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The Thin Red Line

1998·Movie
2h 51min·R

Where to watch

No stream option in US yet.

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

What's your score?

Your score

The Thin Red Line fingerprint

Relentless energy, stunning style, no humor.

Energy

Nerve-racking and brutally violent

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension9
  • Violence9
  • Spectacle7

Heart

Deeply moving and profoundly sad

  • Pathos10
  • Melancholy9
  • Catharsis7

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor3
  • Wit & Wordplay2
  • Absurdist Humor1

World

History, war, and the mind

Lived-in and easy to get lost in. Holds up on a rewatch.

  • World Immersion10
  • Rewatchability8
  • Dialogue Centrality7

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and characters

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Direction10
  • Acting9
  • Character Depth9

Style

Standout cinematography, score, and visual style

A distinctive visual signature.

  • Cinematography10
  • Music Composition9
  • Visual Stylization9

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You need an uplifting moodYou want fast pacingYou want to half-watch while scrollingGraphic violence bothers you

Find more like it

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

About

Every man fights his own war.

The story of a group of men, an Army Rifle company called C-for-Charlie, who change, suffer, and ultimately make essential discoveries about themselves during the fierce World War II battle of Guadalcanal. It follows their journey, from the surprise of an unopposed landing, through the bloody and exhausting battles that follow, to the ultimate departure of those who survived.
Philosophical War DramaVisually StunningMeditative & ReflectiveExistential EpicHumanity vs. NatureAnti-War StatementImmersive & HauntingPsychological DepthNon-Linear StorytellingMasterful Direction

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Thin Red Line

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Thin Red Line legally?

You can 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 The Thin Red Line worth watching?

78
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 78/100 (IMDb 7.6, Rotten Tomatoes 80%, and Metacritic 78). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Thin Red Line rated?

RViolenceDisturbing imagery

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

How long is The Thin Red Line?

2 h 51 min

The Thin Red Line runs 2 h 51 min.

Is The Thin Red Line based on a true story?

No. It's adapted from a novel.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Thin Red Line?

Critics79
Audiences79

Yes. Critics average 79 and audiences 79 out of 100, so both groups see The Thin Red Line much the same way.

Was The Thin Red Line a box office hit?

Budget$52 million
Box office$98 million

Roughly broke even. It cost about $52 million to make and earned $98 million worldwide, 1.9 times its budget.

What language is The Thin Red Line in?

EnglishGreekJapanese

It was made in English, with some Greek, Japanese. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Thin Red Line?

85ADAEALARATAUAZBABEBGBOBRBZCA+71

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Thin Red Line in 85 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Thin Red Line use?

Shout-OutLarge HamThe ResenterHidden Heart of GoldSergeant RockAttack! Attack! Attack!Undignified DeathAdaptational VillainySurprisingly Sudden DeathBlood KnightAmbition Is EvilThe Rivaland 106 more

TV Tropes lists 118 storytelling tropes for The Thin Red Line, including Shout-Out, Large Ham, The Resenter.