Behind Enemy Lines

PG-13

Released Nov 30, 2001

1 hr. 46 min.

Action

Adventure

War

Mystery & Thriller

List

37%

131 Reviews

Tomatometer

62%

250,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A Navy pilot (Owen Wilson) is shot down over enemy territory, and struggles to survive the relentless pursuit of a ruthless secret police enforcer, a deadly tracker, and countless hostile troops. With time running out, the injured pilot's commanding officer (Gene Hackman) goes against orders to carry out a desperate rescue mission.

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Critics Consensus

The plot for Behind Enemy Lines is more jingoistic than credible, and the overload of flashy visual tricks makes the action sequences resemble a video game.

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KB B

I enjoyed it even though I didn't think Owen Wilson was quite right for this part. It's worth the watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/11/24

Full Review

Paul C

I really don't understand the poor reviews? I guess if you review movies for a living you forget what's enjoyable entertainment? This movie doesn't fail in any way. I watch it all the time and love it every time. Oh, and since I don't own it, I watch it because it's being broadcast by a pay tv provider like HBO, so I assume the ratings are pretty good too.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/23/24

Full Review

Michael R

Not Owen Wilson's fault but just a poorly directed movie. The music choice was so odd too.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/24

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Joel H

Watching Behind Enemy Lines brought back some memories of the early 2000s. And it's pretty obvious that this movie was made in the early 2000s. For instance, there is a very distinct editing style of that time. It's very choppy and flashy in certain parts. Owen Wilson is an unconventional choice as the lead of an action film, however I think he pulls it off. He also lends an appropriate amount of humor to the role. And Gene Hackman anchors the story and gives the movie some gravitas. It can get a little cheesy at times, but Behind Enemy Lines an entertaining action flick if you're looking for one.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/05/23

Full Review

T L

This was a great movie. I don't understand the low ratings. Sure it was less gruesome than a lot of movies, but I find that makes a better movie when you don't need so much foul language and R scenes. Lots of action, good acting, and great storyline.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is one of my favorite movies and while it might come across as cheesy in some parts considering when it was made and the fil work and special effects make it a very fun movie to watch.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/15/23

Full Review

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John Moore

Director

Owen Wilson

Burnett

Gene Hackman

Reigart

Gabriel Macht

Stackhouse

Charles Malik Whitfield

Rodway

Joaquim de Almeida

Piquet

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Action movie with intense peril and devastation.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 14, 2010

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Rated: 4/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Mitchell Beaupre

Paste Magazine

Drearily gauzed over with a blue-tinted aesthetic, peppered with questionable depictions of its antagonistic forces and featuring a woefully miscast Owen Wilson in the leading role, there’s not a lot to admire about the film.

Rated: 3.5/10

Sep 22, 2022

Full Review

Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

With director [John] Moore's blue-gray pallor over most of the film tinged with intermittent splashes of color and [Martin] Smith's music-video style editing, Behind Enemy Lines explodes into an anthem for the U.S. and our servicemen and women.

Nov 6, 2019

Full Review

Joe Lozito

Big Picture Big Sound

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 14, 2007

Full Review

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Synopsis

A Navy pilot (Owen Wilson) is shot down over enemy territory, and struggles to survive the relentless pursuit of a ruthless secret police enforcer, a deadly tracker, and countless hostile troops. With time running out, the injured pilot's commanding officer (Gene Hackman) goes against orders to carry out a desperate rescue mission.

Director: John Moore
Executive Producer: Stephanie Austin, Wyck Godfrey
Screenwriter: David Veloz, Zak Penn, Jim Thomas, John Thomas
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Davis Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (War Violence|Some Language)
Genre: Action, Adventure, War, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Czech
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 30, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $58.9M
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, SDDS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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