Born on the Fourth of July

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Born on the Fourth of July

R

Released Dec 20, 1989

2h 24m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

84%

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55 Reviews

76%

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50,000+ Ratings

In the mid 1960s, suburban New York teenager Ron Kovic (Tom Cruise) enlists in the Marines, fulfilling what he sees as his patriotic duty. During his second tour in Vietnam, he accidentally kills a fellow soldier during a retreat and later becomes permanently paralyzed in battle. Returning home to an uncaring Veterans Administration bureaucracy and to people on both sides of the political divide who don't understand what he went through, Kovic becomes an impassioned critic of the war.

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Critics Consensus

Led by an unforgettable performance from Tom Cruise, Born on the Fourth of July finds director Oliver Stone tackling thought-provoking subject matter with ambitious élan.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

Stone plays bumper cars with the camera and uses cutting to jam you into the action, and you can’t even enjoy his uncouthness, because it’s put at the service of sanctimony.

Sep 12, 2023

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Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

A score from John Williams and aggressive direction from Oliver Stone make this the pre-eminent Vietnam War movie.

Jul 5, 2023

Full Review

Kurt Jacobsen

Chicago Reader

Stone niftily strings together a batch of cuttingly effective dramatic sequences.

May 12, 2022

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

It’s a taxing watch, but the themes are potent and timeless.

Rated: 8/10

Aug 8, 2023

Full Review

Candace Wiggins

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

Aided by John Williams' majestic score and Oliver Stone's taut, no-holds-barred direction, this film shows the dark side of what happened when Johnny came marching home.

Rated: 4/4

May 9, 2023

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Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

Stone made emotional gut-punches during this era that provided the opposite side to what patriotism is...

Mar 7, 2023

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Farah R

Despite Tom Cruise's phenomenal performance, Born on the Fourth of July is a bleak and profoundly depressing film. It tells the story of a Vietnam War veteran, for starters, so it's no wonder that it has a disturbing depiction of war, but the hospital scenes that followed were very uncomfortable to watch. The movie is also overly political, averting its focus from the challenges of surviving the war to the political system that started it. There's not a breath of fresh air amidst all the heartache and suffering, which leaves one feeling drained and sad.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/23/24

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Leonard N

One of the most moving, touching and illuminating war films you will see. Other films touch on different aspects of how war ruins lives and stacks up corpses. This one will break your heart. Oliver Stone at the height of his powers wrings a brilliant performance from a 26 (or so) year old Tom Cruise. Raw, real and sharply observed every step of the way. An unforgettable film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/27/24

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Olson K

Watched on July 26, 2024. Good actors, good movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/27/24

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Stelios C

Very disturbing to watch but great movie.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/15/24

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Jones J

Oliver Stone proves himself a true master in this American war drama. He handles the both mind-boggling and inspiring life of Ron Kovic with beautiful delicacy and a raw, cinematic power. From genius camerawork throughout war scenes, to flawless, compelling direction through the emotional lows and even lowers, Stone truly seats us beside Kovic and brings us a journey we will never forget. Tom Cruise delivers his career’s greatest performance as Kovic, balancing his heroism, his ambition, and the sympathy, and the defeat of his life. John Williams’ score is gorgeous and heart-wrenching, penning another theme that is seamlessly born to sing for this film. Born on the Fourth of July is a beautiful, tragic, yet empowering movie that will move anyone that is willing to be swept away by Oliver Stone’s masterful but challenging work. In honor of this incredible film we should solute Mr. Cruise and Mr. Stone. But above all, we should truly solute Mr. Ron Kovic, for being willing to tell his story and for handing it over to us in this awe-inspiring film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/04/24

Full Review

Untoldnews U

A mature honest portrayal of how governments use you up an chew you out...how people are generally stupid and have short memories...an humanity has a long hopeless journey to lasting among other great interplanetary civilisations.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/18/24

Full Review

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Oliver Stone

Director

Tom Cruise

Ron Kovic

Willem Dafoe

Charlie (Villa Dulce)

Kyra Sedgwick

Donna (Ron's girlfriend)

Raymond J. Barry

Mr. Kovic

Caroline Kava

Mrs. Kovic

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Movieclips: John Williams: 11 Incredible Themes

27:14

Born on the Fourth of July: Official Clip - You Never Killed a Baby!

3:11

Born on the Fourth of July: Official Clip - Your Yankee Doodle Dandy Come Home

3:27

Born on the Fourth of July: Official Clip - Thou Shall Not Kill

4:07

Born on the Fourth of July: Official Clip - Maybe We're Home

2:03

Born on the Fourth of July: Official Clip - To Be Whole Again

3:06

Born on the Fourth of July: Official Clip - A Painful Confession

1:41

Born on the Fourth of July: Official Clip - The Homecoming Speech

1:55

Born on the Fourth of July: Official Clip - Treated Like a Human Being

3:08

Born on the Fourth of July: Official Clip - Ron Is Shot

2:03

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Synopsis

In the mid 1960s, suburban New York teenager Ron Kovic (Tom Cruise) enlists in the Marines, fulfilling what he sees as his patriotic duty. During his second tour in Vietnam, he accidentally kills a fellow soldier during a retreat and later becomes permanently paralyzed in battle. Returning home to an uncaring Veterans Administration bureaucracy and to people on both sides of the political divide who don't understand what he went through, Kovic becomes an impassioned critic of the war.

Director: Oliver Stone
Producer: A. Kitman Ho, Oliver Stone
Screenwriter: Oliver Stone, Ron Kovic
Distributor: Universal Home Entertainment, Universal Pictures, Warner Home Vídeo, MCA/Universal Pictures [us], Image Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Ixtlan Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 20, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $68.8M
Runtime: 2h 24m
Sound Mix: Surround

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