Jarhead

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Jarhead

R

Released Nov 4, 2005

2h 3m

War

Drama

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Popcornmeter

60%

Tomatometer

197 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

In the late 1980s, Anthony Swofford (Jake Gyllenhaal) enlists as a Marine, training in boot camp under a sadistic drill instructor. Swofford undertakes a sniper course headed by Staff Sgt. Sykes (Jamie Foxx) during this time, which is shortly before the advent of the Gulf War. When the United States becomes involved, Swofford is shipped out, along with his spotter, Alan Troy (Peter Sarsgaard). Facing uncertainty each day -- about the war and home -- the soldiers try to maintain composure.

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Critics Consensus

This first person account of the first Gulf War scores with its performances and cinematography but lacks an emotional thrust.

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Catherine Shoard

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Gyllenhaal can, in fact, act, so the blame must fall elsewhere for his dim performance, all topless tears and soulful voiceovers. The same goes for Peter Sarsgaard, Chris Cooper and Jamie Foxx, three good actors forced into contortions of theatrics.

Jan 16, 2018

Full Review

Leslie Felperin

Sight & Sound

Jarhead is simultaneously audaciously original and so mired in the clichés it knowingly acknowledges, sends up and honours that it has little new to say.

Sep 28, 2006

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Rated: 3/5

Apr 1, 2006

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Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

The deep demoralization of the US forces flows ultimately from their soul-destroying assignment to conquer the world on behalf of a bankrupt imperialism.

Mar 5, 2021

Full Review

David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

Jarhead aims to provide the eternal reason why young men are drawn to war, like moths to the flame. Swofford and director Sam Mendes stress that to most young GIs, even the most fervently created antiwar film is a fighting man's pornography.

May 7, 2020

Full Review

Micheal Compton

Bowling Green Daily News

These soldiers wanted action, any action, just to feel justified for the life they left behind and Mendes does a great job of showing that anguish. The cast is excellent, too.

Rated: B+

Nov 19, 2019

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Obi-wan K

33:00 minute (mark)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/07/25

Full Review

Lucas G

Jarhead is a movie that shows the struggles of war. The movie does this perfectly by having no combat in the entire movie watching as one soldier slowly slips into madness awaiting combat.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/25

Full Review

Audience Member

The movie was interesting to say the least, not what I expected, had a few hard quotes and was funny some times but the rest was just the background music doing it's magic, it is indeed immersive tho.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/01/24

Full Review

Gorptholemew T

🍅 8.3/10 Jake Gyllenhaal, angry, beating it 😔✊. the song choices are like 10 out of 10. a very well done movie showcasing the war in Iraq with the (air quotes) safe side of the war, and the camaraderie between soldier but also there mentality. Also, the jokes made me chuckle.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/26/24

Full Review

Chris M

Forget what the elite, out-of-touch critics say. They never put on a uniform and kissed their family goodbye. Jarhead is one of the best war movies ever made. It’s raw, unfiltered, and paints an accurate picture of military life that most films miss. I first watched it during AIT at Ft. Sam Houston, and it hit me on a level few war movies ever do. So many films gloss over the reality of soldiers' mindsets, but Jarhead doesn’t hold back. The way it portrays the crass, tough attitudes of the Marines felt so real, I could see my own friends in the characters. There’s no doubt in my mind that actual Marines had a hand in making this film. Everything about it is dead-on, from the Jodies to the frustration, isolation, and the burning desire to kill. What sets Jarhead apart, though, is how it focuses on the internal battle rather than flashy combat scenes. It gives us a glimpse into the mental war raging inside a Marine’s head, a war that never seems to end. That’s what makes it so powerful. (This movie is a must see, especially if you're a service member, and even more so if you're a Jarhead!)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/26/24

Full Review

Brock C

Its a really good movie definitely not the type of war movie that people are used too but it definitely is worth the time to watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/03/24

Full Review

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Sam Mendes

Director

Jake Gyllenhaal

Anthony Swofford

Peter Sarsgaard

Alan Troy

Jamie Foxx

Staff Sgt. Sykes

Chris Cooper

Lt. Col. Kazinski

Lucas Black

Chris Kruger

Jarhead: Official Clip - Training Death

1:16

Jarhead: Official Clip - Swofford Loses It

3:01

Jarhead: Official Clip - Stripping Soldiers

3:55

Jarhead: Official Clip - Drill Sergeant Intro

2:36

Jarhead: Official Clip - The Scorpion Fight

1:17

Jarhead: Official Clip - Permission to Take the Shot

2:34

Jarhead: Official Clip - Christmas Party Flares

2:42

Jarhead: Official Clip - We're Going Home!

2:58

Jarhead: Official Clip - Demotion & Latrine Duty

2:38

Jarhead: Official Clip - Bugle Try Out

2:12

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Synopsis

In the late 1980s, Anthony Swofford (Jake Gyllenhaal) enlists as a Marine, training in boot camp under a sadistic drill instructor. Swofford undertakes a sniper course headed by Staff Sgt. Sykes (Jamie Foxx) during this time, which is shortly before the advent of the Gulf War. When the United States becomes involved, Swofford is shipped out, along with his spotter, Alan Troy (Peter Sarsgaard). Facing uncertainty each day -- about the war and home -- the soldiers try to maintain composure.

Director: Sam Mendes
Producer: Lucy Fisher, Sam Mendes, Douglas Wick
Screenwriter: William Broyles Jr.
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Red Wagon Entertainment, Neal Street Productions
Rating: R (Some Violent Images|Pervasive Language|Strong Sexual Content)
Genre: War, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 4, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $62.6M
Runtime: 2h 3m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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