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We Were Soldiers

2002·Movie
2h 18min·R
IMDb7.2Metacritic657.0Rotten Tomatoes63%84%

Where to watch

KanopyHooplaMGM+Pluto TV

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

We Were Soldiers fingerprint

Relentless energy, strong craft, no humor.

Energy

Epic and brutally violent

Fast from start to finish.

  • Spectacle9
  • Violence9
  • Adrenaline8

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

Much of it is about family.

  • Pathos9
  • Melancholy8
  • Catharsis7

Humor

Serious throughout

  • Wit & Wordplay2
  • Situational Comedy0
  • Physical Comedy0

World

War, history, and a real life story

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion9
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and characters

  • Direction8
  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8

Style

Standout cinematography, sound design, and editing

  • Cinematography9
  • Sound Centrality9
  • Editing8

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You want something to laugh atYou need an uplifting moodGraphic violence bothers youYou want something quiet and calm

Find more like it

Melancholic moviesBittersweet moviesEpic movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Father, Husband, Brother. No Man is Just a Soldier.

The year is 1965 and America is at war with North Vietnam. Commanding the air cavalry is Lt. Col. Hal Moore (Gibson), a born leader committed to his troops. His target: the Ia Drang Valley, called "The Valley of Death." As Moore prepares for one of the most violent battles in U.S. history, he delivers a stirring promise to his soldiers and their families: "I will leave no man behind...dead or alive. We will all come home together."
Vietnam War DramaHistorical Military EpicIntense CombatEmotional & BrutalLeadership & SacrificeFamily ImpactRealistic PortrayalVisually StrikingSomber Reflection

Crew

Directed by:
Allan Graf, Randall Wallace, Nilo Otero
Written by:
Randall Wallace, Harold G. Moore, Joseph L. Galloway
Produced by:
Rajeev Malhotra, Randall Wallace, Cathy Sandrich Gelfond
Composed by:
Lon Bender, Geoffrey G. Rubay, Richard Dwan Jr.

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about We Were Soldiers

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream We Were Soldiers legally?

KanopyHooplaMGM+Pluto TV

We Were Soldiers is included with a subscription to MGM+ in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, and Pluto TV. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is We Were Soldiers worth watching?

69
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 69/100 (IMDb 7.2, Rotten Tomatoes 63%, and Metacritic 65). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is We Were Soldiers rated?

RViolenceDisturbing imagery

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: violence and disturbing imagery.

How long is We Were Soldiers?

2 h 18 min

We Were Soldiers runs 2 h 18 min.

Is We Were Soldiers based on a true story?

Yes. It's based on real events or a real person's life.

Do critics and audiences agree on We Were Soldiers?

Critics64
Audiences75

Not quite. Audiences rate We Were Soldiers higher (75) than critics (64). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

Was We Were Soldiers a box office hit?

Budget$75 million
Box office$115 million

Roughly broke even. It cost about $75 million to make and earned $115 million worldwide, 1.5 times its budget.

What language is We Were Soldiers in?

EnglishVietnameseFrench

It was made in English, with some Vietnamese, French. Produced in Germany, United States, United Kingdom, France.

In how many countries can I watch We Were Soldiers?

39ARATAUBECACHCLCMCOCZDEESFIFR+25

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for We Were Soldiers in 39 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does We Were Soldiers use?

Worthy OpponentLeave No SurvivorsCamera AbuseMissing Back BlastForeshadowingTrap Is the Only OptionDue to the DeadA Father to His MenTrial by Friendly FireWhat the Hell, Hero?Adaptation DistillationWe Have Reservesand 111 more

TV Tropes lists 123 storytelling tropes for We Were Soldiers, including Worthy Opponent, Leave No Survivors, Camera Abuse.