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Born on the Fourth of July
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Born on the Fourth of July

1989
Drama
War
2h 25m
The biography of Ron Kovic. Paralyzed in the Vietnam war, he becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country he fought for. (imdb)
Directed by:
Oliver Stone Oliver Stone
Written by:
Oliver Stone Oliver Stone Ron Kovic
+1 more
Starring:
Willem Dafoe Willem Dafoe John C. McGinley John C. McGinley William Baldwin William Baldwin Vivica A. Fox Vivica A. Fox Tom Sizemore Tom Sizemore Tom Cruise Tom Cruise Mike Starr Mike Starr Tom Berenger Tom Berenger Frank Whaley Frank Whaley Kyra Sedgwick Kyra Sedgwick Reg E. Cathey Reg E. Cathey Bruce MacVittie
More
Genres:
Drama, War, Biography
Country:
USA
Languages:
English, Spanish
imdb More information at IMDb
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Born on the Fourth of July

1989
Drama
War
2h 25m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 53.6% from 2883 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 12 Apr 2020
7
57th
There's a great scene where Cruise - for the lack of better words - laments the loss of his 'penis', in other words, his virility, both physically and emotionally, after struggling to express it ever since his childhood. You could honestly replace the Vietnam and activism stuff with pretty much anything else and end up with the same movie, because the aforementioned is what the movie is essentially about and the part that really worked for me.
Rated 12 Apr 2020
bownBown
Rated 28 May 2014
72
26th
Okay, I swear to god, the parts of this movie in his childhood are like, the best cinematography in any movie ever, and then it becomes a lot more plain after he goes to war. Is that on purpose? I don't just mean the colours it just doesn't seem as interesting. Am I just imagining this? anyway it was ok
Rated 28 May 2014
pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 14 Aug 2007
1
12th
I can't stand this movie. I don't know why or what it is but thinking about this movie makes me cringe.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
xakkmasterXakkMaster
Rated 04 Jul 2011
85
76th
A spiritual sequel to films like Full Metal Jacket or Platoon, this is an intense look at what happened to many soldiers coming home from Vietnam, rather than an exposé of the horrors they witnessed. Tom Cruise gives an amazing and thoroughly convincing performance. The symbolic parallels of 1950s America versus the late 1960s are a culture shock (displayed eloquently in the parade sequences). The film has an anti-war message, but doesn't preach endlessly for one side. Kovic is a flawed hero.
Rated 04 Jul 2011
cautiousCautious
Rated 12 Nov 2014
78
5th
A meandering film that never gets to any point, doesn't successfully bring the audience into the lives of the characters, or make us care what happens. Jarhead did much more than this film accomplished in what feels like half the time.
Rated 12 Nov 2014
icybrianIcyBrian
Rated 29 Apr 2011
76
58th
Gruesome look at the horrors of war. Extremely well directed and overall it's pretty solid, but for a two and a half hour movie, Kovic's turn from pro-war to anti-war could definitely have been explored more.
Rated 29 Apr 2011
neonmanNeonman
Rated 04 Feb 2015
36
1st
Almost entertainingly bad. One of the stalest scripts ever with dialogue that directly spouts each characters' core values is respected with some pretty poor performances, lead by Cruise who does look like he's trying, but can't get past the bad dialogue. The Best Director Oscar winning direction is awfully overdone a lot of the time, and this just results in a lousy, bland, entirely up-front film about a serious subject matter that needs a much more uniquely human touch.
Rated 04 Feb 2015
triletrile
Rated 14 Aug 2007
65
48th
Not a great movie. Starts perfectly but Cruise acting get worse and worse till the end.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
hellboy76hellboy76
Rated 22 Sep 2010
68
65th
Glossy Oliver Stone sob fest about the treatment of returning veterans of the Vietnam war. Not that it isn't a tale to tell, but it is just so ham-fisted and dopey. That being said, Cruise elevates this by giving what may be his best performance as the All-American rah rah turned anti war activist. 50 of the points are for: " Penis! PENIS! BIG FUCKING ERECT PENIS!"
Rated 22 Sep 2010
bojanglesBojangles
Rated 17 Jun 2009
85
94th
Oliver Stone, Robert Richardson, John Williams, and Tom Cruise make sweet cinematic love together. Not really anti war as much as it's anti authority or pro critical thinking. Either way, it's angry and I like it.
Rated 17 Jun 2009
elmakebabielmakebabi
Rated 06 Oct 2018
54
28th
He basically turns into an antimilitarist because he can't fuck anymore. Meh.
Rated 06 Oct 2018
iranscamiranscam
Rated 03 Sep 2013
50
11th
If this were cut down to just Tom Cruise yelling "penis" and getting into wheelchair fights, it would be a classic.
Rated 03 Sep 2013
jhmclellanjhmclellan
Rated 14 Aug 2007
65
26th
I don't generally care for Oliver Stone's stuff. Tom Cruise doesn't convince me that he's a vietnam vet. And the tubes in his pants still give me nightmares. Missed potential.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
stainStain
Rated 16 Sep 2008
100
95th
Powerful human drama that's also not afraid to get crazy. From the days when it seemed like Oliver Stone could do no wrong
Rated 16 Sep 2008
hawkinsHawkins
Rated 05 Jul 2023
76
60th
Lieutenant Dan: Origins. Cruise affects a convincing transformation from jingoist to activist even as the facial hair glued on him gets less and less believable. John Williams provides a melodramatic score, I couldn't help but notice he recycles some of the themes later in the Star Wars prequels ("Across the Stars" in particular). This movie doesn't have the raw impact of Platoon, but in some ways feels more necessary to the canon of films about the Vietnam war.
Rated 05 Jul 2023
miss_jesusmiss jesus
Rated 30 Aug 2010
46
30th
Has a lot of emotionally charged moments, but also a strange deficit of content: It must be incredibly transformational for a vet to change their mind about a war in which they were grievously wounded and disabled; yet the film doesn't show us that part, only how Kovic got there. This film has a satisfyingly huge cast of names, and it's an affecting film, but it still comes across more as a glaringly incomplete bio than a whole story.
Rated 30 Aug 2010
juicejuice
Rated 26 May 2007
60
55th
Good, but depressing flick.
Rated 26 May 2007
cambelcambel
Rated 11 Feb 2007
81
79th
One of the best Vietnam movies... and a really good performance.
Rated 11 Feb 2007
ashbyAshby
Rated 08 May 2011
73
42nd
So Tom Cruise plays a paralyzed vietnam war veteran turned anti-war protester. I guess it could have been a lot worse, but in perspective, this can't hold a candle to Stone's previous Vietnam film "Platoon". I also felt that some of the plots that were characterised in this one, like the after effects of the war, were done better in movies like "The Deer Hunter". Overall it isn't a fantastic film, but fairly decent nonetheless. Hat's off for the out-of-character performance by Cruise though.
Rated 08 May 2011
vandelay1Vandelay1
Rated 01 Sep 2019
45
46th
worth a watch
Rated 01 Sep 2019
optimusmikeOptimus_mike
Rated 28 Oct 2008
70
48th
Very flawed, but it is what it is.
Rated 28 Oct 2008
actionbergActionberg
Rated 01 Feb 2018
80
71st
It really fails to stick its landing at the end there but for the most part it's absorbing, supercharged Oliver Stone style splattered on a subject with a lot of heart.
Rated 01 Feb 2018
3names3Names
Rated 14 Aug 2007
85
58th
There was a time that Cruise did some good acting... Well worth watching...
Rated 14 Aug 2007
megamanMegaMan
Rated 10 Feb 2008
90
56th
Pretty good! Don't need to watch it again though.
Rated 10 Feb 2008
luthar15luthar15
Rated 11 Jan 2009
60
66th
pigletPiglet
Rated 10 Jun 2009
78
87th
An angry Tom Cruise is great, for once, in this dramatic depiction of the life of a crippled Vietnam veteran.
Rated 10 Jun 2009
thedenizenTheDenizen
Rated 14 Aug 2007
50
26th
Angsty post-Vietnam war flick with Tom Cruise struggling to cope with being paralyzed, and generally whining about the fact that Vietnam vets were not treated as returning heroes after America got their asses kicked. First Blood did essentially the same story but 100 times better.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
mspraguemsprague
Rated 25 Jan 2018
75
73rd
Hard to watch but pretty good.
Rated 25 Jan 2018
marlinbrandoMarlinbrando
Rated 11 Aug 2010
44
6th
Beyond depressing.
Rated 11 Aug 2010
overratedoverrated
Rated 20 Nov 2014
59
61st
Second best Cruise role after Magnolia but he still kind of sucks, it's all intensity overpowering anything that can be called nuance. Guess the same can be said of Oliver Stone. This is an exercise in angry catharsis which is healthy, but I couldn't help being darkly amused by the 'happy' ending at the 1976 convention given what happened four years later.
Rated 20 Nov 2014
groovysoulsGroovy_Souls
Rated 05 Jul 2016
80
73rd
Born on The Fourth of July is a pretty damn good movie to watch on the fourth of July. While at times it can feel ham-handedly patriotic, and some of the dialogue is VERY hard to sit through, Tom Cruise gives a super compelling performance, and Stone has a knack for camerawork. It's not the single greatest movie ever made, but how it deals with how we treat our veterans, cements it at a high level.
Rated 05 Jul 2016
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 10 Jul 2011
90
80th
Stone films in a hectic, unsettling manner. It is his masterful direction that makes this such a great movie. He even does the impossible and makes Tom Cruise look semi-unattractive. That's talent.
Rated 10 Jul 2011
jhawkz32jhawkz32
Rated 11 Jul 2007
79
56th
Good movie
Rated 11 Jul 2007
muutanetmuutanet
Rated 05 Feb 2008
35
26th
Too American for me.
Rated 05 Feb 2008
obdurateObdurate
Rated 26 Jul 2008
85
80th
A surprisingly touching film about a soldier. Tom Cruise at his peak.
Rated 26 Jul 2008
daphnlDaph_NL
Rated 07 Nov 2015
30
7th
I feel like Born On The Fourth Of July is one deranged scene after another. A little bit too overwhelming for my taste. The only thing I can say about this movie that is good, is the visual representation of PTST and how lifechanging war can be. But that is about it. 30/100.
Rated 07 Nov 2015
elfflameElfflame
Rated 06 May 2008
85
78th
If you only see one Stone movie, this is the one to see. Even if you don't like Cruise. This was the beginning of his "adult" career.
Rated 06 May 2008
bookhouseboybookhouseboy
Rated 15 Aug 2010
64
84th
#90s(e)#, story, dir Stone, (T Cruise)
Rated 15 Aug 2010
velvet_croweVelvet Crowe
Rated 04 Dec 2017
65
69th
The movie was much longer than it needed to be. While Cruise pulls off a great performance as the lead, the movie meanders a lot and the last stretch of the movie ends up feeling monotonous, especially given how out of nowhere and sudden Cruise becomes anti-war. It has some really strong scenes but the anti-war message it wanted to convey ends up being muddled by awkward characterization and a lack of consistency on its message. It's a decent film that prevents itself from being great.
Rated 04 Dec 2017
teddedonTedDedon
Rated 19 Mar 2007
80
60th
Tom Cruise puts on an excellent performance and the direction is also great. I really enjoyed this film even if a lot of it is forgettable and slightly dated.
Rated 19 Mar 2007
billkerwinbillkerwin
Rated 21 Dec 2009
85
66th
Tom Cruz at his best.
Rated 21 Dec 2009
m3tanm3tan
Rated 02 May 2014
80
93rd
Probably the best Tom Cruise movie from 1985-1992 with IDENTICAL plots: Brash young man (insert cool profession here) matures and overcomes adversity while romancing a woman out of his league. I recommend viewing in this descending order of watchabilty: Born on the Fourth of July (soldier), Top Gun (fighter pilot), The Color of Money (pool hustler), Far and Away (settler), Days of Thunder (race car driver), Legend (warrior), Cocktail (bartender)...
Rated 02 May 2014
svicciarellisvicciarelli
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
82nd
Well paced war drama that tackles some hefty themes with thought and maturity.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
rthornhillrthornhill
Rated 03 Apr 2009
86
51st
A well made anti-war film with an out of character Cruise.
Rated 03 Apr 2009
dresd_r_e_s_
Rated 21 Aug 2013
3
65th
Excellent performance by Cruise. - Good.
Rated 21 Aug 2013
3drevelation3dRevelation
Rated 30 Jun 2014
75
62nd
I found this film just kind of decent. I liked Stone's Platoon more. Cruise is good here, but I liked him more in Magnolia. A bit long.
Rated 30 Jun 2014
hunterkingHunterKing
Rated 09 Dec 2013
93
95th
Terrific and moving film that doesn't dumb down it's thoughts into a succinct thesis.
Rated 09 Dec 2013
timon88Timon88
Rated 22 Feb 2015
35
25th
Contains Tom Cruise's best scene, acting-wise (not a very high bar, granted) in any of his flicks... yes, I'm talking "Penis! Penis! Big fucking erect penis, Mom!" It's all downhill from there.
Rated 22 Feb 2015
seryxaSeryxa
Rated 10 Apr 2009
50
67th
Rousing drama
Rated 10 Apr 2009
war_machineWar Machine
Rated 12 Sep 2022
70
53rd
Greatdirectingkidstuff+thepropoganda/brainwashing/duty/feelinglikefailure+crashesherpromsoakedfordancelol+innocents-shotownguy+snapsmessesuppumpsoloseslegcuzcutbacks+holeburgerslol+bothhadfuckedupshit/amputeesbutthisparadesomber+itgetstoughtowatcheventhoughactingnotgoodenoughsometimes+momgaveuponhimwhenlostwrestlingchamp-camehome-end+tellsguyfamkilledhim+protestduringnixoninaug
Rated 12 Sep 2022
stflyst_fly
Rated 23 Aug 2007
55
51st
Good
Rated 23 Aug 2007
tonydaltonydal
Rated 25 Sep 2007
60
21st
Cruise runs the gamut of emotions from A to B. How can this guy be considered an actor?
Rated 25 Sep 2007
uksubsUKSubs
Rated 15 Feb 2007
40
32nd
An acceptable Oliver Stone film. Sometimes, Oliver Stone really hits with a movie. Most of the time, he misses by making the movie far too long to be truly enjoyable.
Rated 15 Feb 2007
glm01glm01
Rated 02 Oct 2013
81
68th
80.500
Rated 02 Oct 2013
eric_janeric-jan
Rated 26 Jan 2009
75
74th
Phew, just rewatched this movie... Actually not a lot happens, but it is extremely well directed. The pacing is not fast at all. Too bad we didnt get to see more of that ending .. It feels like the only "lesson" this movie gives us is to confront your thoughts (in Ronnie's case: confront the parents and wife of the man you killed and think about all the time - which was haunting Ronnie).
Rated 26 Jan 2009
ytadelYtadel
Rated 09 Mar 2019
7
84th
I find its anti-war message depressing in light of a 2019 where every political faction in America now accepts eternal worldwide bombings/military occupations/coups as the perfectly fine status quo, but as a film in a vacuum it’s quite good - Cruise’s physical, character and performance evolution over it is a marvel and Stone fuses a filming style that can be frantic, naturalistic and cheesy Americana from scene to scene into a fascinating whole; also some bomb-ass Puerto Rican titties.
Rated 09 Mar 2019
voodoomailvoodoomail
Rated 29 Dec 2008
15
5th
A miserable movie on an interesting topic.
Rated 29 Dec 2008
moraesfelipemoraesfelipe
Rated 20 Dec 2009
65
61st
An arresting and strong piece of war drama by Stone, thanks to Tom Cruise's incredible perfomance.
Rated 20 Dec 2009
gillsoloGillSolo
Rated 06 Jul 2012
80
73rd
Really intense, iconic war film with a very strong emphasis on PTSD. Although I simply abhor Tom Cruise, he portrays his character very well.
Rated 06 Jul 2012
cinemaasiaCinema_Asia
Rated 23 Feb 2010
80
84th
Quite honestly this is Tom Cruise' best role ever. The film itself is a crushing look at disregarded Vietnam vets. Oliver Stone doesn't try to lay it on too thick or obtrusively with his usual tropes either. Competently filmed and the other stars in this are all decent as well.
Rated 23 Feb 2010
duderDuder
Rated 08 Aug 2020
65
59th
Way too long for its own good, Cruise is really good. Although I'm not a hundred percent in on his transformation. Felt like it could've been handled better in a shorter amount of time. In the end, it was all about love, that he struggled to talk about..
Rated 08 Aug 2020
sloboneslobone
Rated 03 Jan 2007
60
22nd
Typical clench-jawed Cruise performance. Is he the Kirk Douglas for our generation?
Rated 03 Jan 2007
supersuiSuperSui
Rated 23 Mar 2018
51
25th
I just don't buy Tom Cruise as an Vietnam Veteran.
Rated 23 Mar 2018
irvinejumpirvinejump
Rated 30 Dec 2008
20
12th
I know it's based on a real guy, but please
Rated 30 Dec 2008
razRaz
Rated 07 Jan 2009
85
14th
Tom Cruise at his best
Rated 07 Jan 2009
okkervilOkkervil
Rated 01 Aug 2009
65
59th
One of Cruise's better peformances.
Rated 01 Aug 2009
kadikoykadikoy
Rated 03 Oct 2021
85
93rd
Tom Cruise'un Vietnam Gazisinin oynadığı film. Altın Küre ödülü aldığı film, genç asker Ron Kovic'in hayatını anlatıyor. Gençlik, Vietnam savaşı, hastane hayatı ve büyüme sancılarıyla ilerleyen film, savaşın en kötü yanını yüzümüze çarpıyor. Oliver Stone, Amerika gençliği büyüsü ile başlattığı konuyu, Amerikan gerçeği olarak bitirmiş. Başarı giden yol yürüyen sandalyede. Hayatımı mahvettin Amerika. Seni annem olarak görüyordum.
Rated 03 Oct 2021
redfalconRed_Falcon_
Rated 01 Oct 2010
76
78th
Tom Cruise is absolutely brilliant in this film and should have won a Best Actor award for this film This is a powerful addition to the cannon of films that try to show the horrors of war both during and after.If you are interested in the effect war has on people and how life changes completely both for those who were there and those who love them watch this.I suggest watching watching this with Platoon to get an idea of both sides of this story.One Thumb Up.
Rated 01 Oct 2010
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 01 Mar 2007
75
89th
Probably Cruise's best film.
Rated 01 Mar 2007
ktappektappe
Rated 13 Feb 2008
98
94th
There is a modern conception that Tom Cruise is an overrated actor, and his recent outings in Minority Report and War Of The Worlds are strong evidence. But here we see just what Cruise is capable of. On the screen you see him become Ron Kovic, heart and soul. You feel every bit of pain and anguish that Kovic did and you follow his literal and emotional journey from jingoist to protester. Cruise hits every note perfectly, making this one of the best war films ever made, bar none.
Rated 13 Feb 2008
aaautinAAAutin
Rated 09 Jul 2012
45
36th
Best use of "Brown Eyed Girl" ever.
Rated 09 Jul 2012
glmglm
Rated 15 Dec 2011
75
55th
75.250
Rated 15 Dec 2011
spoonerspotspoonerspot
Rated 14 Aug 2007
86
92nd
Before Tom Cruise started acting like an idiot. Good, good flick.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
hofschneiderHofschneider
Rated 22 May 2015
69
27th
Tom Cruise wins the yelling-contest 1989. Next year he also tries to defend his war-is-awesome-till-someone-dies-award!
Rated 22 May 2015
billyshearsBillyShears
Rated 04 Aug 2013
80
77th
I'd shit on the army guy's desk immediately to get out of the draft. I'm bold.
Rated 04 Aug 2013
skycaptainskycaptain
Rated 14 Aug 2007
80
68th
One of Tom Cruise's great roles and an honest portrayal of a veteran's life from a director known for his credibility when concerning Vietnam.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
edwardedward
Rated 07 Jul 2023
0
5th
The worst acting imaginable.
Rated 07 Jul 2023
schnofelschnofel
Rated 14 Aug 2007
89
97th
A great movie about the lies of a nation and the disillusionment that sets in when they crumble. It seems as if the place called home has to reclaimed over and over again.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
medMed
Rated 14 Aug 2007
87
69th
Excellent movie with a really good lead performance from Cruise
Rated 14 Aug 2007
barnowlBarnowl
Rated 07 Jan 2024
87
42nd
The second in the eponymous war trilogy.
Rated 07 Jan 2024
larmorlarmor
Rated 18 May 2019
50
41st
I'll be charitable and interpret it as essential at its time with the looming Gulf War. Everything else is half-baked in this movie.
Rated 18 May 2019
dvicknabbDVicknabb
Rated 31 Mar 2008
78
43rd
Not too bad. And for once, Stone's political message isn't actually ridiculous!
Rated 31 Mar 2008
bspawnbspawn
Rated 15 Jul 2010
76
43rd
Left a bad taste
Rated 15 Jul 2010

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