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Private Benjamin

1980·Movie
1h 50min·R
66
GoodGoodWatch score

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Funny, strong craft.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Fast Pace6
  • Adrenaline4
  • Tension3

Heart

Hopeful

Much of it is about growing up.

  • Hopefulness8
  • Coming of Age7
  • Wholesome6

Humor

Plenty of situational comedy and sharp wit

  • Situational Comedy9
  • Wit & Wordplay7
  • Satire & Parody7

World

Everyday modern life and growing up

  • Dialogue Centrality8
  • World Immersion7
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout performances, dialogue, and characters

  • Acting9
  • Dialogue Quality8
  • Character Depth8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Editing7
  • Cinematography6
  • Music Composition6

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensComfort WatchPure Escapism

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

About

The Army was no laughing matter until Judy Benjamin joined it.

A sheltered young high society woman joins the US Army on a whim and finds herself in a more difficult situation than she ever expected.
Classic ComedyFish-out-of-Water StoryEmpowerment NarrativeMilitary SatireStar Vehicle PerformanceCulture Clash HumorInspiring UnderdogFeel-GoodIconic Character

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Private Benjamin

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Private Benjamin legally?

You can watch it free with ads on Hoopla, Plex, and Tubi TV. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Private Benjamin worth watching?

66
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 66/100 (IMDb 6.2, Rotten Tomatoes 84%, and Metacritic 59). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Private Benjamin rated?

RStrong language

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: strong language.

How long is Private Benjamin?

1 h 50 min

Private Benjamin runs 1 h 50 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Private Benjamin?

Critics72
Audiences61

Not quite. Critics rate Private Benjamin higher (72) than audiences (61). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was Private Benjamin a box office hit?

Budget$15 million
Box office$70 million

Yes. It cost about $15 million to make and earned $70 million worldwide, 4.7 times its budget.

What language is Private Benjamin in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch Private Benjamin?

38ARATAUBEBOBRCACHCLCOCRCZDEDK+24

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Private Benjamin in 38 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Private Benjamin use?

Armed FarcesArtistic License – MilitaryBroken PedestalDeconstructed TropeDirty CommunistDressing as the EnemyDrill Sergeant NastyI Surrender, Suckers!Recruiters Always LieOut with a BangToothbrush Floor ScrubbingReassigned to Antarcticaand 10 more

TV Tropes lists 22 storytelling tropes for Private Benjamin, including Armed Farces, Artistic License – Military, Broken Pedestal.