice where Meryl Streep screams and cries as her daughter is snatched away from her arms remains haunting to this day, nearly four decades later. In that scene, Streep and Jennifer Lawn Lejeune, who played her daughter, showed a performance that was raw and devastating. The film’s emotional weight and unforgettable scenes have only grown more haunting with time, drawing in more people curious to experience its impact.

Although heart-shattering, Sophie's Choice remains one of Streep’s most brilliant performances, for which she even earned an Academy Award. For those rediscovering this cinematic masterpiece in 2026, here is how to watch the film. 

Sophie’s Choice is available for streaming on FuboTV and can also be rented on Amazon Prime Video. The film, starring Meryl Streep, was released back in 1982 and went on to gross around $30 million at the box office. Apart from its commercial success, the movie was met with immense appreciation from critics. 

Having earned multiple Academy Award wins, the film featured a star-studded cast including Streep, Kevin Kline, Peter MacNicol, Greta Turken, Rita Karin, and Stephen D. Newman. Based on William Styron’s 1979 novel, the story follows a young writer, Stingo, who becomes acquainted with his neighbors in a Brooklyn boarding house: a Polish immigrant Sophie, played by Streep, and her lover Nathan. However, Sophie carries a dark past, and the horrors she faced in Auschwitz that continue to haunt her.

Streep was remarkable as Sophie, who was burdened by the devastating loss of her child and the crushing weight of survival guilt. Now, apart from the emotional intensity demanded on screen, the actress also went to incredible lengths behind the scenes. One was seen when she spoke Polish and even had an accent in a scene from the movie.

44 Years Since Release, Meryl Streep's Reel Daughter from 'Sophie's Choice' Sends A Beautiful Message for The Actress

Many might not know that Streep devoted considerable time to studying the language before playing the role.

Meryl Streep has never shied away from a challenge, and she did the same when she found out that she would have to learn Polish for Sophie’s Choice. However, what she did not initially anticipate was just how difficult the language would be to master. She later explained that the grammar was extremely complex.

“Anyway, because of that it was real hard to learn, you have to parse every sentence as you speak it, every word changes its ending according to whether it’s the object of a sentence or the subject or the indirect object. It’s really wild,” she told CheatSheet.

Streep may not have needed to learn Polish, as the particular scene was initially intended to be shot in English. However, director Alan J. Pakula ultimately decided to film the sequence in Polish and German to make it authentic. Streep, who had often praised the director, agreed with his vision and took on the challenge, working closely with a language coach to master the dialogue. Considering how powerful that scene remains even today, her dedication and hard work clearly did not go unnoticed.

Meryl Streep Challenges Athlete Travis Kelce Over a Stunt Only 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' Cast Could Pull

Have you watched Meryl Streep in Sophie's Choice? Let us know in the comments.