Bat 21

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Bat 21

R

1988

1h 45m

Action

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

17 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Lt. Col. Iceal Hambleton (Gene Hackman) is shot down behind enemy lines during the waning days of the Vietnam War. His only connection to the outside world is through radio transmission with Capt. Bartholomew "Bird-Dog" Clark (Danny Glover), a pilot who helps him craft an escape plan and maintain his sanity. Lacking survival skills and unfamiliar with the harsh terrain in Vietnam, Hambleton is forced to fight for his life as he witnesses the shocking horrors of war.

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Apr 5, 2010

I was reminded of Hackman's comment in Night Moves that watching a Rohmer film was like watching paint dry - although in this case, it's more like watching blood coagulate.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Mar 26, 2009

A straightforward, surprisingly somber picture that sticks to the facts.

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Nigel Floyd

Time Out

Jan 26, 2006

An unsatisfactory mix of low-key heroics, buddy-buddy humour, and anti-war sentiment ..

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Feb 2, 2023

3/4

...an above-average endeavor that ranks above many of its similarly-themed brethren.

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Cathy Burke

United Press International

Oct 11, 2016

Bat 21 belongs to Hackman and Glover, and director Markle has the good sense to let these two veterans take over the show.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Jul 10, 2005

3/5

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alan g

@agenser Aug 9, 2025

Good adaptation of tge book.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Apr 27, 2025

Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é mais ou menos, as cenas são mais ou menos, o elenco é bacaninha, e alguns ajudou a melhorar o filme, a história é bacaninha, os personagens sao fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes para fazer o filme ser bom.

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Lisa H

@RT76530904 Feb 27, 2025

I loved this movie, and it made me love Gene Hackman all the more. The connection between he and Danny Glover's character was amazing and how how he portrayed this man, stranded, and not being a fighting soldier and in such a dangerous position and all the challenges he had to try to survive and get home had me on the edge of my seat. Just loved it.

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Jan 14, 2018

Mediocre war movie. Nothing special

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Oct 22, 2016

excellent visual for understanding 'Nam......

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Jun 13, 2016

A helicopter pilot crashes in war torn Vietnam and is soon rescued.

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Peter Markle

Director

Gene Hackman

Lt. Col. Iceal Hambleton

Danny Glover

Capt. Bartholomew Clark

Jerry Reed

Col. George Walker

David Marshall Grant

Ross Carver

Clayton Rohner

Sgt. Harley Rumbaugh

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Synopsis

Lt. Col. Iceal Hambleton (Gene Hackman) is shot down behind enemy lines during the waning days of the Vietnam War. His only connection to the outside world is through radio transmission with Capt. Bartholomew "Bird-Dog" Clark (Danny Glover), a pilot who helps him craft an escape plan and maintain his sanity. Lacking survival skills and unfamiliar with the harsh terrain in Vietnam, Hambleton is forced to fight for his life as he witnesses the shocking horrors of war.

Director: Peter Markle
Producer: Gary A. Neill, David Fisher, Michael Balson
Screenwriter: William C. Anderson
Distributor: TriStar Pictures, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Eagle Films, Vision PDG, TriStar Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 21, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 29, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.2M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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