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Courage Under Fire

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Courage Under Fire

R

Released Jul 12, 1996

1h 55m

Action

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

57 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

During the 1991 Gulf War, Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) accidentally caused a friendly fire incident, a mistake that was hushed up by his superiors. Following the war, he is assigned to investigate the case of Army Captain Karen Walden (Meg Ryan), killed in action when her Medevac unit was attempting to rescue the crew of a downed helicopter. But, as Serling interviews the members of Walden's crew, he realizes their stories about the incident don't add up.

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Critics Consensus

An emotional and intriguing tale of a military officer who must review the merits of a fallen officer while confronting his own war demons. Effectively depicts the terrors of war as well as its heartbreaking aftermath.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

What emerges may not be quite as cut-and-dried as the movie’s structure sometimes implies.

Jun 14, 2022

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Washington, subtle, moving and charismatic, anchors the movie...Zwick's movie is solid, honorable and well crafted, but when all the veils have dropped and the mysteries solved, it feels tidier and more melodramatic than it promised.

Feb 27, 2018

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: B+

Sep 7, 2011

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Its central mystery is compelling even though it takes some time before we finally get to the truth. And even though the emotion is pretty thick in the final 15 minutes it still feels earned.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 19, 2022

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Mark Jackson

Epoch Times

If a woman in command has wounded soldiers that need protecting from enemy forces, and her maternal instinct kicks in-look out.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 5, 2021

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Charles Cassady

Common Sense Media

Military drama deploys plenty of violence, swearing.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 14, 2010

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Revolver 0

maybe one of the stupidest war scenes ever made, pure comedy

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/26/25

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Tim M

Edward Zwick's direction veers towards histrionics at times, but Courage Under Fire relies on staunch acting in completing its mission.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/11/25

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Fabrícia F

Incrível, emocionante, surpreendente! Um prêmio póstumo de honra ao mérito dedicado a uma oficial (Meg Ryan) falecida na Guerra do Golfo em 1991, se torna uma investigação complexa para o tenente Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington), revelando seus temores e conflitos morais.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/05/24

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rashid W

They wouldn't make this movie today!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/03/23

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John A

Zwick's non-linear character study has some strong acting and the screenplay has enough intelligence to avoid being schmaltzy or too saccharine in it's final act.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/28/23

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Grant M

I can't believe this movie is only getting a 66% audience score on RT--Great story, great actors, great acting. One of my all time favorite movies--and one that I originally didn't even want to see.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/23/23

Full Review

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Edward Zwick

Director

Denzel Washington

Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling

Meg Ryan

Captain Karen Emma Walden

Lou Diamond Phillips

Sgt. Monfriez

Michael Moriarty

Brigadier General Hershberg

Bronson Pinchot

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Synopsis

During the 1991 Gulf War, Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) accidentally caused a friendly fire incident, a mistake that was hushed up by his superiors. Following the war, he is assigned to investigate the case of Army Captain Karen Walden (Meg Ryan), killed in action when her Medevac unit was attempting to rescue the crew of a downed helicopter. But, as Serling interviews the members of Walden's crew, he realizes their stories about the incident don't add up.

Director: Edward Zwick
Producer: John Davis, David T. Friendly, Joseph Singer
Screenwriter: Patrick Sheane Duncan
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Fox 2000 Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 12, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $59.0M
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Surround

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