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An Officer and a Gentleman

Play trailer 2:21 Poster for An Officer and a Gentleman R Released Jul 28, 1982 2h 5m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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79% Tomatometer 33 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
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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An Officer and a Gentleman

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Audience Member Only movie I saw which got a standing ovation at the end. Forty Five years later haven’t forgotten it! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/30/25 Full Review Blu B A Classic Romance Melodrama. It starts out a bit slow and takes some time to get going but once the "I got no where else to go" scene occurs it really finds it's footing in the melodrama/romance and takes a step up the rest of the way. It's really well made all around. The naval academy stuff is a bit jumpy and setting up the romance is a bit clunky too. It becomes much more character driven and focused on Sid, Zack, Paula, and Lynnette instead of on the naval class. (Although there good too) It's got good direction and the setting is memorable and the two leads got solid chemistry that builds over time. We watch Zack become effectively the title of the film. It can be a bit over the top with it's drama and doesn't tell it in the smoothest way possible but it works and thanks to the solid execution works really well. Wish it was maybe a bit more sunny instead of grey a lot of times but it's a small complaint in the end. Garrett as the drill Sgt. is excellent and easily the best thing. His dedication, brutality, and rock solid honor is amazing. If your a fan of the director, any actors in this, melodramas, or romances than give this a watch. Maybe too if your a fan of Navy movies also but it really isn't a war movie like how the first half of Full Metal Jacket is. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/20/25 Full Review Daniel N Amazing old school 80's feel good movie. Still a fantastic watch today. Highly recommended. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/24/25 Full Review Richard W One of my most favorite movies, a true classic in my eyes ,hard to not give it 5 stars ,where do you take away a star to make it 4 stars ,,where oh where i ask ,,impossible Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/31/24 Full Review Lanfranco C A sad movie with a sweet end Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/12/24 Full Review Read all reviews
An Officer and a Gentleman

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Cast & Crew

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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

Movie Clips

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An Officer and a Gentleman

An Officer and a Gentleman: Official Clip - I Got Nowhere Else to Go! An Officer and a Gentleman: Official Clip - I Got Nowhere Else to Go! 1:07 An Officer and a Gentleman: Official Clip - Carried Away An Officer and a Gentleman: Official Clip - Carried Away 0:38 An Officer and a Gentleman: Official Clip - You Ready to Quit Now, Mayo? 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 An Officer and a Gentleman: Official Clip - Okie From Muskogee 0:50 An Officer and a Gentleman: Official Clip - Mayo-nnaise An Officer and a Gentleman: Official Clip - Mayo-nnaise 1:08 An Officer and a Gentleman: Official Clip - Steers and Queers An Officer and a Gentleman: Official Clip - Steers and Queers 0:55 View more videos

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An Officer and a Gentleman

An Officer and a Gentleman: Trailer 1 An Officer and a Gentleman: Trailer 1 2:21 Peter Berg's Five Favorite Action Sequences Peter Berg's Five Favorite Action Sequences 4:50 View more videos
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An Officer and a Gentleman

An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) View more photos

Movie Info

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
Producer
Martin Elfand
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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