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Bat 21

Play trailer Poster for Bat 21 R Released Oct 21, 1988 1h 45m Action Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 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.

Critics Reviews

View All (17) Critics Reviews
Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader 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. Apr 5, 2010 Full Review Variety Staff Variety A straightforward, surprisingly somber picture that sticks to the facts. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Nigel Floyd Time Out An unsatisfactory mix of low-key heroics, buddy-buddy humour, and anti-war sentiment .. Jan 26, 2006 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...an above-average endeavor that ranks above many of its similarly-themed brethren. Rated: 3/4 Feb 2, 2023 Full Review Cathy Burke United Press International Bat 21 belongs to Hackman and Glover, and director Markle has the good sense to let these two veterans take over the show. Oct 11, 2016 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Jul 10, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (100) audience reviews
thiago s 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. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 04/28/25 Full Review Lisa H 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. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/27/25 Full Review Audience Member Mediocre war movie. Nothing special Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/14/18 Full Review Audience Member excellent visual for understanding 'Nam...... Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member A helicopter pilot crashes in war torn Vietnam and is soon rescued. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member I apologize, but I do not understand how they managed to take a very intense and one of a kind Vietnam War story, star Gene Hackman and Danny Glover and turn it in to a (I apologize, but there is no other way around it) pile of steaming crap. This movie has no value whatsoever. I can not imagine who at their right mind at any point thought about this movie and figured that "wow, this was a cool, well made, action movie - awesome script, awesome story, awesome screenplay". Damn it, I have no polite words for it. It is just something that is there, there on your screen and it will be there for 1 hour and 40 minutes and when it ends it seems like all it was was some colors flashing on your screen and occasional face of Glover/Hackman/Reed. It was there and it actually wasn't. Dear lord, I am just speechless. DO NOT BOTHER WITH THIS MOVIE, THIS IS NOT EVEN CRAP ENOUGH TO BE FUNNY. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Bat 21

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Cast & Crew

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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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Bat 21

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Movie Info

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