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Waco: The Rules of Engagement

  • 1997
  • Not Rated
  • 2h 16m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
3.7K
YOUR RATING
Waco: The Rules of Engagement (1997)
Using interviews, news footage, testimony before Congress, and infrared photographic analysis, ‘Waco: The Rules of Engagement’ chips away at the government's story that David Koresh and his followers were a dangerous cult involved in strange sex and drug practices who were preparing to slaughter their neighbors and that they immolated themselves a la Jonestown, rather than give themselves up peacefully. Nearly every element of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms' and the FBI's cover-up is exposed as fraudulent and the viewer is left wondering when, if ever, justice will finally be served.
Play trailer6:36
2 Videos
13 Photos
DocumentaryHistory

A reassessment of the tragedy at Waco that left 76 members of the Branch Davidian religious sect dead.A reassessment of the tragedy at Waco that left 76 members of the Branch Davidian religious sect dead.A reassessment of the tragedy at Waco that left 76 members of the Branch Davidian religious sect dead.

  • Director
    • William Gazecki
  • Writers
    • William Gazecki
    • Dan Gifford
    • Michael McNulty
  • Stars
    • Dan Gifford
    • Jim Cavanaugh
    • Dick DeGuerin
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.9/10
    3.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • William Gazecki
    • Writers
      • William Gazecki
      • Dan Gifford
      • Michael McNulty
    • Stars
      • Dan Gifford
      • Jim Cavanaugh
      • Dick DeGuerin
    • 41User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 4 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos2

    WACO: The Rules of Engagement
    Trailer 6:36
    Watch WACO: The Rules of Engagement
    WACO: The Rules of Engagement
    Interview 4:47
    Watch WACO: The Rules of Engagement

    Photos13

    Waco: The Rules of Engagement (1997)
    Waco: The Rules of Engagement (1997)
    Waco: The Rules of Engagement (1997)
    Waco: The Rules of Engagement (1997)
    Waco: The Rules of Engagement (1997)
    Waco: The Rules of Engagement (1997)
    Waco: The Rules of Engagement (1997)
    Waco: The Rules of Engagement (1997)
    Waco: The Rules of Engagement (1997)
    Waco: The Rules of Engagement (1997)
    Waco: The Rules of Engagement (1997)
    Waco: The Rules of Engagement (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dan Gifford
    Dan Gifford
    • Narrator
    • (voice)
    Jim Cavanaugh
    Jim Cavanaugh
    • Self - ATF
    • (archive footage)
    Dick DeGuerin
    Dick DeGuerin
    • Self - Attorney
    • (archive footage)
    Clive Doyle
    Clive Doyle
    • Self - Branch Davidian
    Jack Harwell
    Jack Harwell
    • Self - Sheriff
    Jeff Jamar
    Jeff Jamar
    • Self - FBI Special Agent
    • (archive footage)
    Joseph Penno
    • Self - Former Chief, Houston Fire Department
    Dick J. Reavis
    Dick J. Reavis
    • Self - Author
    Chuck Schumer
    Chuck Schumer
    • Self - U.S. Representative
    • (archive footage)
    James D. Tabor
    James D. Tabor
    • Self - Biblical Scholar
    David Thibodeau
    David Thibodeau
    • Self - Branch Davidian
    David Troy
    David Troy
    • Self - ATF Special Agent
    • (archive footage)
    Joe Biden
    Joe Biden
    • Self - U.S. Senate
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Sonny Bono
    Sonny Bono
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Howard Coble
    Howard Coble
    • Self - U.S. Congress
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    John Conyers
    John Conyers
    • Self - U.S. Congress
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Graeme Craddock
    Graeme Craddock
    • Self (Branch Davidian)
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Dianne Feinstein
    Dianne Feinstein
    • Self - U.S. Congress
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • William Gazecki
    • Writers
      • William Gazecki
      • Dan Gifford
      • Michael McNulty
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Jonestown: Paradise Lost
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    Waco
    7.9
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Based on the same real life events as Waco Cult (2012), Revelations of Waco (2018), Waco: The Inside Story (1995), Truth and Lies: Waco (2018), Waco: Madman or Messiah (2018), Waco (2015), Waco: A New Revelation (2000), Waco: Clive Doyle (2018), Secrets of Waco (2017), The Secrets of Waco (2018), Waco, the Big Lie (1993), Waco (2015), Waco (2018), David Koresh (2007), Witness to Waco: Inside the Siege (2009) and In the Line of Duty: Ambush in Waco (1993).
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: A Thousand Acres/The Myth of Fingerprints/Going All the Way/Waco: The Rules of Engagement/Gravesend/Fire (1997)

    User reviews41

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    This movie needs to be shown in every high school class
    If you want to see real evidence of what a misguided and unchecked government can do to "un-popular" people, this movie provides it. Read what some people are saying about the "Patriot Act" passed after 9/11 and then watch this movie. Is it worth it? Do we really want to give away our freedoms to these people? Regardless of what you saw on TV, you are not fully informed until you watch this movie. I apologize for quoting another reviewer, but it needs repeating: Roger Ebert of Siskel & Ebert said, "What's interesting is if you're looking for people who are unbalanced zealots... you don't find them among the Branch Davidians, you find them among the FBI and the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; those are the people in this movie who deserve to be feared, I think." I think every person responsible for 9/11 needs to be brought to justice, but I think the government has not shown a history of honoring it's duty to protect people's rights, and this movie proves it in dramatic fashion.
    helpful•28
    9
    • live_and_direct_at_network23
    • Sep 15, 2003

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 19, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Правила поединка
    • Filming locations
      • Waco, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • Fifth Estate Productions
      • SomFord Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $142,193
    • Gross worldwide
      • $142,193
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 16 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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