Waco: The Rules of Engagement

Play trailer

Waco: The Rules of Engagement

Released Sep 19, 1997

2h 45m

Documentary

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

16 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

This documentary about the 1993 showdown between the FBI and the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas, presents an alternate theory about the tragedy. The government has long contended that this fringe Christian group was a danger, and that the siege on its compound, which resulted in the death of 70 people, was necessary. Director William Gazecki, using footage from the siege and the Congressional hearings that followed it, asserts that American forces may have attacked a peaceful religious group.

Globe and Mail

Rated: 3/4

Apr 25, 2003

Full Review

Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

A masterful, terribly engaging, and horribly affecting documentary.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

It presents testimony from both sides, and shies away from cheap shots. We feel we are seeing a fair attempt to deal with facts.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Oct 9, 2005

Full Review

Mark Palermo

The Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

Rated: 4/5

Aug 23, 2004

Full Review

Frank Swietek

One Guy's Opinion

Rated: 3/5

Mar 4, 2004

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

Wow! This is a really well done 20+ year old Documentary. Like most Americans, I thought the Branch Davidians set fire to themselves, but this Documentary does a pretty good job of showing that might not be the case. This was a tragedy in US modern history and the ATF & FBI didn't do a good job handling the situation. They gassed children and tore down walls with those tanks.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Wow ... as a child of 12, my memories of Waco were sketchy: sex cult, law enforcement, and fire. While the film is something of a conspiracy theory, I would say it's compelling at best and raises some serious questions at least.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Incredible documentry about the sidege that took place at Mount Carmel, near Waco texas as lies are uncovered and the truth about the ATF and the FBI' slaughter of religous leader David Koresch and his followers during a attempt to take control of their compound for almost 3 months. Excellent back story about the Branch Davidians and their beginings up until the siege. Proves how much power the government actually has over its people and those who oppose their tactics.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The raw footage is phenomenal. One of the most detailed chronicles of a police raid ever captured. Questioned who the most dangerous presence was on that fateful day - the cult leaders or the FBI.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Powerful stuff except for the horrid synth music that I could've done without.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great documentary about the government versus Branch Dividians.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

William Gazecki

Director

Dan Gifford

Narrator

Clive Doyle

Himself (Branch Davidian) (also archive footage)

Jack Harwell

Self

Dick J. Reavis

Himself (author) (also archive footage)

James D. Tabor

Self

4 Little Girls

100%

90%

4 Little Girls

Watchlist

Incident at Oglala

100%

84%

Incident at Oglala

Watchlist

Return With Honor

100%

79%

Return With Honor

Watchlist

One Day in September

97%

92%

One Day in September

Watchlist

Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills

100%

94%

Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

This documentary about the 1993 showdown between the FBI and the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas, presents an alternate theory about the tragedy. The government has long contended that this fringe Christian group was a danger, and that the siege on its compound, which resulted in the death of 70 people, was necessary. Director William Gazecki, using footage from the siege and the Congressional hearings that followed it, asserts that American forces may have attacked a peaceful religious group.

Director: William Gazecki
Producer: William Gazecki, Michael McNulty
Screenwriter: William Gazecki, Michael McNulty, Dan Gifford, Ron Nelson
Distributor: New Yorker Films
Production Co: Fifth Estate Productions
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 19, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 3, 2016
Runtime: 2h 45m

Most Popular at Home Now