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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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

56 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

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

The Times (UK)

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

Jul 5, 2023

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Kurt Jacobsen

Chicago Reader

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

May 12, 2022

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

More than one man's story, it’s a reminder of the rites of passage and disposal in a military complex built on failure and fattened pockets, of the meaningless muscle memory of carnage, of the plague war has (and will) cast on every American generation.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 16, 2025

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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

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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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Dana D

I normally try to avoid war movies but started watching this after all this time. Tom Cruise gave an unforgettable performance while grappling with the after effects of war. It was a hard watch for me because I hate violence and shows that make me anxious but I could not stop watching and it was worth the watch and I recommend it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/13/25

Full Review

Gi S

After all these years I finally viewed this movie. Not a big cruise fan is the main reason I never made time to watch it but I'm glad I finally did. Little side note, my son was born on the fourth of july, so of course that holiday has always been just a tad extra special to my fam.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/22/25

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Jeremy H

Another war movie that reminds me about why my grandfather stayed silent about his service in WWII.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/21/25

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Chase N

This movie opened my eyes to the horrors of war. Far too many young men sacrificed their lives and peace to fight this war. ✌🏼🕊️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/18/25

Full Review

Leprechaun K

Movie checks all the boxes of an Oscar contender. Somehow it feels disconnected and lengthy. Good performance by Cruise, but could have benefited from a more balanced approach and include more screentime of other key characters.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/27/25

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Gregory S

Absolutely incredible. Cried multiple times A true harsh reality of war that can’t be glorified by Hollywood

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/18/25

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

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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