Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Platoon

  • 19861986
  • RR
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
409K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
846
166
Platoon (1986)
30 second Trailer
Play trailer0:31
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • War
Chris Taylor, a neophyte recruit in Vietnam, finds himself caught in a battle of wills between two sergeants, one good and the other evil. A shrewd examination of the brutality of war and th... Read allChris Taylor, a neophyte recruit in Vietnam, finds himself caught in a battle of wills between two sergeants, one good and the other evil. A shrewd examination of the brutality of war and the duality of man in conflict.Chris Taylor, a neophyte recruit in Vietnam, finds himself caught in a battle of wills between two sergeants, one good and the other evil. A shrewd examination of the brutality of war and the duality of man in conflict.
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
409K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
846
166
  • Director
    • Oliver Stone
  • Writer
    • Oliver Stone
  • Stars
    • Charlie Sheen
    • Tom Berenger
    • Willem Dafoe
Top credits
  • Director
    • Oliver Stone
  • Writer
    • Oliver Stone
  • Stars
    • Charlie Sheen
    • Tom Berenger
    • Willem Dafoe
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 664User reviews
    • 135Critic reviews
    • 92Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #213
    • Won 4 Oscars
      • 24 wins & 15 nominations total

    Videos3

    Platoon: Blu-ray Release
    Trailer 0:31
    Platoon: Blu-ray Release
    Jeffrey Wright's Top 3 Films on Veterans and Their Military Experience
    Video 2:00
    Jeffrey Wright's Top 3 Films on Veterans and Their Military Experience

    Photos212

    Willem Dafoe in Platoon (1986)
    Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe in Platoon (1986)
    Charlie Sheen in Platoon (1986)
    Willem Dafoe in Platoon (1986)
    Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, and Willem Dafoe in Platoon (1986)
    Charlie Sheen in Platoon (1986)
    Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, John C. McGinley, and Kevin Eshelman in Platoon (1986)
    Willem Dafoe in Platoon (1986)
    Tom Berenger and Mark Moses in Platoon (1986)
    Tom Berenger in Platoon (1986)
    Oliver Stone at an event for Platoon (1986)
    Platoon (1986)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Charlie Sheen
    Charlie Sheen
    • Chrisas Chris
    Tom Berenger
    Tom Berenger
    • Sgt. Barnesas Sgt. Barnes
    Willem Dafoe
    Willem Dafoe
    • Sgt. Eliasas Sgt. Elias
    Keith David
    Keith David
    • Kingas King
    Forest Whitaker
    Forest Whitaker
    • Big Haroldas Big Harold
    Francesco Quinn
    Francesco Quinn
    • Rhahas Rhah
    Kevin Dillon
    Kevin Dillon
    • Bunnyas Bunny
    John C. McGinley
    John C. McGinley
    • Sgt. O'Neillas Sgt. O'Neill
    Reggie Johnson
    Reggie Johnson
    • Junioras Junior
    Mark Moses
    Mark Moses
    • Lt. Wolfeas Lt. Wolfe
    Corey Glover
    Corey Glover
    • Francisas Francis
    Johnny Depp
    Johnny Depp
    • Lerneras Lerner
    Chris Pedersen
    Chris Pedersen
    • Crawfordas Crawford
    Bob Orwig
    Bob Orwig
    • Gardneras Gardner
    Corkey Ford
    Corkey Ford
    • Mannyas Manny
    David Neidorf
    David Neidorf
    • Texas Tex
    Richard Edson
    Richard Edson
    • Salas Sal
    Tony Todd
    Tony Todd
    • Warrenas Warren
    • Director
      • Oliver Stone
    • Writer
      • Oliver Stone
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Full Metal Jacket
    8.3
    Full Metal Jacket
    The Deer Hunter
    8.1
    The Deer Hunter
    Rocky
    8.1
    Rocky
    Apocalypse Now
    8.5
    Apocalypse Now
    Jaws
    8.1
    Jaws
    The Terminator
    8.1
    The Terminator
    Private Resort
    5.2
    Private Resort
    Born on the Fourth of July
    7.2
    Born on the Fourth of July
    Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
    8.2
    Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
    Slow Burn
    4.9
    Slow Burn
    Groundhog Day
    8.1
    Groundhog Day
    Unforgiven
    8.2
    Unforgiven

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to Oliver Stone, he intentionally cast Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe against type (Berenger, who played the ruthless, sadistic Sgt. Barnes, was mostly famous at that point for playing good guys, while Dafoe, who had primarily played villains up until then, played the heroic, compassionate Sgt. Elias). The casting worked, and both men received Oscar nominations for their work.
    • Goofs
      When the men are playing cards, one of the men is looking at a Playboy from March 1971, despite the film taking place in 1967.
    • Quotes

      [Refering to Vietnam]

      Chris Taylor: Somebody once wrote, "Hell is the impossibility of reason." That's what this place feels like. Hell.

    • Alternate versions
      TV version has much of its dialogue redubbed and shots refilmed, replacing such lines as "He thinks he's Jesus F---in' Christ!" with "He thinks he's George Freakin' Washington!"
    • Connections
      Edited into A Tour of the Inferno: Revisiting 'Platoon' (2001)
    • Soundtracks
      ADAGIO FOR STRINGS
      Written by Samuel Barber

      Arranged and Conducted by Georges Delerue

      Used by arrangement with G. Schirmer, Inc.

    User reviews664

    Review
    Top review
    Perfection... or as close to it as we're ever likely to see
    Its hard to know where to start with such a breathtaking film. Oliver Stone's Platoon is quite simply the best Vietnam war film ever made in my opinion. Everything about it is as close to perfection as we are likely to see. Charlie Sheen plays the lead, and Willem Defoe and Tom Berenger play the two sergeants that form a key part of the plot.

    Chris Taylor (Sheen) is torn between the sergeants. Barnes (Berenger) is the battle hardened, brutal murderer, who uses the war as an excuse to tender to his sadistic pleasures. Elias (Defoe) is the other side of the spectrum. We get the sense that he has wrestled with his inner demons, but he has successfully come through to the other side. He has compassion for his fellow man, and he uses drugs as a form of escapism from this brutal war. The two symbolise the struggle that Taylor must face if he is to survive out in Vietnam.

    Oliver Stone perfectly captures war. The shooting is frantic and impossible to follow. It perfectly disorientates us, just as the soldiers were. We have no idea who is being shot at, and neither do they. We follow the war at ground level, and see the brutalities first hand. Having served in Vietnam, the film is loosely based on Stone's time out there, and Taylor loosely based on himself.

    Full Metal Jacket showcases how inhumane the war was, Apocalypse Now turns it into a story about life in general, and hopelessness, but Platoon has everything. Trying hard to avoid the old cliché, but if you only watch one war film, make sure it is this one. Nothing else can come close.
    helpful•238
    66
    • blinkchester
    • Apr 28, 2004

    FAQ14

    • At 20:13 In The Dead Of Night Deep In The Jungle How Is The Enemy Silhouetted?
    • Why does Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen) call Barnes and Elias his "fathers" during the final monologue.
    • Is "Platoon" based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 6, 1987 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • Vietnamese
    • Also known as
      • The Platoon
    • Filming locations
      • Philippines
    • Production companies
      • Hemdale
      • Cinema '84
      • Cinema 86
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $138,530,565
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $241,080
      • Dec 21, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $138,545,632
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Platoon (1986)
    Top Gap
    What is the Hindi language plot outline for Platoon (1986)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in June
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.