An Officer and a Gentleman

R

Released Jul 28, 1982

2h 5m

Drama

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List

79%

34 Reviews

Tomatometer

81%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Zack Mayo (Richard Gere), a new member of the U.S. Navy, has a bad attitude. When he signs up for the Aviation Academy, he is met with the strict leadership of Sgt. Emil Foley (Louis Gossett Jr.), who gives Zack a rude awakening in terms of relating with other people. Through Foley's guidance -- and an unexpected romance with Paula (Debra Winger), an outsider who hangs around the naval base -- Zack learns some tough lessons and discovers what he truly wants out of life.

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Critics Consensus

Old-fashioned without sacrificing its characters to simplicity, An Officer and a Gentleman successfully walks the fine line between sweeping romance and melodrama.

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Ben W

Pretty good movie. I see why it’s a classic. Not necessarily my favorite, but good.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/10/24

Full Review

The H

this smells like cheese

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/21/24

Full Review

Danny T

Ugly from the very beginning. A victim of emotional abuse becomes a man at the hands and feet of a sadistic drill instructor. "Lord, lift us up," indeed.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/24

Full Review

Robert Anton M

When attending in the 1980's I was waiting for the moment the military would be ridiculed. This moment did not come. In hindsight I realize that (for me) this was the point that a wind of change had come - (far) from flower-power to militarism, and neo-con. Maybe the acting and filming was OK, but a great pity that it marks the point where society took a wrong turn.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/03/23

Full Review

Jennifer T

Let me start off by saying I am a long-time movie lover, and have frequently used Rotten Tomatoes as a reference when selecting films. This, however, is the first review I've written. I actually created an account just to leave this review, and warn people not to waste their time with this "classic". It was so awful, I legitimately feel a personal responsibility to correct this movie's inflated rating. The entire film was an incoherent, misogynistic mess with no clear purpose or message. Richard Gere's performance is flat, unconvincing, and completely devoid of charm. I cannot stress this enough—SKIP THIS MOVIE!!!!

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

11/15/23

Full Review

Leaburn O

A solid drama about a navy jet officer training camp and its unruly recruit. Throw in some romance, reasonable an ting and a top 80s theme song made for the film and you have something worth watching, even if it's largely forgettable and derivative stuff. Bought this one on DVD for £1 from a charity shop.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/04/23

Full Review

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Taylor Hackford

Director

Richard Gere

Zack Mayo

Debra Winger

Paula Pokrifki

Louis Gossett Jr.

Gunnery Sgt. Emil Foley

David Keith

Sid Worley

Robert Loggia

Byron Mayo

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An Officer and a Gentleman: Official Clip - I Got Nowhere Else to Go!

1:07

An Officer and a Gentleman: Official Clip - Carried Away

0:38

An Officer and a Gentleman: Official Clip - You Ready to Quit Now, Mayo?

2:12

An Officer and a Gentleman: Official Clip - Okie From Muskogee

0:50

An Officer and a Gentleman: Official Clip - Mayo-nnaise

1:08

An Officer and a Gentleman: Official Clip - Steers and Queers

0:55

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An Officer and a Gentleman: Trailer 1

2:21

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4:50

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Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

It is full of bang-on melodramatics and simple, romanticized characters with carefully supplied motivations.

Jul 31, 2013

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Taylor Hackford's 1982 film is an awesomely, stiflingly professional piece of work, with a fleet, superficial visual style, perfectly placed climaxes, and a screenplay that doesn't waste a single character or situation.

Jul 31, 2013

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Rarely does a film come along with so many finely-drawn characters to care about.

Jul 6, 2010

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A vastly entertaining picture.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 12, 2024

Full Review

Zita Short

InSession Film

The whole film feels a little too loose and easy breezy. There is too little at stake here. The cheesy theme song and sweaty sex scene convince you that this is going to serve as a piece of fantasy fulfilment, but it forgets to set up meaningful stakes.

Feb 1, 2023

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

The conclusion - as predictable as it may be - is quite winning and heartfelt, embracing the fairy-tale aura audiences will surely want.

Rated: 7/10

Jan 2, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Zack Mayo (Richard Gere), a new member of the U.S. Navy, has a bad attitude. When he signs up for the Aviation Academy, he is met with the strict leadership of Sgt. Emil Foley (Louis Gossett Jr.), who gives Zack a rude awakening in terms of relating with other people. Through Foley's guidance -- and an unexpected romance with Paula (Debra Winger), an outsider who hangs around the naval base -- Zack learns some tough lessons and discovers what he truly wants out of life.

Director: Taylor Hackford
Screenwriter: Douglas Day Stewart
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 28, 1982, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 11, 2011
Runtime: 2h 5m

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