The Hurt Locker
Summit Entertainment | Release Date: June 26, 2009
7.3
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 1576 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
1,162
Mixed:
174
Negative:
240
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
9
ValgethOct 3, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The movie was great visually, lots of excellent high definition close up shots and well timed slow motion shots. The characters were very good also, very interesting with a lot of depth to them, Eldridge's interactions with his therapist for example was really compelling. The main character James is a douche but a believable douche. It has a lot of realism mixed up with fiction, which is good, the sniper scene for example was especially realistic. The movie was very episodic, kinda directionless at times, but each little episode showed different kinds of IEDs and how the team handles them, which is great, I love military tech.… Expand
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0
StrahlemannJul 5, 2020
Bad movie
I'm in team with master seargent sarver/military as a whole. This movie and the reaction of the critics defamed all soldiers. A "journalist" was granted the privilege to stay at a military unit in Iraq by the MoD and used thisBad movie
I'm in team with master seargent sarver/military as a whole. This movie and the reaction of the critics defamed all soldiers. A "journalist" was granted the privilege to stay at a military unit in Iraq by the MoD and used this opprtunity for darklighting soldiers in General and the master seargent in special.
He was not even granted participation by the Producers. This amount of greed is as immoral as the pseudo-pacifist leftists which the producers are.… Expand
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9
FilmGuyDudeOct 30, 2020
Had to take a second glimpse at this anxiety fueled mesmerizing war film to understand it's execution. The directing is intense, Jeremy is superb, and the entire film overall is a grand work of art. Well done to everyone!
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9
geewahJan 24, 2021
Arguably the finest movie about the conflict in Iraq during the 2000's.
While it is a nail-biting ride, it is also a compelling character study.
One of 2009's best movies.
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5
LizmcdDec 28, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A bit disappointing to be honest. Has some good moments, great acting for sure but lacks a good story and it's repetitive. It's more like a fly on the wall documentary.… Expand
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7
AJ_13May 30, 2021
It manages to create tension and to make you feel like you are in Iraq. Really good directing and solid performances. However it may feel a bit repetitive, boring and unrealistic at times. Inglorious Basterds was robbed.
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10
cdougallAug 22, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Hurt Locker is a movie whose brutal realism and accuracy makes it an incredibly engaging and successful film. This film stars one of my favorite actors, Jeremy Renner, who gives one of the best performances of his career and is great in every scene that he is in. His character is complex and representative of what happens to many people who go to war; you learn more about him as the movie goes on even though he doesn’t develop that much as a character. Hurt Locker is a fantastic dramatization and portrayal of the Iraq War and what it was actually like for the soldiers who’ve been there and the many dangers they faced during their tours. While the characters themselves are made up, the situations that they’re put in aren’t, and the way this movie portrays those situations is very well done and extremely realistic of what those situations would be like if any of us were there. This film does have some fun dialogue and interactions between characters, but for the most part it strikes a serious and nihilistic tone, which is appropriate for its premise. Hurt Locker manages to build anxiety and make you nervous but in a different way from how horror movies do it; you’re not fearful about what’s going to happen next, but you know how high the stakes are for the characters which keeps you gripped your seat a little bit nonetheless. There are no jump scares in this movie, but it still has heart-racing moments in its own regard. There is one really upsetting moment that defines the emotional stakes and makes it clear that there are consequences for your actions, even if those actions aren’t harmful in intent. Hurt Locker isn’t an entertaining movie, but it’s a very engaging and interesting one. This isn’t a film you have fun with, but one you watch for appreciation of the script, directing, acting and story, especially considering that this movie won the Academy Award for Best Picture. This movie doesn’t have a lot of rewatch value, but it’s good to see it every few years or so just to remind yourself of what happens (it’s also a plus, for me, that there are 4 MCU actors in this movie, Renner being one of them, though none were in the MCU at the time). The end is satisfying and could’ve definitely been the set-up for a sequel, but I’m glad that a sequel was never made since Hurt Locker stands so well on it’s own. Despite how many guns and explosions are in this movie, this isn’t quite a film for those who are fans of Call of Duty or GTA, though it does come close at times. For me, this movie is a must-see for people who appreciate good and realistic filmmaking and who are interested in the genre.… Expand
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9
NickTheCritickDec 4, 2021
Probabily a masterpiece in building tension and suspense. This movie, beautifully shot by Bigelow, explores a typical day of a bomb squad in Iraq and the psychological effect that a job like this can create (with all the repercussions on realProbabily a masterpiece in building tension and suspense. This movie, beautifully shot by Bigelow, explores a typical day of a bomb squad in Iraq and the psychological effect that a job like this can create (with all the repercussions on real life). It's also built on a solid performance by all the actors, especially Jeremy Renner who is at his best here. It's probabily the best Bigelow's movie.… Expand
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9
royalguy07Jan 23, 2023
The moment to moment technical filmmaking during the big set piece moments was incredible.
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6
AssPussiMar 8, 2022
One of the best films of the year or any year. Masterful. One of the best films of the year or any year. Masterful.
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8
Richard552Aug 10, 2022
And the performance by Jeremy Renner in the lead role is fantastic. I understand that many parts of the movie are "unrealistic", as many people have complained about, but 100% of fictional movies are unrealistic.
$1 to buy a Netflix account,And the performance by Jeremy Renner in the lead role is fantastic. I understand that many parts of the movie are "unrealistic", as many people have complained about, but 100% of fictional movies are unrealistic.
$1 to buy a Netflix account, Google search: vtvshare… Expand
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10
NdrwdvdbrsnOct 9, 2022
Kathryn Bigelow's film, The Hurt Locker, is a bit of a controversial best picture winner, but overall, I feel it's a great film. It's expertly directed, well written, and contains artistry in all of the smaller details. Sergeant First ClassKathryn Bigelow's film, The Hurt Locker, is a bit of a controversial best picture winner, but overall, I feel it's a great film. It's expertly directed, well written, and contains artistry in all of the smaller details. Sergeant First Class William James is one of the most interesting film protagonists in history.… Expand
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