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Full Metal Jacket

Play trailer 1:57 Poster for Full Metal Jacket R 1987 1h 56m War History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 87 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Stanley Kubrick's take on the Vietnam War follows smart-aleck Private Davis (Matthew Modine), quickly christened "Joker" by his foul-mouthed drill sergeant (R. Lee Ermey), and pudgy Private Lawrence (Vincent D'Onofrio), nicknamed "Gomer Pyle," as they endure the rigors of basic training. Though Pyle takes a frightening detour, Joker graduates to the Marine Corps and is sent to Vietnam as a journalist, covering -- and eventually participating in -- the bloody Battle of Hué.
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Full Metal Jacket

Full Metal Jacket

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Critics Consensus

Intense, tightly constructed, and darkly comic at times, Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket may not boast the most original of themes, but it is exceedingly effective at communicating them.

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Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker 09/13/2023
What happened to the Kubrick who used to slip in sly, subtle jokes and little editing tricks? This may be his worst movie. Go to Full Review Jay Scott Globe and Mail 12/07/2022
Full Metal Jacket is violent, caustic, ironic, and cold, an amoral object formed from a camera gliding majestically across slow-motion carnage while refusing to blink an eye or shed a tear. Go to Full Review Peter Rainer Los Angeles Herald Examiner 08/09/2022
Kubrick is trying to make a movie about madness and chaos, but he won't give in to the chaos. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Nov 8
4/4
It still qualifies as one of Kubrick's most underrated pictures, and it's second only to Apocalypse Now as the best Vietnam War movie ever made. Go to Full Review Branyan Towe Loud and Clear Reviews 07/29/2024
4/5
As Private Leonard “Gomer Pyle” Lawrence, D’Onofrio encapsulates the impact that military brainwashing can have on soldiers and their mental health in a way that is better than expected Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steven F. @SteveGotScored 2d Definitely one of the best War movies of all time! See more Jurassic P Feb 14 Very good, but I thought that it would have more of a 'plot' than it did. I'm not saying it didn't have a plot, but it didn't feel finished in the end. It didn't feel like anything was finalized or anything changed/different. See more Corazon D. @Corazondelioncourt Feb 8 NUMBER ONE FAV MOVIE See more Sabra P @Sabrapriz Feb 2 A hard-hitting movie laced with moments of dark humour and brimming with social commentary. See more Marcos Z @Tomatico2 Jan 12 Me encanto la primera parte es tan icónica, la recomiendo en absoluto See more Chris B @chbrandt Jan 10 Terrible movie IMO. After all these years of not having watched this one, this is time I'll never get back. The first half of the movie was at least interesting, but the second half was awful. Huge let down. See more Read all reviews
Full Metal Jacket

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Cast & Crew

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Stanley Kubrick

Director

Matthew Modine

Private Joker (Private

Adam Baldwin

Animal Mother

Vincent D'Onofrio

Private Gomer Pyle (Leonard Lawrence)

R. Lee Ermey

Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, Drill Instructor

Dorian Harewood

Private Eightball

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Full Metal Jacket

Full Metal Jacket: Trailer Full Metal Jacket: Trailer 1:57 View more videos
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Full Metal Jacket

Full Metal Jacket (1987) Full Metal Jacket (1987) Full Metal Jacket (1987) Full Metal Jacket (1987) Matthew Modine as Pvt. Joker in "Full Metal Jacket." (L-R) Matthew Modine as Pvt. Joker, Kevyn Major Howard as Rafterman and Adam Baldwin as Animal Mother in "Full Metal Jacket." Kevyn Major Howard as Rafterman in "Full Metal Jacket." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Stanley Kubrick's take on the Vietnam War follows smart-aleck Private Davis (Matthew Modine), quickly christened "Joker" by his foul-mouthed drill sergeant (R. Lee Ermey), and pudgy Private Lawrence (Vincent D'Onofrio), nicknamed "Gomer Pyle," as they endure the rigors of basic training. Though Pyle takes a frightening detour, Joker graduates to the Marine Corps and is sent to Vietnam as a journalist, covering -- and eventually participating in -- the bloody Battle of Hué.
Director
Stanley Kubrick
Screenwriter
Gustav Hasford
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Natant, Warner Brothers
Rating
R
Genre
War, History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 1, 1987, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 15, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$42.9M
Runtime
1h 56m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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