Opening

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—— Alyce Kills May 24

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Coming Soon

—— After Earth May 31
—— Now You See Me May 31
100% The Kings of Summer May 31
89% The East May 31

Courage Under Fire (1996)

tomatometer

85

Average Rating: 7.3/10
Reviews Counted: 53
Fresh: 45 | Rotten: 8

An emotional and intriguing tale of a military officer who must review the merits of a fallen officer while confronting his own war demons. Effectively depicts the terrors of war as well as its heartbreaking aftermath.

94

Average Rating: 7.8/10
Critic Reviews: 17
Fresh: 16 | Rotten: 1

An emotional and intriguing tale of a military officer who must review the merits of a fallen officer while confronting his own war demons. Effectively depicts the terrors of war as well as its heartbreaking aftermath.

audience

62

liked it
Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 45,657

My Rating

Movie Info

A US Army officer, despondent about a deadly mistake he made, investigates a female chopper commander's worthiness for the Medal of Honor.

R,

Drama

Patrick Duncan

Dec 5, 2000

Columbia Pictures

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Cast

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All Critics (53) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (50) | Rotten (8) | DVD (19)

A carefully conceived, dramatically honorable picture that treats its subject with clarity and intelligence, especially by contemporary standards.

July 22, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

As the detective-story flashback structure gets under way, what initially seemed adherence to dramatic and moral cliché becomes more complex and interesting.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out
Time Out
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Despite its underlying predictability, Courage Under Fire manages warmth, intelligence and a healthy share of surprises.

August 30, 2004 Full Review Source: New York Times
New York Times
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I wasn't particularly moved or riveted with suspense.

September 11, 2002 Full Review Source: Washington Post
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A fascinating mystery mixed with war action.

June 18, 2002 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic IconTop Critic

At the end of Courage Under Fire, you feel torn between admiration and annoyance with the filmmakers, who take an attention-grabbing premise and skillfully develop it into a conclusion that's pure piffle.

April 12, 2002 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail
Globe and Mail
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Military drama deploys plenty of violence, swearing.

September 14, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media

The screenplay by Patrick Sheane Duncan negotiates the narrow gap between melodrama and mystery fairly well, and director Zwick has an impeccable sense of pacing.

July 25, 2007 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis
Movie Metropolis

Denzel Washington gives as fine a performance as I have seen him give.

April 9, 2005 Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews
Reeling Reviews

A provocative film with Oscar caliber performances. (published 7-19-96)

December 28, 2004 Full Review

Denzel Washington reinforces his image as a serious leading man who dominates a film with his quiet intensity and aura of introspection.

June 22, 2004 Full Review Source: Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)

Underrated war flick with a surprisingly effective performance by Meg Ryan

April 2, 2004
Lawrence Journal-World

When [Washington's] long pent-up emotions finally break through the surface, the result is at once exhilarating and heartbreaking.

January 2, 2004 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com
TheMovieReport.com

Excellent military mystery. Rashomon style point of view play.

August 11, 2003
About.com

Washington's inherent gravity anchors his troubled and troublesome character, and Ryan, whom we'd all but written off as a perpetual pom-pom girl, takes on an atypical role and acquits herself, well, honorably.

July 30, 2003 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Audience Reviews for Courage Under Fire

the rashomon technique employed by a great director and a wonderful cast, the film was intriguing and the characters compelling. one of washington and zwicks 3 films together.
May 31, 2007
sanjurosamurai
danny d

Super Reviewer

Not brilliant. A good cast but no great performances.
September 24, 2009
SirPant

Super Reviewer

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