Red Dawn

PG-13

Released Aug 10, 1984

1 hr. 54 min.

Action

Adventure

List

50%

28 Reviews

Tomatometer

65%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In an alternate 1980s, the United States stands alone as communism grows stronger. When Soviet soldiers invade a small Colorado town, brothers Jed (Patrick Swayze) and Matt Eckert (Charlie Sheen) escape with friends to the forest. With their father, Tom (Harry Dean Stanton), a prisoner of the invading army, the children decide to fight against the Soviets. As the country comes under increasing attack, the group teams up with Lt. Col. Andrew Tanner (Powers Boothe) to take back their town.

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Critics Consensus

An appealing ensemble of young stars will have some audiences rooting for the Wolverines, but Red Dawn's self-seriousness can never conceal the silliness of its alarmist concept.

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Jason E

Great 80's movie with lots of young and upcoming actors.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/04/23

Full Review

kevin t

Not the worst movie in the world but its pretty bad. When I watched this movie as a kid I used to love it, but that was before I learned about history and politics and propaganda. This movie is Cold War Propaganda garbage. Its only saved by the fact it has some good actors in it (Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Young Charlie Sheen etc) who have been in various other great movies. The concept is kinda of ridiculous. The Americans are so useless that they fail to defend anything, but then the Russians are also so useless that these kids can drive past them in a car really slowly and the Russians can't hit them with guns or rocket launchers. The Cubans talk soooooooo slooooowwwly one would think they might not be native Spanish speakers. Either that, or they were told to talk slowly on purpose so that dim witted Americans wouldn't have to read too many subtitles? They make the Russians & Cubans out to be the most evil people ever, at least in 80's movie terms, but Americans have done far worse atrocities in wars like Vietnam, (murdering entire villages of civilians just to kill one Vietcong for example). If you actually know the history of many wars, this movie actually shows the Russians & Cubans to not be that bad at all, if you compare it to things that have been done in Iraq and Afghanistan, or Libya, or Syria, or Gaza. All the Russian troops in this movie are utterly useless against a bunch of teenagers with no military training. Its weird, how such a useless Russian army has done so well against Ukraine and $100 billion US? If anything, this movie is more like a parody that should be on a So Bad its Good video by Jason Brant.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/02/23

Full Review

Blu B

I can see why someone who seen this in their youth would be nostalgic for it. It's got a certain degree of charm to it and lots of action. However, I don't have it and from what I see it's just ok. The cinematography is half decent with some well framed shots, good practical effects, and a memorable setting. However there is lots of farfecthed elements and over the top moments that weigh it down constantly. I don't get how they live up in the mountains for months and they aren't dirty or clothes not ripped ever. Yet they've been wearing the same clothes the entire time. How did they know they would'nt just shoot the girl at the gas station instead of leading them into a perfect trap. The fact they turn into commandos on their own BEFORE they meet the U.S. Paratrooper and the fact 2 of them end up taking on a entire HQ of Soviet soldiers in the end to buy them time to escape which doesn't make sense. Why could'nt they all just sneak out together at night since their all hardened warriors at this point. It's riddled with farfecthed moments like that but its still entertaining because of how over the top and action packed it is. The music is half decent but sometimes its generic and forgettable. Everything else is just ok. This squanders any attempt at underlying political commentary or deep characters for nonstop action and bland characters. Besides Sheen & Swayze, (Who aren't given that much ti work with either really) they all blend in and are super forgettable. The girls are given next to no character either. This also has some forced patriotism elements to it also but it isn't as bad as you would think. It also feels like there isn't really a point to this besides just fighting and putting up a resistance with no clear endgame in sight. This needed more complex and varied characters along the lines of something like Anne Frank's varied characters. Maybe a Russian family who is torn between their homeland and America, younger kids, a family, on top of high school kids. On top of a more refined story. This jumps into the action almost immediate in the first 5 minutes and never goes any deeper than action. It has a overall feel of like a 80's 007 movie almost as well. Unless your super nostalgic for this or are a big fan of Patrick Swayze, I can't really recommend this to anyone. It's a shame because there is potential here for a smarter version of this in a remake.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/10/23

Full Review

Giorgio S

The best part of the movie is the story and the style. The performance are good and the action is even better. It's a reslly good distopian movie and it can be even considered realistic. The characters are not so memorable and it's hard to explain why the U.S barely did something but it's ok.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/20/24

Full Review

Alain M

a nice past time, with a lot of 80's action and teen stars. Good popcorn fun

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/20/23

Full Review

justanother g

Outstanding film. Imagine what you would do if you were in their high school shoes? Also, if anyone thinks this film is political 40 years later - it's not. You're injecting your current political biases onto a good, simple and patriotic action movie. But that spawns the question, which groups or types of people would resist a foreign invasion of the USA? I can tell you with the utmost certainty the overwhelming majority of civilian resistance fighters wouldn't be vegan, pampered, latte sipping idiots - it would be guys/girls just like Jed and company.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/29/23

Full Review

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John Milius

Director

Patrick Swayze

Jed Eckert

C. Thomas Howell

Robert Morris

Lea Thompson

Erica

Charlie Sheen

Matt Eckert

Jennifer Grey

Toni

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Red Dawn: Official Clip - Liberating the Prison Camp

2:46

Red Dawn: Official Clip - Guerilla Warfare

3:14

Red Dawn: Official Clip - Paratrooper Invasion

3:18

Red Dawn: Official Clip - Tank Duel

3:02

Red Dawn: Official Clip - God Help Me

3:09

Red Dawn: Official Clip - Helicopter Ambush

2:30

Red Dawn: Official Clip - Avenge Me

3:28

Red Dawn: Official Clip - Vaya Con Dios

2:49

Red Dawn: Official Clip - Robert's Last Stand

1:44

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Neil Jillett

The Age (Australia)

The right of people to abuse their freedom by making and showing a film as cynically provocative as Red Dawn is part of the price the rest of us must pay for living in a democracy.

May 3, 2022

Full Review

Kirk Ellis

Hollywood Reporter

It packs plenty of rabble-rousing ammunition, but its sloppy execution is unlikely to win any merit badges for marksmanship.

Aug 14, 2018

Full Review

Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

When it was released in late summer of 1984, it was a big hit, which shouldn't come as a surprise; this was the year when Reagan won the presidency in a landslide, and if nothing else, 'Red Dawn' plays like a Reaganite masturbatory fantasy.

Apr 14, 2017

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

No amount of warm and fuzzy ‘80s nostalgia can save this head-smackingly stupid action romp about a bunch of Colorado teens squaring off against Commie invaders.

Rated: 1.5/4

Mar 19, 2024

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

One could regard Milius’ treatment as almost mythic, his manner and characters spare, his ending grim and reflective on the historical pattern of occupying powers and the forces that resist them.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 21, 2022

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Revisiting it now as a cynical lefty, though, I have to give the devil his due: "Red Dawn" works.

Rated: B

Aug 31, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

In an alternate 1980s, the United States stands alone as communism grows stronger. When Soviet soldiers invade a small Colorado town, brothers Jed (Patrick Swayze) and Matt Eckert (Charlie Sheen) escape with friends to the forest. With their father, Tom (Harry Dean Stanton), a prisoner of the invading army, the children decide to fight against the Soviets. As the country comes under increasing attack, the group teams up with Lt. Col. Andrew Tanner (Powers Boothe) to take back their town.

Director: John Milius
Executive Producer: Sidney Beckerman
Screenwriter: John Milius, Kevin Reynolds
Distributor: MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 10, 1984, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 19, 2017
Sound Mix: Surround

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