Who'll Stop the Rain?

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Who'll Stop the Rain?

R

Released Aug 2, 1978

2h 5m

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

79%

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14 Reviews

62%

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1,000+ Ratings

A jaded journalist, John (Michael Moriarty), and a Vietnam vet, Ray (Nick Nolte), are adrift after returning home from the war. With not much to lose, they hatch a scheme to smuggle heroin from Vietnam into the U.S., which stands to make them a fortune. Instead, the pair and John's wife (Tuesday Weld) find themselves on the run from drug dealers and a crooked DEA agent (Anthony Zerbe). Along the way, Ray shows their opponents some of the useful combat skills he picked up in the war.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

The movie works mostly because it's so well told on the narrative level.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 16, 2018

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Gary Arnold

Washington Post

A remarkably faithful and astute adaptation of a strong novel, the film condenses Stone's book, which won the National Book Award for fiction in 1975, without doing irreparable damage to its story, principal characters or larger meanings.

Apr 30, 2018

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Who'll Stop the Rain is a film that is repugnant and excellent at the same time. It's the classic dichotomy of depth versus form, or vice versa. [Full review in Spanish]

Jan 18, 2024

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Ellin Stein

Berkeley Barb

Who'll Stop the Rain is a suspense-adventure movie given greater weight and complexity by undertones of moral questions which, if unsolved, are at least raised.

May 12, 2021

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Like the same year's more celebrated Vietnam War endeavors The Deer Hunter and Coming Home, this assured picture similarly examines the effects of the war on not only those who served but also those who remained stateside.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 3, 2021

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Bernard Drew

Gannett News Service

I wish someone would tell me why Who'll Stop the Rain? was made, what motivates its characters, and what it's really about.

Nov 1, 2019

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Moreau D

LE MONDE EST STONE. La guerre est tout autour, la guerre est de retour. Un retour du Vietnam embarrassant, révolté et raté. Le riche est le pauvre dans l'enfer qu'il se crée. Le quotidien du free cinéma et d'un amputé moral. La guerre est finie si vous le désirez. Michael Cimino a aimé.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

04/24/25

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bob c

Very dated period classic. A parable about the Vietnam defeat, the end of hippie, and the beginning of the drugs epidemic. By current standards the acting and action are hopeless. Nick’s hair is a marvel.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/20/25

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CodyZamboni Z

Watchable action drama as Nick Nolte battles drug smugglers. A bit too long, with too many annoying characters. But the rocket propelled grenade action was cool.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/23/24

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Audience Member

The best............................

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/13/24

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alan g

Whoever said Nivk Nolte could act. Tepid crime drama with the flavor of the month characters, vietnam vets.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/02/24

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Audience Member

Needed less Michael Moriarty

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Karel Reisz

Director

Nick Nolte

Ray Hicks

Tuesday Weld

Marge Converse

Michael Moriarty

John Converse

Anthony Zerbe

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Synopsis

A jaded journalist, John (Michael Moriarty), and a Vietnam vet, Ray (Nick Nolte), are adrift after returning home from the war. With not much to lose, they hatch a scheme to smuggle heroin from Vietnam into the U.S., which stands to make them a fortune. Instead, the pair and John's wife (Tuesday Weld) find themselves on the run from drug dealers and a crooked DEA agent (Anthony Zerbe). Along the way, Ray shows their opponents some of the useful combat skills he picked up in the war.

Director: Karel Reisz
Producer: Herb Jaffe, Gabriel Katzka
Screenwriter: Judith Rascoe, Robert Stone
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: Katzka-Jaffe
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 2, 1978, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Runtime: 2h 5m

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