Courage Under Fire

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Courage Under Fire

R,

1996,

1h 55m,

Action/

Drama/

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

86%

56 Reviews

Tomatometer

66%

25,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

56 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

During the 1991 Gulf War, Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) accidentally caused a friendly fire incident, a mistake that was hushed up by his superiors. Following the war, he is assigned to investigate the case of Army Captain Karen Walden (Meg Ryan), killed in action when her Medevac unit was attempting to rescue the crew of a downed helicopter. But, as Serling interviews the members of Walden's crew, he realizes their stories about the incident don't add up.

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Critics Consensus

An emotional and intriguing tale of a military officer who must review the merits of a fallen officer while confronting his own war demons. Effectively depicts the terrors of war as well as its heartbreaking aftermath.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Jun 14, 2022

What emerges may not be quite as cut-and-dried as the movie’s structure sometimes implies.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Feb 27, 2018

Washington, subtle, moving and charismatic, anchors the movie...Zwick's movie is solid, honorable and well crafted, but when all the veils have dropped and the mysteries solved, it feels tidier and more melodramatic than it promised.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Jul 22, 2008

A carefully conceived, dramatically honorable picture that treats its subject with clarity and intelligence, especially by contemporary standards.

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Aug 19, 2022

4/5

Its central mystery is compelling even though it takes some time before we finally get to the truth. And even though the emotion is pretty thick in the final 15 minutes it still feels earned.

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Mark Jackson

Epoch Times

Aug 5, 2021

4/5

If a woman in command has wounded soldiers that need protecting from enemy forces, and her maternal instinct kicks in-look out.

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Charles Cassady

Common Sense Media

Sep 14, 2010

3/5

Military drama deploys plenty of violence, swearing.

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Poe R

Dec 30, 2017

Another great Washington film, entertaining and intriguing. Very good.

Leia W

Mar 14, 2017

Courage Under Fire is a war movie with much sentiments and it is rare to see this side of Meg Ryan. She did really good in it. And there was also newly born star at the time, Matt Damon.

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Hermione S

Mar 11, 2017

Strong acting performances. Intelligent and dramatic script. A great study of mistakes and how honor and valor is still possible. Meg Ryan was a bit annoying outside of her standard romantic comedy. 7.75 / 10

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Kylo W

Jan 11, 2017

"Mayday mayday mayday" he screams into the radio as the chopper is going down..... LMFAO. Who gonna save you?

Abraham P

Jul 23, 2011

A bit maudlin at times, but overall, very solid performances from Washington and Ryan. Probably one of their best movies.

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Edward Zwick

Director

Denzel Washington

Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling

Meg Ryan

Captain Karen Emma Walden

Lou Diamond Phillips

Sgt. Monfriez

Michael Moriarty

Brigadier General Hershberg

Bronson Pinchot

Bruno

The Edge

63%

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Synopsis

During the 1991 Gulf War, Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) accidentally caused a friendly fire incident, a mistake that was hushed up by his superiors. Following the war, he is assigned to investigate the case of Army Captain Karen Walden (Meg Ryan), killed in action when her Medevac unit was attempting to rescue the crew of a downed helicopter. But, as Serling interviews the members of Walden's crew, he realizes their stories about the incident don't add up.

Director: Edward Zwick
Producer: John Davis, David T. Friendly, Joseph Singer
Screenwriter: Patrick Sheane Duncan
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Fox 2000 Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 12, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $59.0M
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Surround

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