• Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop Rated MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
      What's on TV & StreamingWhat's on TV & StreamingTop Rated ShowsMost Popular ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
      What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb TVIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
      OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersGolden GlobesEmmysLGBTQ+ 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
      AllTitlesTV EpisodesCelebsCompaniesKeywords
    • Advanced Search
    Watchlist
    Sign In

    The Hurt Locker

    • 20082008
    • RR
    • 2h 11min
    IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    429K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,386
    506
    • Cast & crew
    • User reviews
    • Trivia
    • IMDbPro
    The Hurt Locker (2008)
    In Baghdad, members of a bomb-disposal team near the end of their rotation deadline are pulled into a deadly game of urban combat by a new sergeant (Renner).
    Play trailer2:32
    3 Videos
    99+ Photos
    DramaThrillerWar

    During the Iraq War, a Sergeant recently assigned to an army bomb squad is put at odds with his squad mates due to his maverick way of handling his work.During the Iraq War, a Sergeant recently assigned to an army bomb squad is put at odds with his squad mates due to his maverick way of handling his work.During the Iraq War, a Sergeant recently assigned to an army bomb squad is put at odds with his squad mates due to his maverick way of handling his work.

    IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    429K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,386
    506
    • Director
      • Kathryn Bigelow
    • Writer
      • Mark Boal
    • Stars
      • Jeremy Renner
      • Anthony Mackie
      • Brian Geraghty
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Kathryn Bigelow
    • Writer
      • Mark Boal
    • Stars
      • Jeremy Renner
      • Anthony Mackie
      • Brian Geraghty
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1KUser reviews
    • 416Critic reviews
    • 95Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Won 6 Oscars
      • 125 wins & 130 nominations total

    Videos3

    The Hurt Locker
    Trailer 2:32
    The Hurt Locker
    The Hurt Locker
    Clip 0:42
    The Hurt Locker
    The Hurt Locker -- "Die Comfortably"
    Clip 0:43
    The Hurt Locker -- "Die Comfortably"

    Photos210

    Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker (2008)
    Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker (2008)
    Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker (2008)
    Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker (2008)
    Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker (2008)
    Jeremy Renner and Evangeline Lilly in The Hurt Locker (2008)
    Anthony Mackie in The Hurt Locker (2008)
    Brian Geraghty in The Hurt Locker (2008)
    Kathryn Bigelow and Christopher Sayegh in The Hurt Locker (2008)
    Kathryn Bigelow and Barry Ackroyd in The Hurt Locker (2008)
    Guy Pearce and Brian Geraghty in The Hurt Locker (2008)
    Guy Pearce in The Hurt Locker (2008)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jeremy Renner
    Jeremy Renner
    • Staff Sergeant William Jamesas Staff Sergeant William James
    Anthony Mackie
    Anthony Mackie
    • Sergeant JT Sanbornas Sergeant JT Sanborn
    Brian Geraghty
    Brian Geraghty
    • Specialist Owen Eldridgeas Specialist Owen Eldridge
    Guy Pearce
    Guy Pearce
    • Sergeant Matt Thompsonas Sergeant Matt Thompson
    Ralph Fiennes
    Ralph Fiennes
    • Contractor Team Leaderas Contractor Team Leader
    David Morse
    David Morse
    • Colonel Reedas Colonel Reed
    Evangeline Lilly
    Evangeline Lilly
    • Connie Jamesas Connie James
    Christian Camargo
    Christian Camargo
    • Colonel John Cambridgeas Colonel John Cambridge
    Suhail Dabbach
    Suhail Dabbach
    • Black Suit Manas Black Suit Man
    • (as Suhail Al-Dabbach)
    Christopher Sayegh
    • Beckhamas Beckham
    Nabil Koni
    • Professor Nabilas Professor Nabil
    Sam Spruell
    Sam Spruell
    • Contractor Charlieas Contractor Charlie
    Sam Redford
    Sam Redford
    • Contractor Jimmyas Contractor Jimmy
    Feisal Sadoun
    • Contractor Feisalas Contractor Feisal
    Barrie Rice
    • Contractor Chrisas Contractor Chris
    Imad Dadudi
    • Iraqi Police Captain at UNas Iraqi Police Captain at UN
    • (as Imad Daoudi)
    Erin Gann
    • Mortuary Affairs Officeras Mortuary Affairs Officer
    Justin Campbell
    Justin Campbell
    • Sergeant Carteras Sergeant Carter
    • Director
      • Kathryn Bigelow
    • Writer
      • Mark Boal
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

    More like this

    Zero Dark Thirty
    7.4
    Zero Dark Thirty
    Argo
    7.7
    Argo
    American Sniper
    7.3
    American Sniper
    Black Hawk Down
    7.7
    Black Hawk Down
    Lone Survivor
    7.5
    Lone Survivor
    The King's Speech
    8.0
    The King's Speech
    Crash
    7.7
    Crash
    Slumdog Millionaire
    8.0
    Slumdog Millionaire
    Fury
    7.6
    Fury
    Captain Phillips
    7.8
    Captain Phillips
    13 Hours
    7.3
    13 Hours
    The Artist
    7.9
    The Artist

    Storyline

    Edit
    An intense portrayal of elite soldiers who have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world: disarming bombs in the heat of combat. When a new sergeant, James, takes over a highly trained bomb disposal team amidst violent conflict, he surprises his two subordinates, Sanborn and Eldridge, by recklessly plunging them into a deadly game of urban combat, behaving as if he's indifferent to death. As the men struggle to control their wild new leader, the city explodes into chaos, and James' true character reveals itself in a way that will change each man forever. —BWR Public Relations
    imperialismiraqloss of friendbombdangerous job273 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • You'll know when you're in it.
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Thriller
      • War
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for war violence and language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Filmed in the country of Jordan. Access was denied for a week of filming at a U.S. Military Base in Kuwait.
    • Goofs
      One character says an Iraqi with a video camera is preparing a clip for YouTube. The scene takes place in 2004. YouTube was created in 2005.
    • Quotes

      Staff Sergeant William James: [Speaking to his son] You love playing with that. You love playing with all your stuffed animals. You love your mommy, your daddy, your nature pajamas. You love everything, don't ya? Yeah. But you know what, buddy? As you get older... some of the things that you love might not seem so special anymore, you know? Like your Jack-in-a-Box. Maybe you'll realize it's just a piece of tin and a stuffed animal, but the older you get, the fewer things you really love, and by the time you get to my age, maybe it's only one or two things. With me, I think it's one.

    • Crazy credits
      There are no opening credits, not even a title.
    • Connections
      Edited into De wereld draait door: Episode #5.104 (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Fear (Is Big Business)
      Written by Al Jourgensen (as Jourgensen) / Tommy Victor (as Victor) / Ministry

      Performed by Ministry

      Courtesy of 13th Planet Records, Inc.

    User reviews1K

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    The work of a master filmmaker
    The Hurt Locker is a serious character study and a taut, suspenseful action thriller at once.

    The subject matter itself - the work of a bomb expert, possibly one of the most nerve-racking jobs on the planet - yields most of the suspense but Bigelow manages to squeeze out every bit of tension of the premise.

    This film to me was very apolitical - though set in Iraq, it is distinguished from most of the Iraq-themed war films in that it concentrates much more on the job itself than the political environment. Iraq seemed more like a backdrop - any other war would do, The Hurt Locker does not preach about this one specifically.

    The story is deeply emotional, depicting a thoroughly disturbed individual's life in hell. Jeremy Renner gives an incredibly powerful performance as an EOD officer completely hooked on adrenaline stemming from his everyday close shaves with death.

    All aspects of film-making are top-notch, from the brilliantly subversive screenplay through vivid cinematography, masterful directing and perfectly paced editing.

    In its storytelling the filmmakers wisely break with traditional Hollywood narrative techniques. There is no clear antagonist, no rising action, no obvious character development and no climax. And yet the film manages to be more interesting, tense and suspenseful than any Hollywood action thriller I've seen in years while making a powerful, yet subtle statement about the insane addiction that is war. Kudos for everyone involved for making this film without compromising.

    This is pure quality, cinematic storytelling at its best, a thinking man's actioner.
    helpful•810
    499
    • krigler
    • Mar 18, 2009

    FAQ6

    • Is "The Hurt Locker" based on a book?
    • Where does the title come from?
    • Does "Beckham" die?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 31, 2009 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Arabic
    • Also known as
      • Vivir al límite
    • Filming locations
      • Amman, Jordan
    • Production companies
      • Voltage Pictures
      • Grosvenor Park Media
      • Film Capital Europe Funds (FCEF )
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $17,017,811
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $145,352
      • Jun 28, 2009
    • Gross worldwide
      • $49,259,766
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 11min
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Jacob Elordi, Zachary Quinto Thriller ‘He Went That Way’ Sells to SquareOne in Germany (Exclusive)
    Jacob Elordi, Zachary Quinto Thriller ‘He Went That Way’ Sells to SquareOne in Germany (Exclusive)
    Jun 22Variety Film + TV
    The Outpost Review
    The Outpost Review
    Jun 18HeyUGuys.co.uk

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Edit page
    • Getting started
    • Contributor Zone

    More to explore

    View image
    Photos
    Vintage Looks: Stars at the Beach
    See the entire gallery
    Image caption not available
    2:58
    6 Shows Everyone's Still Talking About
    Watch the video

    Around the web

    Powered by Taboola

    Recently viewed

    You have no recently viewed pages
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • IMDb TV
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2021 by IMDb.com, Inc.