Hell and Back Again

2011·Movie
1h 28min·NR
80
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb6.4Metacritic916.4Rotten Tomatoes100%69%

Where to watch

HooplaFandango at Home FreePluto TVDocuramaFilmsTubi TV

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

Hell and Back Again fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, no humor.

Energy

Brutally violent and tense

Fast from start to finish.

  • Violence9
  • Tension8
  • Adrenaline7

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

  • Pathos9
  • Melancholy8
  • Catharsis7

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor3
  • Wit & Wordplay2
  • Situational Comedy1

World

Everyday modern life, war, and the mind

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion9
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and storytelling

  • Direction8
  • Acting8
  • Narrative Structure8

Style

Standout cinematography, editing, and sound design

  • Cinematography9
  • Editing9
  • Sound Centrality8

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You need an uplifting moodGraphic violence bothers you

Find more like it

Suspense moviesPsychological moviesMelancholic moviesEducational movies

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

About

What does it mean to lead men in war? What does it mean to come home? Hell and Back Again is a cinematically revolutionary film that asks and answers these questions with a power and intimacy no previous film about the conflict in Afghanistan has been able to achieve. It is a masterpiece in the cinema of war.
Afghanistan WarDocumentaryIntimate PortraitTrauma of WarSoldier's ExperiencePsychological ImpactCombatContemporary ConflictPost-War Life

Crew

Directed by:
Danfung Dennis
Written by:
Danfung Dennis
Produced by:
Mike Lerner
Composed by:
J. Ralph

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Loading video…

Questions about Hell and Back Again

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Hell and Back Again legally?

HooplaFandango at Home FreePluto TVDocuramaFilmsTubi TV

You can watch it free with ads on Hoopla, Fandango at Home Free, and Pluto TV. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Microsoft Store. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Hell and Back Again worth watching?

80
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 80/100 (IMDb 6.4, Rotten Tomatoes 100%, and Metacritic 91). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Hell and Back Again rated?

NRViolenceStrong languageDisturbing imagery

It's rated NR in the United States. Content advisories: violence, strong language, and disturbing imagery.

How long is Hell and Back Again?

1 h 28 min

Hell and Back Again runs 1 h 28 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Hell and Back Again?

Critics96
Audiences66

Not quite. Critics rate Hell and Back Again higher (96) than audiences (66). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is Hell and Back Again in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in Afghanistan, United Kingdom.

In how many countries can I watch Hell and Back Again?

32ATAUBEBGBYBZCACHCVCYCZEEFRGB+18

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Hell and Back Again in 32 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

HomeDiscoverMoviesShows