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Platoon

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Platoon

R

Released Dec 19, 1986

2h 0m

War

Drama

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Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

123 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen) leaves his university studies to enlist in combat duty in Vietnam in 1967. Once he's on the ground in the middle of battle, his idealism fades. Infighting in his unit between Staff Sergeant Barnes (Tom Berenger), who believes nearby villagers are harboring Viet Cong soldiers, and Sergeant Elias (Willem Dafoe), who has a more sympathetic view of the locals, ends up pitting the soldiers against each other as well as against the enemy.

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Critics Consensus

Informed by director Oliver Stone's personal experiences in Vietnam, Platoon forgoes easy sermonizing in favor of a harrowing, ground-level view of war, bolstered by no-holds-barred performances from Charlie Sheen and Willem Dafoe.

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David Denby

New York Magazine/Vulture

This is a great American movie -- easily the most powerful film of the year.

Aug 23, 2022

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Marsha McCreadie

Arizona Republic

I didn't take a single note during the screening of Platoon: It's that engrossing, that overwhelming.

Aug 23, 2022

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Eleanor Ringel Cater

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It's a powerful, painful, must-see film -- an impassioned and riveting dispatch from the front that's at once a battle cry and a lamentation.

Aug 23, 2022

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Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

Oliver Stone's harrowing war picture was the first movie that felt like a genuine depiction of that terrible war, and brought collective catharsis for America's tragedy in Vietnam.

Rated: 5/5

May 26, 2025

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Mark Johnson

Awards Daily

One of the most visceral and authentic war films ever made.

Jun 14, 2023

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Platoon may not be the best Vietnam war film ever made -- I still prefer both Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket by a healthy margin -- but I wouldn't care to argue with any veteran who states that it's the most honest depiction of that insane skirmish.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 11, 2022

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Will G

A Great military movie. Charlie Sheen and Willem Dafoe gave Nice performances. There is another movie about the Viet Nam war called “Apocalypse Now” with Martin Sheen.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/27/25

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Gregory S

Everytime I watch this I notice something different. The most accurate and best movie about the Vietnam War that I have ever seen. The cast is outstanding, music, cinematography, just all incredible. Felt that both Berringer and Da Foe should have won the award, but believe they cancelled each other out. Simply incredible movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/22/25

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M B

Best war film ever made in my opinion. Excellent beyond words!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/08/25

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Logan H

Platoon is a wonderfully done film following the events of Vietnam and its casualties. The director Oliver Stone is actually a Vietnam veteran, taking his heart out, making this movie as realistic as possible. To match what he saw in battle. The music choice, Adagio for Strings (being basically the theme for Platoon), is a wonderful choice for a sad and great movie. If you have free time, it's an great choice to pass the time. If you're okay with some war scenes and depressing sequences.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/10/25

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Johannes S

Shocking man. The useless cruelty of war brings out the worst in men or allows the worst men to go free.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/25

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Joshua H

An important look into the tragedy and cruelty of war

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/20/25

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Oliver Stone

Director

Tom Berenger

Staff Sgt. Bob Barnes

Willem Dafoe

Sgt. Elias Grodin

Charlie Sheen

Pvt. Chris Taylor

Forest Whitaker

Big Harold

Francesco Quinn

Rhah

Platoon: Official Clip - Pecker Hard, Powder Dry

3:02

Platoon: Official Clip - Retribution

4:16

Platoon: Official Clip - I Am Reality

2:06

Platoon: Official Clip - The Death of Sgt. Elias

3:09

Platoon: Official Clip - Elias is Betrayed

2:09

Platoon: Official Clip - Burning the Village

3:05

Platoon: Official Clip - We're Gonna Lose This War

1:13

Platoon: Official Clip - Barnes Crosses the Line

2:40

Platoon: Official Clip - Hell Is the Impossibility of Reason

1:30

Platoon: Official Clip - Dance!

2:04

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Synopsis

Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen) leaves his university studies to enlist in combat duty in Vietnam in 1967. Once he's on the ground in the middle of battle, his idealism fades. Infighting in his unit between Staff Sergeant Barnes (Tom Berenger), who believes nearby villagers are harboring Viet Cong soldiers, and Sergeant Elias (Willem Dafoe), who has a more sympathetic view of the locals, ends up pitting the soldiers against each other as well as against the enemy.

Director: Oliver Stone
Producer: Arnold Kopelson
Screenwriter: Oliver Stone
Distributor: Orion Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Hemdale Film Corporation [us]
Rating: R
Genre: War, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 19, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 2, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $138.5M
Runtime: 2h 0m
Sound Mix: Surround

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