A man is trying desperately to be certified insane during World War II, so he can stop flying missions.

Director:

Writers:

(novel), (screenplay)
Reviews

On Disc

at Amazon

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 4 nominations. See more awards »
Learn more

People who liked this also liked... 

Drama | Romance
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7/10 X  

The concurrent sexual lives of best friends Jonathan and Sandy are presented, those lives which are affected by the sexual mores of the time and their own temperament, especially in ... See full summary »

Director: Mike Nichols
Stars: Jack Nicholson, Candice Bergen, Ann-Margret
Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.1/10 X  

Dr Jake Terrell, who has been training a pair of dolphins for many years, has had a breakthrough. He has taught his dolphins to speak and understand English, although they do have a limited... See full summary »

Director: Mike Nichols
Stars: George C. Scott, Trish Van Devere, Paul Sorvino
Comedy | Drama | Sci-Fi
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7/10 X  

A man tells his story of how he became unstuck in time and abducted by aliens.

Director: George Roy Hill
Stars: Michael Sacks, Ron Leibman, Eugene Roche
MASH (1970)
Comedy | Drama | War
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.6/10 X  

The staff of a Korean War field hospital use humor and hijinks to keep their sanity in the face of the horror of war.

Director: Robert Altman
Stars: Donald Sutherland, Elliott Gould, Tom Skerritt
Catch 22 (Video 2011)
Short | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -/10 X  

What would you do if you knew your friend's husband was having an affair? Would you tell her or would you keep the secret?

Directors: Mario Fernandez, Barbie Castro
Stars: Barbie Castro, Miguel Fasa, Cristina Figarola
Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8.1/10 X  

A bitter, aging couple, with the help of alcohol, use a young couple to fuel anguish and emotional pain towards each other.

Director: Mike Nichols
Stars: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, George Segal
Catch 22 (2015)
Short | Thriller
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -/10 X  

Double Feature Productions have produced a short thriller based in an urban landscape. A woman shrouded in desperation cuts a deal leaving her isolated from the world. The only person who ... See full summary »

Director: Alex Harrison
Stars: Nigel Barber, Holli Dillon, William Lei
Gilda Live (1980)
Comedy | Documentary
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.2/10 X  

A filmed version of the Broadway show starring comedienne Gilda Radner, complete with the characters she made famous on the TV show "Saturday Night Live."

Directors: Mike Nichols, Lorne Michaels
Stars: Gilda Radner, Don Novello, Paul Shaffer
The Fortune (1975)
Comedy | Crime | Romance
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 5.7/10 X  

Two bumbling hustlers in the 1920s attempt to gain the fortune of an heiress. Nothing will stop them, not even murder.

Director: Mike Nichols
Stars: Stockard Channing, Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty
Biloxi Blues (1988)
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.6/10 X  

A group of young recruits go through boot camp during the Second World War in Biloxi Mississippi. From the play by Neil Simon.

Director: Mike Nichols
Stars: Matthew Broderick, Christopher Walken, Matt Mulhern
Comedy | War
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.1/10 X  

Without hostile intent, a Soviet sub runs aground off New England. Men are sent for a boat, but many villagers go into a tizzy, risking bloodshed.

Director: Norman Jewison
Stars: Carl Reiner, Eva Marie Saint, Alan Arkin
Catch-22 (TV Movie 1973)
Comedy | War
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.5/10 X  
Director: Richard Quine
Stars: Richard Dreyfuss, Dana Elcar, Stewart Moss
Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
...
Capt. Nately (as Arthur Garfunkel)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Susanne Benton ...
...
Edit

Storyline

A bombardier in World War II tries desperately to escape the insanity of the war. However, sometimes insanity is the only sane way cope with a crazy situation. Catch-22 is a parody of a "military mentality" and of a bureaucratic society in general. Written by Jeffrey Struyk <Catch22@ix.netcom.com>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

The anti-war satire of epic proportions.

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | War

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
Edit

Details

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

24 June 1970 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Catch 22: Der böse Trick  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

George C. Scott turned down the role of Col. Cathcart, saying he had effectively played the same part in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964). See more »

Goofs

In the long-shot plane crash sequence as Milo and Cathcart walk along the runway the smoke trail from the plane that flew by extends far beyond the "crashed" plane. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Lt. Col. Korn, XO: [speaking to Yossarian] All you have to do is be our pal.
Colonel Cathcart: Say nice things about us.
Lt. Col. Korn, XO: Tell the folks at home what a good job we're doing. Take our offer Yossarian.
Colonel Cathcart: Either that or a court-martial for desertion.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in The Simpsons: Barting Over (2003) See more »

Soundtracks

Also sprach Zarathustra
(uncredited)
Written by Richard Strauss
Conducted by Fritz Reiner
(when Yossarian first sees Luciana)
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
One of my favorite movies of all time
15 December 2013 | by (wherever good films play) – See all my reviews

When I first saw "Catch-22" I couldn't believe it was made in 1970; the structure of this film is so modern it could have been made yesterday. Frame for frame a masterpiece of storytelling unfolds before your eyes; a satire, a comedy, a tragedy: superb and unforgettable. The surreal humor captures the craziness of war in a way - I think - no other movie does.

The film was released at around the same time as the somewhat similarly themed "M*A*S*H", and while Altman's movie was a hit, "Catch-22" bombed at the box office. In retrospect I would say that both films have aged very well, but Catch-22 offers a much more cinematic experience and has a narrative that is as modern as anything that's being released today. One of my favorite movies of all time.

Favorite films: http://www.IMDb.com/list/mkjOKvqlSBs/

Lesser-known Masterpieces: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070242495/

Favorite Low-Budget and B-Movies: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls054808375/

Favorite TV-Shows reviewed: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls075552387/


55 of 59 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

Message Boards

Recent Posts
Who was your favorite character: movie v. book? nationalazkaban2
WHO STABBED YOSSARIAN? edcar47
Remake RwRobo
favorite scene? teeisblue
if they re-adapted it today..... banddirector23
Film a disappointment koloxxviii
Discuss Catch-22 (1970) on the IMDb message boards »

Contribute to This Page