Rescue Dawn

Play trailer

Rescue Dawn

PG-13

2007

2h 5m

War

History

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

160 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

During the Vietnam War, Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale), a U.S. fighter pilot, is shot down over Laos and taken captive by enemy soldiers. Interned in a POW camp, Dengler and his fellow prisoners (Steve Zahn, Jeremy Davies) endure torture, hunger and illness while they await their chance to escape.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Director Werner Herzog has once again made a compelling tale of man versus nature, and Christian Bale completely immerses himself in the role of fighter pilot (and prisoner of war) Dieter Dengler.

Read Critics Reviews

Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

Nov 23, 2007

3/5

What we miss is the real Herzogian touch that can translate tales of derringdo into something more than mere adventure and stir the soul as well as the heart and mind.

Go to Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Nov 23, 2007

3/5

An effective, unassuming and old-fashioned action adventure which is - perhaps a little faute de mieux - probably the best film of the week.

Go to Full Review

James Christopher

The Times (UK)

Nov 23, 2007

3/5

The performances are worryingly Method. Bale eats bowls of maggots. I had to look away when he tucked into a live snake.

Go to Full Review

Ian Buruma

The New York Review of Books

Aug 23, 2018

Somehow his story, reenacted in the feature film, fails to catch fire in the way it does in the documentary. It looks oddly conventional, even flat.

Go to Full Review

Brandy McDonnell

The Oklahoman

Aug 13, 2018

2.5/4

While Zahn and Davies offer amazing performances, Bale's starring turn often falls flat. Herzog doesn't give him much to work with: The writer-director is reluctant to allow his hero any flaws, even fear and despair, on his harrowing journey.

Go to Full Review

Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

Apr 28, 2014

3/5

Unlike a traditional Hollywood movie, Rescue Dawn follows the pacing and irony of real life. It is far from predictable and far from formulaic.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Gareth V

@geewah 8 hrs ago

Rescue Dawn is a strong, well-acted survival drama, and it’s a fascinating entry point to Herzog’s work.

See more

Noel L

@RT15930389 Oct 5, 2026

What a captivating and sad true story about an American hero

See more

Welll A

@Azevader88 Sep 29, 2026

Tense and very intense film. Another exquisite work by Christian Bale and a show of dry direction by Herzog.

See more

Daniel L

@Hotchopeppa Jul 29, 2026

Ok but not amazing. It’s an amazing story but the movie itself is quite a slow burn with not a whole lot happening. Go into it with low expectations and you won’t be disappointed. Oh but Steve Zahn is amazing as a struggling captive.

See more

shane O

@Shanes_DVD_Shack Mar 6, 2026

It has a slow start , the directing seems a little strange, strange choice of camera angles some of them feel like they were shot on an iPhone . The acting is wooden and the script clunky . But it does get better as it goes on

See more

Brady W

@GhostNZ Jul 12, 2025

Really expected more from the film, never really felt much in the way of tension and the few special effects that were in used were of poor quality.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Werner Herzog

Director

Christian Bale

Dieter Dengler

Steve Zahn

Duane

Jeremy Davies

Gene

Galen Yuen

Y.C.

Apichart Chusakul

Phisit

Canopy

75%

34%

Canopy

Watchlist

War Horse

74%

74%

War Horse

Watchlist

The Alamo

29%

46%

The Alamo

Watchlist

Little Boy

27%

78%

Little Boy

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Little Boy

Flight of the Intruder

23%

51%

Flight of the Intruder

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Rank Christian Bale’s 10 Best Movies

RT on DVD: Live Free or Hairspray This Thanksgiving

Werner Herzog on Rescue Dawn: The RT Interview

View more photos

Synopsis

During the Vietnam War, Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale), a U.S. fighter pilot, is shot down over Laos and taken captive by enemy soldiers. Interned in a POW camp, Dengler and his fellow prisoners (Steve Zahn, Jeremy Davies) endure torture, hunger and illness while they await their chance to escape.

Director: Werner Herzog
Producer: Elton Brand, Steve Marlton, Harry Knapp
Screenwriter: Werner Herzog
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Gibraltar Entertainment and Production LLC
Rating: PG-13 (Torture|Intense War Violence)
Genre: War, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 27, 2007, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jul 4, 2007
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 3, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.5M
Runtime: 2h 5m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings