Zulu

Released Jun 17, 1964

2 hr. 15 min.

History

Drama

War

List

96%

28 Reviews

Tomatometer

91%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In 1879, the Zulu nation hands colonial British forces a resounding defeat in battle. A nearby regiment of the British Army takes over a station run by a missionary (Jack Hawkins) and his daughter (Ulla Jacobsson) as a supply depot and hospital under the command of Lieutenant John Chard (Stanley Baker) and his subordinate Gonville Bromhead (Michael Caine). Unable to abandon their wounded soldiers even in dire circumstances, the regiment defend their station against the Zulu warriors.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Peacock

Stream Now

Fandango at Home

Peacock

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rent Zulu on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Critics Consensus

Zulu patiently establishes a cast of colorful characters and insurmountable stakes before unleashing its white-knuckle spectacle, delivering an unforgettable war epic in the bargain.

Read Critics Reviews

Noah P

A must see for all history fans, Zulu encapsulates the battle of Rorke's Drift perfectly and is able to encapsulate the emotion and suspence of the battle perfectly while creating drama for the big screen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/16/24

Full Review

Margaret G

"Riveting" is the best description. There is no other "war movie" I've seen a dozen times.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/14/24

Full Review

Dick C

It's a wonderful British film, Zulu, 1964...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/05/24

Full Review

Matthew B

It has become impossible to make the old kind of colonialist movie such as Sanders of the River or The Drum, which unashamedly took the side of the British Empire against the natives. The change began after World War 2, and the loss of much of this empire. However it is still hard for British people to make films about colonialism that escape charges of racism in their portrayal of the colonised nations. From Gunga Din to A Passage to India, the same criticism recurs regardless of the good intentions of the people making the movies. This applies to Zulu as well. This 1964 entry into the sub-genre of colonialist adventure movies starred and was produced by Stanley Baker, an unashamed socialist who wished to make the film as anti-imperialist and anti-racist as possible. And yet the film does not avoid those censures. With Zulu, we have an anti-war movie that glorifies conduct in battle, and an anti-imperialist movie that still holds lingering colonial attitudes. While India is the setting for many movies about the British Empire, Zulu is set in South Africa. The action takes place in 1879 in the aftermath of the Isandlwana disaster. A Zulu army numbering 20,000 warriors overwhelmed a British force comprising 1,800 troops, killing 1,300 soldiers. The British decide to make a stand rather than to risk trying to outrun the warriors. What follows is tense and exciting moviemaking as the Zulu soldiers draw nearer. A sense of dread and anticipation is provided by the sound of the distant army marching towards Rourke's Drift. When the Zulus arrive, the camera pans along the hills to show us the large army that Chard's men are facing. The warriors beat on their shields in order to sound more intimidating. The movie is about as accurate as any historical movie is. It describes roughly how the battle actually took place. Some of the officers are idealised, and one soldier, Private Henry Hook (James Booth) is made out to be a much worse character than he really was, so that his later heroism later seems more striking. Technically the movie is awe-inspiring too. It was filmed in Super Technirama, and this adds to the colour and spectacle on display. We get many arresting long and medium shots of the British soldiers and the Zulu warriors. The battle scenes are exciting to watch, and director Cy Endfield handles the suspense well. It is hardly surprising that the film became of the biggest box office hits in Britain, and has remained a staple of Bank Holiday afternoon television ever since. The enduring popularity of Zulu is easy to understand. It is a long but satisfying account of the famous historical event, and one of the best and most complex treatments of the subject of British colonialism. I wrote a longer appreciation of Zulu on my blog page if you would like to read more: https://themoviescreenscene.wordpress.com/2019/02/10/zulu-1964/

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/28/23

Full Review

Georgan G

The movie itself was interesting from an historical perspective. Enjoyed the way the writers took their time to introduce the main characters before the fighting began. Can't give it higher than 3 stars as it was imperialistic and racist.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/26/23

Full Review

Stanley W

Fantastic it shows the bravery of both sides in the conflict (although yes it does make the British seem like heros) it's just an amazing film yes the deaths and effects weren't that great but what do you expect it's made in 1964.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/03/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Charles De Latour

Director

Stanley Baker

Lieutenant John Chard R.E.

Jack Hawkins

Otto Witt

Ulla Jacobsson

Margareta Witt

Michael Caine

Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead

Nigel Green

Colour-Sergeant Bourne

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

95%

93%

Hundreds of Beavers

TRAILER

for Hundreds of Beavers

67%

29%

The Stranger

TRAILER

for The Stranger

50%

92%

The Stolen Valley

TRAILER

for The Stolen Valley

93%

95%

Dune: Part Two

TRAILER

for Dune: Part Two

71%

60%

Immaculate

TRAILER

for Immaculate

82%

75%

In the Land of Saints and Sinners

TRAILER

for In the Land of Saints and Sinners

67%

90%

Sweet Dreams

TRAILER

for Sweet Dreams

56%

88%

DogMan

TRAILER

for DogMan

%

%

An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th

TRAILER

for An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th

%

33%

Jimmy Carr: Natural Born Killer

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Definitive Michael Caine Movies

View more photos

Joe Clay

Times (UK)

Epic in scale, Cy Endfield’s stirring account of the Battle of Rorke’s Drift ... features bruisingly authentic battle sequences and Michael Caine, dodging spears, in one of his most memorable performances.

Jan 2, 2024

Full Review

Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

This may not be exact history, but it certainly makes an impression.

Jul 10, 2017

Full Review

Alex von Tunzelmann

Guardian

A brilliantly made dramatisation of Rorke's Drift, and it does a fine job of capturing the spirit for which the battle is remembered.

Rated: B+

Jul 10, 2017

Full Review

Tom Cassidy

Common Sense Media

Now that it can be seen at home in high definition, the true spectacle of Stephen Dade's cinematography can be appreciated once more.

Rated: 5/5

Jan 3, 2023

Full Review

PJ Nabarro

Patrick Nabarro

Zulu stands the test of time by uncannily understanding itself as something of a chamber piece and by making atmosphere and suspense the centrepiece of its narrative rather than just the gratification of combat.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 19, 2022

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

...a study of heroism under fire that narrowcasts towards those seeking the detail of valour in combat...

Rated: 4/5

Jun 20, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

In 1879, the Zulu nation hands colonial British forces a resounding defeat in battle. A nearby regiment of the British Army takes over a station run by a missionary (Jack Hawkins) and his daughter (Ulla Jacobsson) as a supply depot and hospital under the command of Lieutenant John Chard (Stanley Baker) and his subordinate Gonville Bromhead (Michael Caine). Unable to abandon their wounded soldiers even in dire circumstances, the regiment defend their station against the Zulu warriors.

Director: Charles De Latour
Screenwriter: Charles De Latour, John Prebble, John Prebble, Charles De Latour
Distributor: Embassy Pictures
Production Co: Embassy Pictures
Genre: History, Drama, War
Original Language: English (United Kingdom)
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 17, 1964, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 8, 2017

Most Popular at Home Now