Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Apocalypse Now

Play trailer Poster for Apocalypse Now R Released Aug 15, 1979 2h 27m War Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
90% Tomatometer 147 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
In Vietnam in 1970, Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) takes a perilous and increasingly hallucinatory journey upriver to find and terminate Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando), a once-promising officer who has reportedly gone completely mad. In the company of a Navy patrol boat filled with street-smart kids, a surfing-obsessed Air Cavalry officer (Robert Duvall), and a crazed freelance photographer (Dennis Hopper), Willard travels further and further into the heart of darkness.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

Apocalypse Now

Apocalypse Now

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A voyage to hell where the journey is more satisfying than the destination, Francis Ford Coppola's haunting, hallucinatory Vietnam War epic is cinema at its most audacious and visionary.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More (147)
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Years and years from now, when Coppola’s budget and his problems have long been forgotten, “Apocalypse” will still stand, I think, as a grand and grave and insanely inspired gesture of filmmaking. Rated: 4/4 Sep 23, 2024 Full Review Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune It's precisely in the last 25 minutes that Apocalypse Now dissolves into gibberish. I've seen the film three times with two different endings, and neither ending has been satisfactory. That's because the problem with the picture isn't at its very end. Rated: 2.5/4 Sep 23, 2024 Full Review Bruce McCabe Boston Globe Some critics fault Coppola for not delivering a seamless, flawless film. But this is to misperceive and misread the film in a crucial way. The film by definition couldn't be flawless. It attempts too much. Sep 23, 2024 Full Review Megan Fisher Loud and Clear Reviews It’s an enthralling, powerful miracle of a movie. Jan 11, 2025 Full Review Bill Cosford Miami Herald Though as high art this movie may have its problems, it is a complete movie, a huge piece of work that is at once a technical masterpiece and a thing of lyrical, lethal beauty. This will be the film to see in 1979. Sep 23, 2024 Full Review Jeff Simon Buffalo News Decompression [after leaving the theater] takes a long time. You're still submerged for quite a while in its climate of oppressive sin and maddened dissolution... The parking lot doesn't seem quite like a parking lot. Sep 23, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More (1000+)
Adam G Apocalypse Now is an absolute cinematic masterpiece, an intense, hypnotic journey into the heart of human darkness that blends raw power with breathtaking artistry. Watching this movie is nothing short of a life changing experience…every detail is perfect. Coppola’s visionary direction, paired with the creepy, dark, haunting cinematography, creates a surreal tapestry where every frame feels both epic and intimate. The performances are legendary, Martin Sheen’s quiet intensity, Robert Duvall’s unforgettable swagger, and Marlon Brando’s enigmatic presence, each adding to the film’s mythic weight. The sound design and score, from Wagner’s thunderous “Ride of the Valkyries” to the eerie strains of The Doors, heighten the sense of dread and wonder, making the viewer feel the madness creeping in with the rising heat and chaos. It is not just a war film, it is a poetic, visceral meditation on morality, power, and the fragility of the human soul, and it remains as electrifying and essential today as it was the day it premiered. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/10/25 Full Review M B Iconic cinema and the 2nd best Vietnam film behind Platoon. A Coppola Masterpiece! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/08/25 Full Review Audience Member Visually stunning, Excellent performances from Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall and Marlon Brando and an atmosphere of dread, confusion and insanity so thick you can feel it, Apocalypse Now is undoubtedly one of the greatest films of all time and a powerful look at what happens when we are stripped of our humanity Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/07/25 Full Review Luis I A grand and ambitious Vietnam War epic. The film follows an episodic journey structure, anchored by a clear destination; yet as we follow the protagonist, we’re confronted with a growing sense of doubt and existential questioning. It’s not a film that yields all its meaning on a first viewing, and that ambiguity is entirely intentional. Each episode along the river serves as a microcosm of the American presence in Vietnam, its murky goals, moral ambiguity, and inevitable consequences. The film excels in nearly every department. The production design is breathtaking in scope, with explosive pyrotechnics and helicopter sequences that are extreme but undeniably captivating. The action is thrilling and immersive, with sound design and music working in tandem to heighten emotional impact. The cinematography is equally impressive, making brilliant use of light and shadow, an element we've seen Coppola masterfully handle in his other work. It’s difficult to separate the film from its infamous production troubles, but perhaps the chaos behind the scenes was what it took to capture the disorienting nature of the Vietnam War. Regardless, Coppola’s direction remains deeply impressive, supported by strong performances and ambitious battle sequences. If there’s a flaw, it might lie in the pacing: the first half sets a high bar and builds anticipation, while the second half occasionally drags. Some viewers may also be frustrated by the film’s elusive meaning, but that ambiguity is a common trait in Vietnam War cinema and arguably part of its strength. Ultimately, this is one of the greatest films ever made. It demands both attention and reflection, and perhaps even a rewatch to fully appreciate its themes and scope. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/05/25 Full Review William L A Must See!!! Terrific storyline and pacing, presenting you not only a war film… but showing the effects of what war can do to a human being. Another gem directed by Francis Ford Coppala, shows the horrors and the darkness of what war and chaos can create. A true milestone of its release and shows another side of the Vietnam War. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/25/25 Full Review Mike B Gotta watch it multiple times to catch everything but there are many scenes that just stick with you. A top-3 Vietnam movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/11/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Apocalypse Now

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Apocalypse Now

Apocalypse Now: Official Clip - The Photojournalist Apocalypse Now: Official Clip - The Photojournalist 2:20 Apocalypse Now: Official Clip - The Horror Apocalypse Now: Official Clip - The Horror 4:18 Apocalypse Now: Official Clip - Colonel Kurtz Apocalypse Now: Official Clip - Colonel Kurtz 2:20 Apocalypse Now: Official Clip - The Smell of Napalm In the Morning Apocalypse Now: Official Clip - The Smell of Napalm In the Morning 2:43 Apocalypse Now: Official Clip - Do Lung Bridge Apocalypse Now: Official Clip - Do Lung Bridge 3:09 Apocalypse Now: Official Clip - Ride of the Valkyries Apocalypse Now: Official Clip - Ride of the Valkyries 4:14 Apocalypse Now: Official Clip - Saigon Apocalypse Now: Official Clip - Saigon 3:40 Apocalypse Now: Official Clip - Terminate With Extreme Prejudice Apocalypse Now: Official Clip - Terminate With Extreme Prejudice 2:50 View more videos
Apocalypse Now Redux 93% 91% Apocalypse Now Redux Watchlist The Deer Hunter 86% 91% The Deer Hunter Watchlist Das Boot 98% 95% Das Boot Watchlist Platoon 89% 93% Platoon Watchlist Cross of Iron 71% 87% Cross of Iron Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis In Vietnam in 1970, Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) takes a perilous and increasingly hallucinatory journey upriver to find and terminate Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando), a once-promising officer who has reportedly gone completely mad. In the company of a Navy patrol boat filled with street-smart kids, a surfing-obsessed Air Cavalry officer (Robert Duvall), and a crazed freelance photographer (Dennis Hopper), Willard travels further and further into the heart of darkness.
Director
Francis Ford Coppola
Producer
Kim Aubry, Francis Ford Coppola
Screenwriter
Joseph Conrad, John Milius, Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Herr
Distributor
United Artists, Miramax Films, Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Zoetrope Studios
Rating
R
Genre
War, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 15, 1979, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 29, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$74.4K
Runtime
2h 27m
Sound Mix
Surround
Most Popular at Home Now