Rescue Dawn

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Rescue Dawn

PG-13

Released Jul 27, 2007

2h 5m

War

History

Drama

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Popcornmeter

90%

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161 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.

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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.

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Hank Sartin

Time Out

Rated: 3/5

Nov 18, 2011

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Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out

Rated: 4/5

Nov 17, 2011

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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

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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

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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

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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

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William M

Long and boring. Not factually accurate.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/15/25

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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

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Nol P

It had been forever since I saw this, (my Blockbuster Video days), and I am glad I finally watched Rescue Dawn again tonight. Both Christian Bale and Steve Zahn were spot on excellent and they made it so very believable in their ultra weakened state of starvation. This is based on a true story too so this is a must see with some nice performances all around and fine directing. 8.5 of 10.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/22/24

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Johannes S

The acting is amazing, yet it doesn't spark something within me like other war or survival movies.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/11/24

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Spike G

Even tho i rorgot about this it's still good

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/28/24

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David H

A true hidden gem. Absolutely fantastic.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/16/24

Full Review

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Werner Herzog

Director

Christian Bale

Dieter Dengler

Steve Zahn

Duane

Jeremy Davies

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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

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