Jarhead

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Jarhead

R

Released Nov 4, 2005

2h 3m

War

Drama

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Popcornmeter

60%

Tomatometer

196 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

Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

It's another fine Gyllenhaal performance, but not really enough, because his suffering doesn't amount to a hill of Kuwaiti sand in the end.

Feb 10, 2006

Full Review

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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Daniel E

This is a Must see, the movie dives in deeper into what life in the military really is like, and out of all the war movies i have seen, i have to say that this is probably one of the most realistic one, this movie dose not just dive into what being a marine is like but also the psychological affects of war and how it affects the human mind. definitaly a must see if anyone wishes to join the military or knows someone in the army, or watch it for historical knowledge.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/06/25

Full Review

Chris H

Just dull. A war film with very little war in it, but not much exploration of the characters either. There's one interesting moment about 20 minutes from the end, where the two US soldiers are desperate to shoot somebody, but are not allowed to. For that moment you see the damaged humans they are presumably meant to be.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/06/25

Full Review

Alfie N

With little combat action, the film focuses on the heavy mental toll that an overindulgent life as a soldier has on an already damaged man, creating a strong sense of realism. The fact that the movie had no war action but was still able to capture my attention for the entire time must say something in itself.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/28/25

Full Review

nathan K.

i really like this movie because nothing happens, it kinda shows they went through all of that stuff just for nothing, which i think i liked

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/25/25

Full Review

Harvey P

The film is well acted and covers mental health in war really well, and what it might actually be like but just lacks any real substance or action. It’s a war film but 95% of the film is them in camp messing around with each other. It’s more of a documentary on what war is like rather than a compelling and emotional war film. Wouldn’t really recommend if you want to be entertained but rather get a better understand of what war may be actually like.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/06/25

Full Review

Arjun l

Good film showing a small picture aspect of the iraq war from a single solider perpective. Shows insight to what they might have gone through. There is alot of machoness and bravado. Explore men's mental heatlh, Male lonileness.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/17/25

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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