
Apocalypse Now
1979 · Movie · R · 147 min · ★ 8.3 · 93% critics
During the Vietnam War, a captain is sent on a secret mission to find and stop a mysterious colonel leading violent illegal operations in enemy territory. The journey takes him deep into hostile jungle conditions, where the danger grows as his orders become increasingly impossible to ignore.
Based on Heart of Darkness, Apocalypse Now
Also known as Apocalypse Now Redux · Apocalypse Now: The Complete Dossier · Apocalypse Now: Final Cut · Apocalypse Now: The Workprint
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Details
- Years
- 1979
- Release date
- 1979-05-19
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 147 min
- Critic score
- 93/100
- TMDB rating
- 8.3/10 (9,112 votes)
About
You’ll probably enjoy Apocalypse Now if you want an intense Vietnam War journey with a dark, haunting feel and unforgettable energy; Not for you if you dislike long, slow, meandering films like The Deer Hunter or Blade Runner.
Pros: harrowing war tone; standout performances; gripping atmosphere | Cons: slow pacing; confusing for some; brutal disturbing content
Themes
- guerrilla warfare
- vietnam war
- journalist
- mission
- vietnam
- vietcong
- central intelligence agency (cia)
- cambodia
- army
- drug abuse
- based on novel or book
- secret mission
- +14 more
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Sound · 1980
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography · 1980
- Palme d'Or · 1979
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- Academy Award — Best Production Design · 1980 · nominated
Show all 12 awards →
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 1980 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Director · 1980 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 1980 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography · 1980 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Picture · 1980 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Film Editing · 1980 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Sound · 1980 · nominated
Cast & crew

Martin Sheen
as Captain Benjamin Willard

Marlon Brando
as Colonel Walter Kurtz

Frederic Forrest
as Jay 'Chef' Hicks

Albert Hall
as Chief Phillips

Laurence Fishburne
as Tyrone 'Clean' Miller

Sam Bottoms
as Lance B. Johnson

Robert Duvall
as Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore

G.D. Spradlin
as General Corman

Harrison Ford
as Colonel
- JZ
Jerry Ziesmer
as Jerry, Civilian
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola