The Men Who Stare at Goats

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The Men Who Stare at Goats

R

Released Nov 6, 2009

1h 33m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

51%

Tomatometer

216 Reviews

39%

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100,000+ Ratings

Struggling reporter Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) gets the scoop of a lifetime when he meets Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), who claims to be from a unit of psychic soldiers who have been reactivated for duty. Intrigued by Cassady's assertions that they can walk through walls and kill goats by fixed gazes, Wilton follows him on a dangerous, top-secret mission across Iraq to find the brigade's founder, Bill Django (Jeff Bridges).

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Critics Consensus

Though The Men Who Stare at Goats is a mostly entertaining, farcical glimpse of men at war, some may find its satire and dark humor less than edgy.

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Kaleem Aftab

Independent (UK)

Given the source material and the endless possibilities, it's surprising that the movie has ended up with so few belly laughs.

May 15, 2018

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Ed Koch

The Atlantic

Save your money and, more important, your precious time.

Jan 17, 2018

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: B+

Feb 18, 2012

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Michael Leader

Den of Geek

Misgivings about its conclusion aside, it feels like it knows its place in the world, tipping the hat to both the book and a previous Channel 4 documentary for their more factual takes on the subject, while revelling in the barminess of the whole thing.

Rated: 4/5

May 7, 2024

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

It contains enough absurdist wit rooted in the paranormal to make it an offbeat farce. What it doesn’t have is substance.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 30, 2023

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

There are lots of introductions and plenty of set up, but viewers are left in the dark through most of the conflict.

Rated: 6/10

Nov 29, 2020

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Brad S. R

One of the longest hour-and-a-half watches I can remember.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/20/25

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Nola H

Although this film is seriously weird, it is an extremely interesting genre, and knowing there are even moderate grains of truth to what went on more than makes up for composite, fictionalised characters. Geoff Bridges and George Clooney are seriously brilliant in their roles. Ewan McGregor does a great job too. I would say just suspend judgement, watch and think, and whether you “buy it” or not, you will be both entertained and left wondering what the heck really DOES go on behind the scenes at times.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/16/25

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Ela R

You either get it or you don't.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/05/25

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Matt R

Great cast that delivers.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/09/24

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Leaburn O

It's fine but forgettable silliness. That the US army spread their wings into every conceivable area is no surprise. Film was comedic but pointless. Amazing cast for such fluff but it was ok in the end. Saw on Sky Cinema.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/17/24

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Victoria S

Don't understand why people don't like this movies it's loosely based on a true story..yes the US government spent Tax payers dollars on a "starwars" program to explore psychic abilities and I think this film is hilarious.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/22/23

Full Review

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Grant Heslov

Director

George Clooney

Lyn Cassady

Jeff Bridges

Bill Django

Ewan McGregor

Bob Wilton

Kevin Spacey

Larry Hooper

Robert Patrick

Todd Nixon

The Darwin Awards

25%

45%

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51%

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60%

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29%

48%

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Tamara Drewe

65%

42%

Tamara Drewe

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The Men Who Stare at Goats: Trailer 1

2:16

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Synopsis

Struggling reporter Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) gets the scoop of a lifetime when he meets Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), who claims to be from a unit of psychic soldiers who have been reactivated for duty. Intrigued by Cassady's assertions that they can walk through walls and kill goats by fixed gazes, Wilton follows him on a dangerous, top-secret mission across Iraq to find the brigade's founder, Bill Django (Jeff Bridges).

Director: Grant Heslov
Producer: George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Paul Lister
Screenwriter: Peter Straughan
Distributor: Overture Films
Production Co: Smoke House, Paul Lister
Rating: R (Language|Brief Nudity|Some Drug Content)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 6, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 6, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $32.4M
Runtime: 1h 33m

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