IMDb > Apocalypse Now (1979)
Apocalypse Now
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Apocalypse Now (1979) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 65 | slideshow) Videos (see all 6)
Apocalypse Now (1979) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Writers:
John Milius (screenplay) and
Francis Ford Coppola (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Apocalypse Now on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
15 August 1979 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
The Horror. . . The Horror. . .
Plot:
During the on-going Vietnam War, Captain Willard is sent on a dangerous mission into Cambodia to assassinate a renegade Green Beret who has set himself up as a God among a local tribe. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 32 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(100 articles)
Media Monkey's Diary
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 7 December 2009, 12:10 AM, PST)

‘Apocalypse Now’ voted best film in 30 year
 (From RealBollywood. 1 December 2009, 5:12 AM, PST)

User Comments:
the horror, the horror... more (768 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Apocalypse Now Redux (International: English title) (longer version)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for disturbing violent images, language, sexual content and some drug use. (2001 director's cut)
Runtime:
153 min | 202 min (Redux version)
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.00 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby Digital (Redux version) | Dolby (35 mm prints) | DTS (Redux version)
Certification:
USA:R (certificate no. 25751) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (Redux version) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia) (Redux version) | Canada:AA (Ontario) (re-rating) (1992) | Canada:AA (Ontario) (Redux version) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) (original rating) | Italy:VM14 | Hungary:16 | Italy:T (re-rating) (Redux version) | Philippines:R-18 | Brazil:14 (original version) | Brazil:16 (Redux version) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-15 (Redux version) | Finland:K-16 (original rating) | France:-12 | Germany:16 (bw) (Redux version) | Iceland:16 | Ireland:18 | Israel:PG | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 (Redux version) | Norway:15 (Redux version) | Norway:18 (original rating) | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/16 (Redux version) | Singapore:M18 (Redux version) (re-rating) | Singapore:R(A) (Redux version) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 (Redux version) | UK:18 (re-rating) (1985) | UK:X (original rating) | West Germany:16
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Francis Ford Coppola invested several million dollars of his own money in the film after it went severely over budget. more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: When a helicopter is traveling over the hills in the distance after Willard's mission briefing from the high rankings, in the bottom right of the shot you can make out the shadow of another helicopter traveling away from Willard's one. This is possibly a camera helicopter. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Willard: [voiceover] Saigon... shit; I'm still only in Saigon... Every time I think I'm gonna wake up back in the jungle.
Willard: When I was home after my first tour, it was worse. I'd wake up and there'd be nothing. I hardly said a word to my wife, until I said "yes" to a divorce. When I was home after my first tour, it was worse.
[grabs at flying insect]
Willard: I'd wake up and there'd be nothing. I hardly said a word to my wife, until I said "yes" to a divorce. When I was here, I wanted to be there; when I was there, all I could think of was getting back into the jungle. I'm here a week now... waiting for a mission... getting softer. Every minute I stay in this room, I get weaker, and every minute Charlie squats in the bush, he gets stronger. Each time I looked around the walls moved in a little tighter.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Loose Change (1999) more
Soundtrack:
The End more

FAQ

What is the movie based on?
What are the differences between the Redux version and the original version?
A NOTE REGARDING SPOILERS
more
118 out of 184 people found the following comment useful.
the horror, the horror..., 20 April 1999
Author: The Claw from Hopatcong, NJ

So just how insane is 'Apocalypse Now'? Well, let's say that it is the kind of film that makes you want to bang your head against the wall. The beginning has no credits or titles; nothing. The whole film seems like it's taking place on a different world, and as the story moves on, sanity itself is shed. There was a French plantation scene that got cut out, and an alternate ending that would have had a massive battle scene outside Kurtz's compound.

'Apocalypse Now' is not a realistic film in the sense that the presentation of the Vietnam War is far from correct: helicopters going in BEFORE the napalm strikes, a USO show in the jungle at night, and the final bridge all lit-up like a Christmas tree. (for more realistic 'Nam War movies, try 'The Deer Hunter' or 'Platoon')

But what 'Apocalypse Now' lacks in historical accuracy, it makes up in artistic and dramatic scripting. Some of the best photography and lighting ever can be found here.

The film also raises some severe philosophical issues, and gives us entirely new ones. When the movie begins, the war is raging around us. It is chaotic and nerve-racking, yet still rational. When we finally get to Kurtz's base, the action has died down, but rational thinking has long since been vanquished to the point of total lunacy. This shows us the truth about men of war in times of war and peace. The voyage down the river has a sense of time travel (a sense that would have been much more apparent had the French Plantation scene remained.) And when you get to the end, keep in mind the old phrase: The King is dead... Long live the king.

Is Kurtz insane? Or are we not yet ready to understand him? These questions and more are up to you as 'Apocalypse Now has no easy answers.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (768 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Apocalypse Now (1979)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Kilgore's US Cavalry Hat privatemellish
Drop The Bomb, Exterminate Them All? bronxbomber26-1
Lance's puppy simo_56
Anyone think it's overrated? finraziel23
Didn't find the point NiKoJo
Looking for the first VHS version with the original aspect ratio Moritz23
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Edge La battaglia di Algeri In the Year of the Pig Rambo Cross of Iron
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb top 250 movies IMDb Action section
IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.