Courage Under Fire

Play trailer

Courage Under Fire

R

Released Jul 12, 1996

1h 55m

Action

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

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

Jun 14, 2022

Full Review

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

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: B+

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Charles Cassady

Common Sense Media

Military drama deploys plenty of violence, swearing.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 14, 2010

Full Review

Read all reviews

thiago s

Filme bacaninhas, o roteiro é mais ou menos, as cenas são bacaninhas, a história é mais ou menos, o elenco é bacaninha, e alguns ajudam a melhorar o filme, os personagens são bacaninhas, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

07/26/25

Full Review

Andrew B

Denzel Washington shows incredible depth of emotional range and carries every scene he is in. This slow-paced uncovering of the truth makes for a series of intriguing interactions between Denzel and the cast but feels as if each scene exists in isolation. Overall, the point of the film is difficult to resonate with—are there no heroes in war, or are all soldiers heroes? Maybe that's the point.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/26/25

Full Review

Revolver 0

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

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/26/25

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

rashid W

They wouldn't make this movie today!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/03/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

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

Bruno

The Fan

37%

35%

The Fan

Watchlist

The Kingdom

51%

76%

The Kingdom

Watchlist

Death Sentence

20%

60%

Death Sentence

Watchlist

The Brave One

43%

64%

The Brave One

Watchlist

Body of Lies

55%

62%

Body of Lies

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Denzel Washington’s 10 Best Movies

Matt Damon’s Best Movies

Definitive Matt Damon Movies

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now