Rescue Dawn

Play trailer

Rescue Dawn

PG-13

2007

2h 5m

War

History

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

160 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

During the Vietnam War, Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale), a U.S. fighter pilot, is shot down over Laos and taken captive by enemy soldiers. Interned in a POW camp, Dengler and his fellow prisoners (Steve Zahn, Jeremy Davies) endure torture, hunger and illness while they await their chance to escape.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Director Werner Herzog has once again made a compelling tale of man versus nature, and Christian Bale completely immerses himself in the role of fighter pilot (and prisoner of war) Dieter Dengler.

Read Critics Reviews

Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

What we miss is the real Herzogian touch that can translate tales of derringdo into something more than mere adventure and stir the soul as well as the heart and mind.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 23, 2007

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

An effective, unassuming and old-fashioned action adventure which is - perhaps a little faute de mieux - probably the best film of the week.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 23, 2007

Full Review

James Christopher

The Times (UK)

The performances are worryingly Method. Bale eats bowls of maggots. I had to look away when he tucked into a live snake.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 23, 2007

Full Review

Ian Buruma

The New York Review of Books

Somehow his story, reenacted in the feature film, fails to catch fire in the way it does in the documentary. It looks oddly conventional, even flat.

Aug 23, 2018

Full Review

Brandy McDonnell

The Oklahoman

While Zahn and Davies offer amazing performances, Bale's starring turn often falls flat. Herzog doesn't give him much to work with: The writer-director is reluctant to allow his hero any flaws, even fear and despair, on his harrowing journey.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 13, 2018

Full Review

Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

Unlike a traditional Hollywood movie, Rescue Dawn follows the pacing and irony of real life. It is far from predictable and far from formulaic.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 28, 2014

Full Review

Read all reviews

Brady W

Really expected more from the film, never really felt much in the way of tension and the few special effects that were in used were of poor quality.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

07/16/25

Full Review

Faiz D

Christian Bale... 'nuff said.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/13/25

Full Review

Jack S

Amazing movie about overcoming the worst situation!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/12/25

Full Review

Ricardo B

O roteiro desse filme já é, por si só, baseado em uma incrível história verídica de sobreviência de um piloto estadunidense à captura por soldados inimigos, durante a Guerra do Vietnã, mas é a direção do visionário e experimental cineasta alemão Werner Herzog que transforma essa história em algo muito maior. A dedicada atuação de Christian Bale nos prende na história do homem, mas é a exímia direção de Herzog que nos transporta para a selva de Laos, onde a natureza é a o maior inimigo do homem, e nos leva em uma épica jornada de luta pela vida, homem versus natureza e a implacável vontade de viver. E é isso que eleva "O Sobrevivente" de simples drama de guerra a arte narrativa e visual.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/04/25

Full Review

William M

Long and boring. Not factually accurate.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/15/25

Full Review

Jelisije J

A fantastic true story of a fighter pilot being taken as a prisoner of war before the time of the Vietnam War. Its a greatly acted depressing one and done type of film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/17/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Werner Herzog

Director

Christian Bale

Dieter Dengler

Steve Zahn

Duane

Jeremy Davies

Gene

Galen Yuen

Y.C.

Apichart Chusakul

Phisit

Canopy

75%

34%

Canopy

Watchlist

War Horse

74%

74%

War Horse

Watchlist

The Alamo

29%

46%

The Alamo

Watchlist

Little Boy

27%

78%

Little Boy

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Little Boy

Flight of the Intruder

23%

51%

Flight of the Intruder

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Rank Christian Bale’s 10 Best Movies

RT on DVD: Live Free or Hairspray This Thanksgiving

Werner Herzog on Rescue Dawn: The RT Interview

View more photos

Synopsis

During the Vietnam War, Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale), a U.S. fighter pilot, is shot down over Laos and taken captive by enemy soldiers. Interned in a POW camp, Dengler and his fellow prisoners (Steve Zahn, Jeremy Davies) endure torture, hunger and illness while they await their chance to escape.

Director: Werner Herzog
Producer: Elton Brand, Steve Marlton, Harry Knapp
Screenwriter: Werner Herzog
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Gibraltar Entertainment and Production LLC
Rating: PG-13 (Torture|Intense War Violence)
Genre: War, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 27, 2007, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jul 4, 2007
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 3, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.5M
Runtime: 2h 5m

Most Popular at Home Now