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Red Dawn

Play trailer 1:22 Poster for Red Dawn PG-13 1984 1h 54m Action Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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48% Tomatometer 27 Reviews 65% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
In an alternate 1980s, the United States stands alone as communism grows stronger. When Soviet soldiers invade a small Colorado town, brothers Jed and Matt Eckert escape with friends to the forest. With their father, Tom, 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 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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Critics Reviews

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Neil Jillett The Age (Australia) 05/03/2022
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. Go to Full Review
Kirk Ellis The Hollywood Reporter 08/14/2018
It packs plenty of rabble-rousing ammunition, but its sloppy execution is unlikely to win any merit badges for marksmanship. Go to Full Review
Jason Bailey Flavorwire 04/14/2017
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. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 11/17/2024
2/4
Red Dawn‘s grip on the viewer is slowly-but-surely loosened as it progresses into a sluggish and increasingly uninvolving midsection... Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 03/19/2024
1.5/4
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. Go to Full Review
Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 09/21/2022
3/4
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. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Ernestas R @Calicifer Dec 19 Red Dawn is at least watchable movie and it wouldn't be that bad if it wouldn't be as long as it's. Movie has everything about poor cinema. No-name actors, poor props and special effects, bad writing, cliches. It has out of place feminism placements of women not wanting to watch dishes and how awful man is. Likewise, a father after their sons leave starts screaming "AVENGE ME" from a semi open camp for dissidents. It completely ignored the mood it set moments before and was delivered in such ridiculous manner. Likewise, there are a lot of scenes which have no point and could be cut off. A lot of pointless tension and idle time when nothing much is happening or they are building suspense to nothing much. Movie might had its cultural time back then, but now it's outdated with no redeeming cultural significance. I don't think that it deserves either 1 star or 5 stars like a lot of 'critics' gave them. It speaks more ill about how bad they are at their own hobby than about the movie. See more William D. @Williams0604 Oct 5 This is a great movie. I would recommend it to anyone as a must watch. See more DanTheMan 2 Aug 17 Packing plenty of rabble-rousing ammunition that plays like a jumped-up, big-budget Cannon production, Red Dawn is undoubtedly a time capsule of Cold War tension, so entrenched in the political climate of its era that separating its messages on resilience and emotional turmoil from the hard-bitten camp and the jingoistic excess is often a line that most will obscure and confuse. The truth of the matter is that the film has managed to remain explicitly relevant in its depiction of the toll war takes on humanity and relationships, as well as the downsides of deciding to fight at all. We know what's at stake. We understand what people living through this war are thinking, feeling, and facing every single day. All of it feels eerily similar to events nowadays. What sets it apart from the other all-American patriot films, which it's often compared to, from around the same time, is the film's stark realism. The protagonists are not indestructible powerhouses capable of superhuman feats; rather, they are ordinary people who are quite vulnerable, and, by the film's end, little to nothing has been accomplished in liberating their homes. While the invaders are wrong, the film recognises them as human, while the violence is initially exultant, by the second half, it becomes brutal, horrifying and tragic. All of this is captured with an unconventional beauty by director John Milius, resulting in a hyper-budgeted B-movie mix of high-stakes action, heartfelt performances and a stirring Basil Poledouris score, that creates a film that's both thrilling and inspiring; all topped off by a ragtag cast of brilliance, which includes the likes of Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson and Jennifer Grey, with Harry Dean Stanton even getting a small but compelling role. Swayze is particularly inspired casting as he has both the charisma and physicality necessary to convince the audience that he can turn a bunch of high school children into a fighting force. Yet he can also project the sensitivity necessary to convey his character's turmoil as the grim reality of war grinds away at him. The scene where Swayze kills an invader up close for the first time is not heroic. Instead, he executes a wounded and terrified man. His anger overwhelms any mercy he might feel. It's an ugly and savage moment, and Swayze perfectly captures this. While other films of this nature may have us taking a bird's eye or journalistic view, almost detached from the lives lost and destruction around us, Red Dawn has us running and fighting alongside the protagonists. We also cry with them, grieve with them, and get a taste of where our anger and thirst for vengeance might one day take us. One that still resonates today. See more Jude G Jul 12 Best war movie ever watched See more Kim B Jun 9 Loved this movie when it came out, and after watching it recently, I still love it. Fighting against fascism, as we should. See more Frank F May 31 It's not a perfect movie but I love the concept even if it's wild. It's a huge nostalgia hit. So many great young actors. See more Read all reviews
Red Dawn

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Red Dawn

Red Dawn: Official Clip - Liberating the Prison Camp Red Dawn: Official Clip - Liberating the Prison Camp 2:46 Red Dawn: Official Clip - Guerilla Warfare Red Dawn: Official Clip - Guerilla Warfare 3:14 Red Dawn: Official Clip - Paratrooper Invasion Red Dawn: Official Clip - Paratrooper Invasion 3:18 Red Dawn: Official Clip - Tank Duel Red Dawn: Official Clip - Tank Duel 3:02 Red Dawn: Official Clip - God Help Me Red Dawn: Official Clip - God Help Me 3:09 Red Dawn: Official Clip - Helicopter Ambush Red Dawn: Official Clip - Helicopter Ambush 2:30 Red Dawn: Official Clip - Avenge Me Red Dawn: Official Clip - Avenge Me 3:28 Red Dawn: Official Clip - Vaya Con Dios Red Dawn: Official Clip - Vaya Con Dios 2:49 Red Dawn: Official Clip - Robert's Last Stand Red Dawn: Official Clip - Robert's Last Stand 1:44 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis In an alternate 1980s, the United States stands alone as communism grows stronger. When Soviet soldiers invade a small Colorado town, brothers Jed and Matt Eckert escape with friends to the forest. With their father, Tom, 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 to take back their town.
Director
John Milius
Producer
Sidney Beckerman, Buzz Feitshans
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
Runtime
1h 54m
Sound Mix
Surround
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