Salvador

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Salvador

R,

1986,

1h 57m,

Drama/

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

Watchlist

90%

30 Reviews

Tomatometer

85%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

30 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Unable to find work in America because of his penchant for booze and drugs, photojournalist Richard Boyle (James Woods) heads to El Salvador with his DJ friend Doctor Rock (James Belushi) to see if he can get a gig covering the country's ongoing civil war. Boyle decides it's time to flee the country when the violence escalates to a level that even he is uncomfortable with, but his relationship with an El Salvadorian woman (Elpidia Carrillo) complicates matters.

Critics Consensus

Despite its somewhat disjointed narrative, Oliver Stone's Salvador is a vivid and powerful political drama that sets an early tone for the director's similarly provocative future projects.

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Richard Combs

Sight & Sound

Aug 22, 2022

Of Stone's two recent films, Salvador is the most remarkable, if only for its drive and sense of attack, its willingness to deal in current politics as directly as it does.

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Catharine Rambeau

Detroit Free Press

Oct 27, 2021

8/10

Although it doesn't attain the stature of The Killing Fields, the film is an effective comment on the actions in Central America.

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Derek Adams

Time Out

Jun 24, 2006

The polemic may seem obvious and at times laboured, but the action sequences are brilliant, and the film does achieve a brutal, often very moving, power.

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Sean Burns

Crooked Marquee

Jul 31, 2026

Most of the dialogue is rancid, often riotously so. Stone tries to knock the earnest, do-gooder halo off the social issue drama by making his lead characters lowlifes.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Oct 26, 2025

3.5/4

The snatched-from-history moments are clearly punched across.

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Armond White

National Review

Apr 26, 2024

It is Stone’s cynicism that recommends Salvador for contemporary viewing. No other American filmmaker this millennium dares Stone’s candor about the sins and absolute corruption of political journalism.

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Rey W

Sep 20, 2017

Is it just me, or does this film drag on.. Not to mention it's quite confusing.

Draco S

Apr 14, 2017

Stone opts for a script less political and more concerned with thrills.

Harry R

Jan 3, 2017

I never really understood why James Woods has such a cult following but maybe I'm starting to see it. He does play a bit of a lad in this. It's a good film, particularly if you interested in central American history.

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Hermione W

Oct 22, 2007

Like its main character, the film is at times over: rushed, sloppy and sappy. And maybe it didn't even reach its main goal. But also like Woods' character, its plenty good-hearted and successful ENOUGH.

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Oliver Stone

Director

James Woods

Richard Boyle

Jim Belushi

Doctor Rock

Michael Murphy

Ambassador Thomas Kelly

John Savage

John Cassady ('Newsweek' reporter

Elpidia Carrillo

María

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Synopsis

Unable to find work in America because of his penchant for booze and drugs, photojournalist Richard Boyle (James Woods) heads to El Salvador with his DJ friend Doctor Rock (James Belushi) to see if he can get a gig covering the country's ongoing civil war. Boyle decides it's time to flee the country when the violence escalates to a level that even he is uncomfortable with, but his relationship with an El Salvadorian woman (Elpidia Carrillo) complicates matters.

Director: Oliver Stone
Producer: Gerald Green, Oliver Stone
Screenwriter: Richard Boyle, Oliver Stone
Distributor: Polygram, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Patsa Productions S.A., Estudios Churubusco Azteca S.A., Cinema '84, Hemdale
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 23, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Runtime: 1h 57m

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