>
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk has noble goals, but lacks a strong enough screenplay to achieve them -- and its visual innovations are often merely distracting. Read critic reviews
What to know
You might also like
See More
Self/less
The Fifth Estate
The Giver
Bad Moms
The Commuter
Where to watch Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
Rent Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, or buy it on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu.
Rate And Review
-
What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
-
Fandango
-
AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
-
Cinemark Coming Soon
We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
-
Regal Coming Soon
We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
-
Theater box office or somewhere else
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk videos
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk: Official Clip - A Soldier's Story
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk: Official Clip - For My Sister
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk: Official Clip - It's Going Down
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk: Official Clip - You Can Have Me
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk: Official Clip - Make You Proud of Me
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk: Official Clip - Sergeant's Ritual
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk: Official Clip - Ever Kill Somebody?
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk: Official Clip - I Love You
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk: Official Clip - Backstage Love
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk: Official Clip - Heroes Onstage
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk: Trailer 2
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk: Trailer 1
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk Photos
Movie Info
Nineteen-year-old private Billy Lynn (Joe Alwyn), along with his fellow soldiers in Bravo Squad, becomes a hero after a harrowing Iraq battle and is brought home temporarily for a victory tour. Through flashbacks, culminating at the spectacular halftime show of the Thanksgiving Day football game, what really happened to the squad is revealed, contrasting the realities of the war with America's perceptions. Based on the novel by Ben Fountain.
-
Rating: R (Language Throughout|Brief Drug Use|Sexual Content|Some War Violence)
-
Genre: Comedy, Drama
-
Original Language: English
-
Director: Ang Lee
-
Producer: Marc Platt, Ang Lee, Rhodri Thomas, Stephen Cornwell
-
Writer: Jean-Christophe Castelli
-
Release Date (Theaters): wide
-
Release Date (Streaming):
-
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.7M
-
Runtime:
-
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
-
Production Co: Studio 8, TriStar Pictures, Marc Platt Productions, Ink Factory
-
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos
Cast & Crew
News & Interviews for Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
Critic Reviews for Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
Audience Reviews for Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
-
This was a one of a kind movie as far as being shot in the up close personal perspective, the cinematography was great. I also really liked the ensemble cast, they were very believable. Hats of to Ang Lee for his pioneering of this unique film, salute to our troops.
Super Reviewer -
From Ang Lee comes the compelling war drama Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. Based on a novel, the story follows returning war hero Billy Lynn and his squad as they wrap up a good will tour by appearing in the halftime show of a Dallas Cowboys game. The script is especially well-writing and addressing a number of topical issues, including the exploitation of soldiers, PTSD, and the comradery of brothers in arms. It's not really pro- or anti-war, rather the film looks at the realities that soldiers face. The cast is fairly good and delivers some strong performances. And the production values are especially well-done, particularly the cinematography. A smart and thought-provoking film, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk is incredibly powerful.
-
When did Academy Award winning director Ang Lee -- famous for meaningful films like "Brokeback Mountain" and "Life of Pi" -- begin directing after-school specials for the Hallmark Channel? Of the five films he's directed in the last dozen years, "Billy Lynn" probably does not make the Top 4 List.
-
True Stories can either manipulate its audience into thinking there was more to the story than what news platforms had lead on at the time, but they can also just be effective films on their own, even though you know the full story going in. Sadly, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk fails to impress on either one of those levels. It's one thing to make a story your own and have an incredible vision placed on-screen, but I think this film tried far too hard to add emotion where it didn't need to be. To be quite honest, this is a film that deserved a documentary made, where the real heroes speak about their past, while this main event is showcased. Here is why Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk is disappointing, even with no expectations. As a solider (Billy Lynn) is brought home after his time in Iraq, he and the rest of the men from his tour must do a victory walk down the stage during halftime at the Super Bowl. In itself, this is not much substance to make a film out of, which is why I was shocked to see Ang Lee at the helm as director. It's not that it's poorly structured or anything, but it's the fact that the war itself (shown through flashbacks) would have made a great story on its own. Constantly cutting back and forth from the war to the events at the Super Bowl felt very jarring at times. I truly feel as though this film would've worked better as either a Documentary or a three hour epic, showcasing the war itself, as well as the aftermath. Yes, the fact that the world is never truly able to see and feel what these soldiers have been through is more than true, but when this tactic is used as an entire feature film in order to make the present-day storyline more impactful, it seems a little manipulative to me. Not to say that it wasn't effective, because there were a few moments when I found myself becoming moved by the story at hand. This film places these two connective events together in such a way that matter and works in context with the film, but the war sequences are really only shown when nothing else interesting is going on. For that reason, it either felt like filler or manipulation for its audience. All of this on the table, I found myself faced with the impossible task of criticizing these actors. Aside from a few inessential characters throughout the film, whether Kristen Stewart was playing off Joe Alwyn or Steve Martin was delivering his few lines, everyone seemed to be giving it their all in these roles, and I respected that more than anything else. Never did I expect to see a film about the aftermath of war with Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, and Steve Martin as core performances. The one thing I was able to praise about this film were the performances. I always felt moved whenever an actor/actresses was delivering a compelling line of dialogue, and this aspect alone made this film worth watching. Looking back on this film, I have to admit that I found myself bored quite often. The pacing is quite bad and the premise itself doesn't work as a feature film. On the other hand, the performances are all terrific and the manipulation of the war scenes intercut with the happiness of the Super Bowl was pretty effective. All of that said, this film is average at best. I can't get myself to recommend this film to anyone, because I truly believe you will either find yourself enjoying either the war side of the story or the aftermath, but not the two together. I will be complimentary and say that this is a competent film, but I truthfully can't see myself ever revisiting it.
KJ P Super Reviewer
Verified