Rescue Dawn

PG-13

Released Jul 27, 2007

2h 5m

War

History

Drama

List

90%

Tomatometer

162 Reviews

75%

Audience Score

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

Full Review

Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out

Rated: 4/5

Nov 17, 2011

Full Review

Bob Mondello

NPR.org

Rescue Dawn may not feel much like a Herzog movie, but it's a gripping real-life thriller.

Oct 18, 2008

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

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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

Full Review

Spike G

Even tho i rorgot about this it's still good

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/28/24

Full Review

David H

A true hidden gem. Absolutely fantastic.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/16/24

Full Review

John A

A gripping tale of survival and perseverance. Great acting. Noteworthy cinematography.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/24

Full Review

Holly

He should have won an Oscar for this.. exceptionally brilliant film and acting

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/11/24

Full Review

Danielle T

German-American Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale) was a U.S. Navy pilot shot down near the Ho Chi Minh Trail in 1966. Tortured for months and emaciated, Dengler eventually escaped his captors, fleeing into dense jungle and evading capture for over three weeks before being rescued by U.S. forces. Bale's spectacular performance brings relatability to the most dire situation.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/27/23

Full Review

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Werner Herzog

Director

Christian Bale

Dieter Dengler

Steve Zahn

Duane

Jeremy Davies

Gene

Galen Yuen

Y.C.

Apichart Chusakul

Phisit

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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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