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Pearl Harbor

Play trailer Poster for Pearl Harbor PG-13 Released May 25, 2001 3h 3m War Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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24% Tomatometer 195 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
This sweeping drama, based on real historical events, follows American boyhood friends Rafe McCawley (Ben Affleck) and Danny Walker (Josh Hartnett) as they enter World War II as pilots. Rafe is so eager to take part in the war that he departs to fight in Europe alongside England's Royal Air Force. On the home front, his girlfriend, Evelyn (Kate Beckinsale), finds comfort in the arms of Danny. The three of them reunite in Hawaii just before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
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Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor

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Critics Consensus

Pearl Harbor tries to be the Titanic of war movies, but it's just a tedious romance filled with laughably bad dialogue. The 40 minute action sequence is spectacular though.

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Critics Reviews

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Joe Morgenstern Wall Street Journal Pearl Harbor is a blockheaded, hollow-hearted industrial enterprise. May 28, 2014 Full Review Andrew Sarris Observer The best way to see the movie is as I did: expecting nothing and being pleasantly surprised, and strangely moved, by Mr. Bay's audacity in filming his lovers in end-of-the-world close-ups, however briefly. May 28, 2014 Full Review Anthony Lane The New Yorker The effect of watching a Michael Bay film is indistinguishable from having a large, pointy lump of rock drop on your head. His new picture, Pearl Harbor, maintains the mood. May 28, 2014 Full Review Michael D. Reid Victoria Times Colonist (B.C., Canada) This formulaic three-hour opus seems to go on from here to eternity. Rated: 1.5/5 Apr 30, 2024 Full Review Sergi Sánchez Fotogramas 'Pearl Harbor' effortlessly self-parodies itself. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 2/5 Jun 22, 2022 Full Review Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens Although Pearl Harbor will fill Disney's coffers, it will fail to fill your heart or adequately honor those men and women who were Pearl Harbor. Nov 14, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Troy Minh C This film can definitely drag from its boring three-way romance, but the history and action scenes are fantastic. This film would definitely be a five star classic without the meaningless romantic characters and extra hour of film time it didn’t need. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/14/24 Full Review Tommie A LOVED THE CLICHE ROMANCE. LOVED THE HISTORICAL ACTION. ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL FILM DON'T LISTEN TO THE HATERS, WATCH WITHOUT ANY DISTRACTIONS AND ON A BIG TV AND SPEAKER SYSTEM TO GET THE FULL EXPERIENCE!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/10/24 Full Review Tammy S Michael Bay’s Pearl Harbor is more than a movie—it’s a cinematic experience that blends sweeping romance, jaw-dropping action, and a profound homage to one of the most pivotal moments in American history. While critics have often dismissed it as overly sentimental or bombastic, these very qualities are what make the film an unforgettable epic. The film begins with a tender love story, introducing childhood friends Rafe (Ben Affleck) and Danny (Josh Hartnett) as they navigate love, loss, and loyalty in the shadow of World War II. Their relationship with the captivating Evelyn (Kate Beckinsale) provides the emotional heartbeat of the story. Though the romance is at times melodramatic, it effectively captures the heightened emotions of a world on the brink of war, making the audience deeply invested in the characters’ fates. But what sets Pearl Harbor apart is its ability to seamlessly pivot from personal drama to large-scale action. The attack sequence, a hallmark of Bay’s directorial prowess, is a masterclass in visual storytelling. The aerial dogfights, explosions, and chaos are rendered with such visceral intensity that you feel as though you’re witnessing history unfold in real-time. Hans Zimmer’s haunting score only deepens the impact, transforming destruction into a symphony of resilience and sacrifice. The film’s critics often overlook its deeper themes. Beyond the romance and spectacle lies a story of unity, courage, and perseverance. Pearl Harbor doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war but balances them with the indomitable human spirit. Its portrayal of heroism—both on the battlefield and in quieter moments of sacrifice—pays tribute to the real-life men and women who lived through these events. The ensemble cast delivers performances that are earnest and heartfelt. Affleck, Hartnett, and Beckinsale bring vulnerability to their roles, while the supporting cast, including Jon Voight as President Roosevelt, adds gravitas. The dialogue may lean into Hollywood sentimentality, but it’s this very sincerity that gives the film its charm. Pearl Harbor is not a documentary; it’s a dramatized love letter to a generation that endured unimaginable trials. Its ambition and scale deserve appreciation, even when it occasionally falters. At its core, this is a film about remembrance—of love lost and found, of lives shattered and rebuilt, and of a nation forever changed. So, to the critics and detractors: Pearl Harbor may not be perfect, but its heart is undeniable. It’s a movie that dares to feel deeply, honor history, and remind us of the resilience of the human spirit. For that, it soars. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/08/24 Full Review Tony S This is a tear-jerker to be sure. It tells the smaller stories of individuals and couples, friendships, and sacrifice inside the bigger story of Pearl Harbor's role in dragging the U.S. into World War II. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/23/24 Full Review Peter W After 90 minutes of rather embarrassing romantic preamble, the director finally remembers that he was actually commissioned to make a war movie. Of course, typical of Hollywood, we discover that the actual key to the Allied victory in WW2 was a beautiful nurse, a ship's cook & a love-lorn Ben Affleck. Not really a film for those looking for a touch of realism & historical authenticity in the representation of such a seminal event in recent world history. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 11/22/24 Full Review Colton R It’s good but the dialogue is sometimes a little cringe, but the movie has a based perspective on the Japanese. Average Seal of Approval Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/22/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis This sweeping drama, based on real historical events, follows American boyhood friends Rafe McCawley (Ben Affleck) and Danny Walker (Josh Hartnett) as they enter World War II as pilots. Rafe is so eager to take part in the war that he departs to fight in Europe alongside England's Royal Air Force. On the home front, his girlfriend, Evelyn (Kate Beckinsale), finds comfort in the arms of Danny. The three of them reunite in Hawaii just before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Director
Michael Bay
Producer
Jerry Bruckheimer, Michael Bay
Screenwriter
Randall Wallace
Distributor
Buena Vista Home Video (BVHV), Touchstone Pictures, Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co
Touchstone Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Rating
PG-13 (Images of Wound|Brief Sensuality|Intense War Sequences|Some Language)
Genre
War, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 25, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 23, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$198.5M
Runtime
3h 3m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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