The Longest Day

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1:46

The Longest Day

G

1962

3h 0m

War

History

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

24 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

In 1944, the U.S. Army and Allied forces plan a huge invasion landing in Normandy, France. Despite bad weather, General Eisenhower gives the okay and the Allies land at Normandy. General Norman Cota travels with his men onto Omaha Beach. With much effort, and lost life, they get off the beach, traveling deep into French territory. The German military, due to arrogance, ignorance and a sleeping Adolf Hitler, delay their response to the Allied landing, with crippling results.

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Variety Staff

Variety

09/10/2008

A solid and stunning war epic.

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

06/24/2006

Over-long and laden with the usual national stereotypes.

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Bosley Crowther

New York Times

05/20/2003

It is hard to think of a picture, aimed and constructed as this one was, doing any more or any better or leaving one feeling any more exposed to the horror of war than this one does.

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Jana Monji

Age of the Geek

06/21/2024

2/5

The year this film came out, there were complaints about a lack of diversity and in 2024, the lack of diversity is less forgivable and makes this depiction of D-Day dated.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

06/06/2024

4/5

The Longest Day is an ambitious film and it shows in its efforts to recreate the Normandy invasion on D-Day.

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Dwight MacDonald

Esquire Magazine

08/09/2019

Whatever his talent as a producer, Mr. Zanuck is no director. I'm sure he is an ardent patriot, but he has, quite unconsciously, made our own colonels and generals look rather silly.

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Bob R.

@brench Jun 21

Great stars. Fairly accurate. Well directed

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rex w

@RT11010153 Jul 22

One of the great war productions of all time. "The Longest Day" takes on the monumental task of retelling the story of D-Day. It doesn't get everything right. And the acting is often too whimsical. But it does a great job in conveying the enormous undertaking of the invasion. I watch this film about once every 3 or 4 years.

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Nick E

@nicksmovies93 07/02/2025

A solid war epic that's sure to be entertaining for John Wayne fans.

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Natalie R

@RT40616910 06/17/2025

John Wayne made a lot of fabulous films, but this one is as magnificent as "In Harms Way". But not as long. 😃

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Jim M

@RT57497480 06/07/2025

The expository dialogue is painful to listen to.

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Bomb City B

@RT00652665 05/19/2025

The Longest Day is the all-time top movie for D-Day..!! Made in the 1960's and in black-n-white, it tops SPR as the go-to movie for historical accuracy.. Too many 'reviewers' here have no connections to WWII, no clue as to the actual history behind D-Day, and their reviews are full of nonsensical mush over a movie reflecting only the tale of a small-unit action rather than the broad scope of the entire battle..!

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Ken Annakin

Director

Andrew Marton

Director

Bernhard Wicki

Director

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Lt. Col. Benjamin Vandervoort

Robert Mitchum

Brig. Gen. Norman Cota

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The Longest Day: Trailer 1

1:46

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Synopsis

In 1944, the U.S. Army and Allied forces plan a huge invasion landing in Normandy, France. Despite bad weather, General Eisenhower gives the okay and the Allies land at Normandy. General Norman Cota travels with his men onto Omaha Beach. With much effort, and lost life, they get off the beach, traveling deep into French territory. The German military, due to arrogance, ignorance and a sleeping Adolf Hitler, delay their response to the Allied landing, with crippling results.

Director: Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton, Bernhard Wicki
Producer: Darryl F Zanuck
Screenwriter: Cornelius Ryan
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Rating: G
Genre: War, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 25, 1962, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Runtime: 3h 0m