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All Quiet on the Western Front
1930
Drama
Action
2h 32m
A young soldier faces profound disillusionment in the soul-destroying horror of World War I. (imdb)
Directed by:
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All Quiet on the Western Front
1930
Drama
Action
2h 32m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 72.54% from 1486 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews
(1507)
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Rated 31 Jan 2007
85
73rd
The refreshing lack of unnecessary non-diegetic music is just the icing on this surprisingly brutal, bleak and honest cake of a film. The only significant flaws are the overall poor acting, which isn't particularly hard to ignore and even feels oddly appropriate at times, and the abundance of simplistic stock characters. It's okay, though, because the film does a much better job of portraying the war as a whole than it does of portraying any of the specific characters.
Rated 31 Jan 2007
Rated 31 Jan 2007
90
94th
A war movie that ranks up with the best of them. There are some amazing camera moves here. A lot of transitions between interiors and exteriors, and some astonishing tracking shots. The battle scenes reminded me a lot of Paths of Glory, and I have to believe they were an influence on Kubrick. The dialogue does get a bit sentimental and hokey at times (and the acting isn't that great), but on the whole the film is surprisingly gritty for 1930. Mighty good stuff.
Rated 31 Jan 2007
Rated 22 Aug 2007
92
97th
An excellent war movie that stays true to its message that war is hell for everyone involved. Even though certain parts have been done better in more recent war films, this still packs a good punch and, possibly because it's set in WWI, manages to keep the focus on war in general, rather than on the politics or situations of the specific war. The ending is true to the film and really caps off the message perfectly.
Rated 22 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2008
98
99th
Waaaay beyond its time. It's like mother of all war movies.
Rated 14 Aug 2008
Rated 24 May 2017
87
90th
In spite of its proximity to the invention of sound cinema, this is a powerful and haunting experience that more than makes up for any flaws contained therein. The battle scenes are still raw, even to this day, by simply portraying what it was like for the soldiers as accurately as they could at the time. Left me in a funk for quite a while after the viewing.
Rated 24 May 2017
Rated 14 Aug 2007
86
92nd
It doesn't take sides, and shows you the realities of war. The ending makes me tear up every time.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 04 Oct 2019
90
97th
Spoiler alert, Germany goes on to lose the war, then is never heard from again.
Rated 04 Oct 2019
Rated 06 Oct 2018
65
65th
Must have been an awesome spectacle upon release, as the first big-production war movie with full sound (and thankfuly, little music). The way the mechanics of war are staged and recorded, the rattle of machine-gun fire and whistling and booming of artillery shells, as well as some locations, remain the highlights. The writing and acting departments aren't quite as accomplished, but it does enough to convey some of the war culture of WWI, and is appropriately bleak and devoid of heroics.
Rated 06 Oct 2018
Rated 07 Jun 2018
85
85th
Excellent anti-war movie, impressive and grim, with wonderful cinematography. I just wish the acting wasn't so dated and over-dramatic. Aw I'm kidding myself, the word I'm looking for is 'bad'. The acting was bad.
Rated 07 Jun 2018
Rated 09 Apr 2011
80
84th
A powerful and moving film that portrays the chaos and senselessness of war. It does feel dated at times, but the cinematography during certain scenes is absolutely incredible. The battle scenes in particular are astonishing - so visceral and violent, they stand up to anything filmed since. Some heartbreaking moments, too - the guy with the boots really got to me, and the final scene must rank up there as one of the best ever.
Rated 09 Apr 2011
Rated 26 Nov 2012
96
96th
Alman askerleri neden İngilizce konuşuyor? Bu ufak(!) pürüze rağmen 10 verdim, çünkü film şahane çekilmiş. Sessiz film döneminden sesli döneme geçişin ilk yıllarında çekildiğine inanmak güç, o derece. Tabii oyunculuklar biraz amatörce kaçmış, senaryo da kimi yerlerde tökezliyor ama savaş karşıtı duruşumuz aslanlar gibi; o bile yeter.
Rated 26 Nov 2012
Rated 14 Jan 2010
77
73rd
It does keep it's initial anti-war, passifistic message, and the camera movements are indeed well ahead of it's time. But because we have to stay critical and not base our opinions on pure nostalgia, I do think, like so many others that the acting and dialogues are not in comparison with the brilliance of the rest.
Rated 14 Jan 2010
Rated 22 Oct 2022
72
81st
The window of opportunity for a genuinely anti-war studio film was brief, between the end of the silent era and the advent of preparations for another world war, but Lev Milstein’s attempt to convey the scale and tragedy of the waste and destruction of the world’s first truly industrial war must have made a powerful impression on audiences, and remains effective 92 years later, despite the acting and dialogue showing clear evidence that filmmakers were struggling to manage the shift to talkies.
Rated 22 Oct 2022
Rated 04 Oct 2020
90
88th
Camera work ahead of its time, great acting, great cinematography, and a terrific adaptation of one of the best pieces of anti-war literature ever created.
Rated 04 Oct 2020
Rated 08 Jun 2015
4
74th
The grandfather of all war epics. A blatant indictment of nationalist idealism, bleak and visceral, directed with exceptional skill and featuring astonishing battle sequences. The acting is often showy and hokey, but oh well, everything else is so impressive.
Rated 08 Jun 2015
Rated 01 Oct 2018
82
88th
A timeless anti-war movie
Rated 01 Oct 2018
Rated 29 Aug 2018
88
67th
A-
Rated 29 Aug 2018
Rated 05 Jun 2018
88
77th
So emotionally touching that I couldn't concentrate on the narrative during the last act of the film! Besides, the film is technically terrific! It manifests cinema strikingly. However, actors, especially the young ones, are evidently theatrical.
Rated 05 Jun 2018
Rated 19 Mar 2018
100
98th
Director Lewis Milestone's brilliant anti-war polemic, headlined by an unforgettable performance from Lew Ayres, lays bare the tragic foolishness at the heart of war.
Rated 19 Mar 2018
Rated 22 Feb 2018
8
85th
It obviously shows its age, but at the time of its release it was easily the best movie ever made, and the model for countless war and anti-war films to follow.
Rated 22 Feb 2018
Rated 01 May 2016
5
73rd
my grandfather, an awesome but politically disillusioned, existentially fraught ex-soldier who last year declined into feelings of abandonment, paranoia and mortal terror on his deathbed, counted this numbed, haunted anti-war film among his favorites. he understood the ugliness of death, the finality and the waste, but understanding did nothing to help him prepare for his own. watching, i was grimly aware that had he served in WW2 instead of just after, i may not have come into existence at all.
Rated 01 May 2016
Rated 21 Jul 2021
90
99th
It's more than 90 years old, and the average level of battle scenes is still way above contemporary movies, even films like 1917. Also the blueprint for several pivotal scenes in Saving Private Ryan. Only the acting gives away that this is from 1930.
Rated 21 Jul 2021
Rated 10 Mar 2022
80
78th
A powerful anti-war movie that does suffer from some poor acting but still resonates today. It's heartbreaking to know that just a few years after this should have opened some eyes that we were all right back to fighting again.
Rated 10 Mar 2022
Rated 31 Oct 2020
1
0th
Over a hundred million people have gone to theatres to see it andhave-perhaps-responded to its pacifist message. One could be cynical about the results, but the film itself does not invite cynical reactions, and the fact that it has frequently been banned in countries preparing for war suggests that it makes militarists uncomfortable
Rated 31 Oct 2020
Rated 26 Dec 2022
82
80th
Unexpectedly great for a film that was made just at the beginning of the sound era. The story is great and touching. We get to know a lot of characters and feel a connection to most of them. The feeling is transferred to the watcher very well. It's a bit too didactic, though. As someone who has never seen war -fortunately-, I believe that it depicts what war is correctly in terms of events, but I don't think the conversations are like that. It tries too hard to teach, but that backfires.
Rated 26 Dec 2022
Rated 22 Mar 2007
90
86th
Great war drama that deals a lot with an anti-war sentiment in a mature way. Visually this is among some of the best, it's just that the sound design is extremely dated--which is entirely understandable. It's honest and touching in a way that most war movies can't be.
Rated 22 Mar 2007
Rated 04 Jun 2007
93
96th
One of the greatest war movies ever. Heck, one of the greatest movies ever. The anti-war sentiment provided in this film was prescient and honest. Doesn't take sides, shows how war is hell for ALL parties involved.
Rated 04 Jun 2007
Rated 24 Jan 2009
4
56th
Exceptional camerawork, editing, battles doesn't quite make up for the weak dialogue and consistent over-acting you get along with it. A fine ending marks it up in my book. This must have been impressive for the time but an overlooked gem [released only two years later] by Raymond Bernard overshadows my opinion in every regard.
Rated 24 Jan 2009
Rated 22 Feb 2023
95
99th
A more perfect war film does not exist. Profound, gritty, honest. No pretentious dramatics or glory to be found here. Only the brutal and mundane realities of war.
Rated 22 Feb 2023
Rated 29 Jul 2013
87
74th
One of the great war films for sure.
Rated 29 Jul 2013
Rated 04 Nov 2013
85
92nd
Surprisingly mature, unapologetic and honest, considering the timeframe. Effective, never drags and while some of its contents have been improved upon throughout the years, it's still pretty damn impressive on many levels.
Rated 04 Nov 2013
Rated 14 Aug 2007
80
95th
Excellent anti war film, a must see for film fans.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 13 Aug 2016
66
54th
The acting is hard to take.
Rated 13 Aug 2016
Rated 19 Nov 2023
75
57th
I really liked it. It felt like a truthful and human representation of war.
Rated 19 Nov 2023
Rated 29 Dec 2014
82
98th
This movie moved me with it's realist portrayal of war and it's consequences.
Rated 29 Dec 2014
Rated 10 Jan 2015
90
94th
Surprisingly honest, undoubtedly ruffled some feathers.
Rated 10 Jan 2015
Rated 11 Feb 2015
95
97th
It's unbelievable how good this movie still is and how much it still holds up and retains relevance 85 years later. This has to be considered one of the definitive classics of film as an art form.
Rated 11 Feb 2015
Rated 02 Nov 2015
93
97th
An excellent story, nuanced acting, and directorial skill combine to make a brutal, heart-breaking and depressing, depiction of the horrors, both psychological and physical, of war. It's also years ahead of it's time, technically and artistically, only barely feeling dated 85 years later.
Rated 02 Nov 2015
Rated 21 Aug 2014
54
73rd
I have no memory of why I assigned this particular rating. Should rewatch.
Rated 21 Aug 2014
Rated 07 May 2017
8
92nd
An outstanding piece of film making for its time and its themes still relevant today.
Rated 07 May 2017
Rated 17 Feb 2018
60
27th
Paul Bäumer: "You still think it's beautiful to die for your country. The first bombardment taught us better. When it comes to dying for country, it's better not to die at all."
Rated 17 Feb 2018
Rated 10 Mar 2019
93
91st
93.00
Rated 10 Mar 2019
Rated 22 Apr 2020
91
89th
Estreava há 90 anos nos EUA. Nunca dei muita bola para oMilestone, claramente estava vendo os filmes errados, provavelmente este deve ser o primeiro grande filme falado anti-bélico fazendo usa de discursos verbais certeiros, mas não só, o poder da imagem está constantemente sobrepujando e inflamando o poder das palavras, um momento de grande maestria nesse sentido é o discurso inflamado do professor logo no início do filme acompanhado de um travelling arrasador. Plus: Goebbels o odiava.
Rated 22 Apr 2020
Rated 15 Jan 2023
83
87th
birçok açıdan çok değerli bir film
Rated 15 Jan 2023
Rated 04 Mar 2023
96
89th
Some pretty phenomenal filmmaking, especially considering it came out almost a century ago. It’s a bit over-acted in some spots, and obviously filmmaking has come a very long way since 1930, but the impact is still really hard-hitting and the story really well written. The war sequences were legitimately horrifying at times, and the individual experiences all of the main characters faced were heartbreaking, with an ending that’ll stick with me forever. I think they made their point.
Rated 04 Mar 2023
Rated 08 Mar 2023
10
99th
"All Quiet on the Western Front" is a masterpiece of cinema that deserves its place in history as one of the greatest anti-war films ever made. Its technical excellence and powerful performances from the cast make it a must-see for anyone interested in film or the history of war.
Rated 08 Mar 2023
Rated 15 Mar 2023
86
97th
Informed by the last few years worth of silent anti-war epics (and not without the sort of big moments they were built around; trench advances, that churchyard, etc.). Though perhaps at its best in getting at the grubby, mundane, constant reality of the war. A bit on-the-nose in telling you the lesson at times, though it was a lesson that bore repeating in the face of an often hostile crowd (see, which: the book and film's contemporary reception, particularly in Europe).
Rated 15 Mar 2023
Rated 25 Jun 2023
81
63rd
Communicates its anti-war message with sick-ass war sequences.
Rated 25 Jun 2023
Rated 27 Sep 2023
84
94th
What makes this stand out as an anti-war film is not how it shows war as being gruesome and horrific (it doesn't do this too well) but conveying a bewilderment of its existence. The movie is an Americanized view of the conflict with little insight on the German perspective which does make certain narrative beats ring hollow at times but what it does well, in spite of some shoddy production qualities, is show soldiers unique ways of coping with war and how it's not all dreary depression bait.
Rated 27 Sep 2023
Rated 05 Mar 2009
100
91st
The reactions of young German soldiers to the utter calamity of warfare. A film classic, its dated technique doesn't interfere with its great power.
Rated 05 Mar 2009
Rated 14 Sep 2010
80
73rd
A stark and very real war movie setting an early benchmark on how to handle the destructive nature of conflict. This is in stark contrast to some glorified arcade game war hero movies that came much later. The book is powerful, and this adaptation doesn't lose that impact.
Rated 14 Sep 2010
Rated 11 Jul 2010
92
89th
This fierce anti-war film is timeless with the sound off, but old-fashioned if you listen to the amateurish early-sound acting. Louis Wolheim as the sergeant is the exception to the rule. What a superb performance!
Rated 11 Jul 2010
Rated 11 Feb 2010
3
51st
Difficult to say why this movie didn't click with me...
Rated 11 Feb 2010
Rated 09 Feb 2010
85
88th
Excellent war movie, like an Apocalypse Now of his time. Or probably more than that, it is totally beyond of his time and a landmark in the cinema.
Rated 09 Feb 2010
Rated 13 Jan 2010
84
68th
321
Rated 13 Jan 2010
Rated 21 Oct 2009
88
81st
This is one of the acclaimed war movies and it took some years for me to finally gave in and watch it. For a film that's made in 1930 about the German's view of WWI, it's pretty powerful and I felt it still has some life in it even today.
Rated 21 Oct 2009
Rated 26 Jul 2009
90
94th
This is one of the great overall war pictures. It had a little bit of everything from romance, comedy, action and heart breaking moments. Well casted with some great camera shots, I couldn't look away from this as I though that this was a great adaptation to the book.
Rated 26 Jul 2009
Rated 09 Apr 2009
100
93rd
A landmark of American cinema and Universal's biggest and most serious undertaking until the 60s, this highly emotive war film with its occasional outbursts of bravura direction fixed in millions of minds the popular image of what it was like in the trenches, even more so than _Journey's End_ which had shown the Allied viewpoint. Despite dated moments, it retains its overall power and remains a great pacifist work. Milestone's direction is reminiscent of Eisenstein and Lang.
Rated 09 Apr 2009
Rated 24 Sep 2010
72
39th
There are moments that are way over the top, when it comes to dramatic dialogues.
Rated 24 Sep 2010
Rated 12 Feb 2009
73
61st
I can see how powerful the movie has been in it's time, but the idealistic dialogue seems almost banal these days and every emotion is terribly over acted. It may be that All Quiet on the Western Front is a mother for all war movies, but for me it just encapsulates all the generic manners.
Rated 12 Feb 2009
Rated 19 Dec 2008
85
70th
296
Rated 19 Dec 2008
Rated 03 Nov 2008
90
90th
Even though its filled with some absurdly cheesy dialogue the battle scenes are incredible even by today's standards. A very faithful adaptation of one of my favorite novels.
Rated 03 Nov 2008
Rated 14 Jul 2008
95
90th
Powerful, powerful film. All Quiet on the Western Front will always have a special place in my heart as the film that opened my eyes to classic cinema.
Rated 14 Jul 2008
Rated 01 Mar 2008
86
77th
# 274
Rated 01 Mar 2008
Rated 26 Feb 2008
80
82nd
Aged a lot better than I expected it to.
Rated 26 Feb 2008
Rated 09 Jul 2007
95
98th
Incredibly touching, true to life (at least as close as they could get in 1930) depiction of a soldier's war.
Rated 09 Jul 2007
Rated 22 Mar 2007
100
95th
One of the greatest adaptations of a great book
Rated 22 Mar 2007
Rated 30 Nov 2011
83
66th
#335
Rated 30 Nov 2011
Rated 06 Jan 2014
55
65th
The classic scenes (in no-mans land with a dieing enemy etc) are all here!
Rated 06 Jan 2014
Rated 02 Dec 2013
92
97th
A brilliant and quite comprehensive look at the hell that is war.
Rated 02 Dec 2013
Rated 22 Mar 2013
75
56th
An affecting film about the horrors of war particularly in its recreation of the bunkers which felt downright claustrophobic to me, or in its battle scenes where there is no glory but just death and pointlessness. The film can feel a bit stilted at times (the acting isn't great..), and it can also get hokey as well (the conclusion to the training section of the film near the beginning was absurd..), but its strengths leave enough of an impact that I can mostly forgive its weaknesses.
Rated 22 Mar 2013
Rated 02 Sep 2012
50
29th
Milestone's most remarkable contribution in not exactly what the film is about. In the great frontal assaults, Milestone used very exciting tracking shots, moving with the advancing soldiers. It associates the movement of the attack with the energy of the camera. It makes us feel that the attack will be successful, whereas the opposite is the grim message of that war. In other words, the reality - of rows of men cut down - is still rather avoided in this celebrated antiwar film.
Rated 02 Sep 2012
Rated 29 Aug 2012
80
84th
really, really good movie, but *very* depressing.
Rated 29 Aug 2012
Rated 22 May 2012
68
51st
I feel bad giving such an important, influential classic an average score. It does have some harrowing scenes (the first trench run) and it gets its anti-war message across quite well, I just felt that it dragged, had some poor dialogue and I simply couldn't get past the acting, which really ruined some of the more serious moments for me. Loved the ending.
Rated 22 May 2012
Rated 03 Mar 2012
80
90th
This is honestly one of the best war films I've ever seen. I'm not always a big war film fan, so when I say this is good, trust me - it's good. Like Das Boot (1981), it concerns German soldiers, except in this film, it's World War I. You can clearly see the film's influence on future war films. It's really an anti-war film though, and very effective in that way. The acting wasn't always perfect, but it was directed really well, with lots of nice shots and many fantastic scenes.
Rated 03 Mar 2012
Rated 22 Jan 2012
92
99th
I was blown away by the quality of this movie. It's epic, moving, and still 100% relevant 80 years later. Fully deserving of its position as one of the all-time greats.
Rated 22 Jan 2012
Rated 24 Jan 2014
85
75th
The acting nearly sinks it by being too melodramatic and theatrical. The speechifying aspect is laughable and more could have been said without the wasted exposition. But it's a technical marvel that strongly explores the horrors of war. It's a lot dirtier in its presentation. This is not a sanitized look at war, like what might be expected from its time.
Rated 24 Jan 2014
Rated 22 Nov 2011
70
54th
A few faults include some hokey performances, and ridiculously American German soldiers. Still, it has to be respected for its artistic endeavor. I especially like that the film explicitly states in the beginning that there's no political/national message at stake here, just that the goal is simply to portray the horrors of war as realistically as possible.
Rated 22 Nov 2011
Rated 10 Oct 2011
90
86th
The most striking aspect of this movie is that it was made in 1930.
Rated 10 Oct 2011
Rated 02 Oct 2011
67
81st
It has some imperfections that date the film, but the underlying story and the brutal honesty about the life of a soldier is still powerful 80 year later.
Rated 02 Oct 2011
Rated 30 Sep 2011
80
79th
Surpisingly effective adaptation remarkable for the time in which it was made in two aspects: First, one is so accustomed to the gung ho tone of the avanlanche of war films to come out of Hollywood during and after WWII that it is easy to forget that there were impassioned pacifist front liners long before the love generation. Second, AQotWF is mostly free of the leaden tendencies of most early talkies and it handles the shifts from philosophical rumination to action admirably.
Rated 30 Sep 2011
Rated 20 Jul 2011
83
83rd
more true to the book than the '79 version, and that's it's greatest strength. good war action, great acting, and stands completely firm in the foundation that remarque provided. this is an absolutely astounding piece of early sound work. easily a must watch for any filmophile.
Rated 20 Jul 2011
Rated 15 Apr 2011
95
98th
Beautifully made and very powerful. Made me gasp and cringe as much as anyything found in other war films, if not more.
Rated 15 Apr 2011
Rated 15 Dec 2010
98
80th
This movie was so influential that you'll feel like you've seen it before, but try to forget that and you'll find an anti war masterpiece. Then check out other films by Lewis Milestone.
Rated 15 Dec 2010
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