Courage Under Fire
American Broadcasting Company (ABC) | Release Date: April 12, 1996 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
77
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews
Positive:
16
Mixed:
3
Negative:
0
Watch Now
Stream On
Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
As profound and intelligent as it is moving, and that makes this memorable motion picture one of 1996's best. Read full review
90
Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan
Intelligent, involving and serious, it is as honestly emotional as Hollywood allows itself to get, a story of the search for wartime truth whose own concern for the genuine makes all the difference. Read full review
88
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
The end of the film understandably lays on the emotion a little heavily, but until then Courage Under Fire has been a fascinating emotional and logistical puzzle--almost a courtroom movie, with the desert as the courtroom. Read full review
88
Rolling StonePeter Travers
In Washington's haunted eyes, in the stunning cinematography of Roger Deakins (Fargo) that plunges into the mad flare of combat, in the plot that deftly turns a whodunit into a meditation on character and in Zwick's persistent questioning of authority, Courage Under Fire honors its subject and its audience. Read full review
88
San Francisco ChroniclePeter Stack
Denzel Washington is riveting. Read full review
83
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
A large-scale military drama with a quiet, almost mournful center. Read full review
80
TV Guide MagazineStaff (Not credited)
A sober, intelligent drama with surprising integrity. Read full review
80
Washington PostRita Kempley
A downright entertaining combo of mystery, melodrama and action adventure. Read full review
80
The New York TimesJanet Maslin
Despite its underlying predictability, Courage Under Fire manages warmth, intelligence and a healthy share of surprises. Read full review
80
VarietyStaff (Not credited)
Edward Zwick's high-minded new outing offers plenty of old-fashioned movie virtues such as believable action, plausible psychology, fully played-out confrontations and honest emotions. Read full review
80
Chicago ReaderJonathan Rosenbaum
This is a good, solid, intelligent drama about the ambiguities of what does and doesn't constitute courage under fire Read full review
80
EmpireIan Nathan
This is - gasp! - a Hollywood movie actually daring to bare its teeth at silly American flag-waving. Read full review
75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam Lacey
At the end of Courage Under Fire, you feel torn between admiration and annoyance with the filmmakers. Read full review
75
USA TodaySusan Wloszczyna
A film that wins on 'Courage' of its convictions. {12 July 1996, p. D1]
75
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
Edward Zwick directed this reasonably thoughtful drama, helped by Denzel Washington and Meg Ryan in the main roles. Read full review
67
Austin ChronicleAlison Macor
While the account of Walden's heroics doesn't necessarily move from legend to fact, it does push the bounds of truth and raise interesting questions about the function of truth for the survivors of war. Read full review
60
Film ThreatMichael Dequina
Patrick Sheane Duncan's script deftly weaves together the stories of Serling and Walden, and Zwick remarkably sidesteps the trap of sticky sentiment--an idea further carried forth by Ryan's admirably against-type (and shamefully unsung) performance. Read full review
60
NewsweekDavid Ansen
The film seems to want us to pin a medal to its own chest. Read full review
60
Washington PostDesson Thomson
I sat through "Courage" with interest, but I wasn't particularly moved or riveted with suspense. Read full review
More From This Movie

77 Critic Reviews

6.5 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 81 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
2 77 Project Hail Mary
3 75 Send Help
4 73 Hoppers
5 72 The Sheep Detectives
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL