“Ain’t War Hell”: 15 Best Quotes From Iconic War Movies

One of popular culture’s most storied and successful brands of film, several prominent war outings number among some of the finest pieces of cinema ever made. While these films usually place an emphasis on producing an immersive depiction of armed conflict rather than sizzling dialogue, many of the greatest war movies of all time have also played host to some of cinema’s most quotable characters.

These memorable individuals have produced a number of immortal pieces of dialogue over the years, taking credit for the best quotes that can be found throughout cinema’s most iconic war movies. Typically uttered with pitch-perfect timing and delivery, these superb soundbites often serve to perfectly exemplify the movie’s aura, while simultaneously inviting poignant introspection on the very nature of armed conflict itself.

15

“James…Earn This.”

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

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25

9.5/10

Saving Private Ryan

R
WarDrama

Tom Hanks stars as Captain John Miller in Steven Spielberg’s 1998 WWII film. Saving Private Ryan tells the story of Miller’s command of a company of soldiers who risk their lives in an attempt to extricate Private James Ryan from the fighting in Europe, in order to spare his family from losing all of their sons after Ryan’s brothers are killed in the war. Matt Damon, Edward Burns,  and Tom Sizemore also star. 

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Release Date

July 24, 1998

Runtime

169 minutes

Cast

Tom Sizemore
, Adam Goldberg
, Vin Diesel
, Tom Hanks
, Edward Burns
, Matt Damon

Director

Steven Spielberg

Main Genre

War

Writers

Robert Rodat

Studio(s)

DreamWorks Distribution

Distributor(s)

DreamWorks Distribution
, Paramount Pictures

Expand

Closing arguably the greatest war movie ever made in unforgettable fashion, Captain Miller’s dying words after American reinforcements arrive to turn the tide of Saving Private Ryan’s climactic battle sequence is the film’s most memorable piece of dialogue. Mortally wounded after one of cinema’s best last stand scenes, Tom Hanks’ charge implores Matt Damon’s James Ryan to “earn this” before tragically succumbing to his wounds.

Highlighting the immense sacrifice that went into saving Private Ryan, the quote also serves as a heartbreaking farewell to one of the genre’s most beloved characters. It’s a tear-jerking quote emblematic of the horrendous human cost associated with WWII, a fitting state of affairs for a movie lauded as one of the most authentic depictions of war ever conceived.

14

“Now I Want You To Remember That No Bastard Ever Won A War By Dying For His Country.”

Patton (1970)

Patton - Poster

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Patton

PG
BiographyDramaHistoryWar

Patton is a biographical war film that chronicles the career of General George S. Patton during World War II. Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, the 1970 film stars George C. Scott as the controversial and outspoken military leader. The story provides a detailed account of Patton’s triumphs and troubles within the U.S. Army, highlighting his leadership in key battles and his complex personality.

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Release Date

April 2, 1970

Runtime

172 Minutes

Cast

George C. Scott
, Karl Malden
, Stephen Young
, Michael Strong
, Carey Loftin
, Albert Dumortier

Director

Franklin J. Schaffner

Main Genre

Biography

Writers

Ladislas Farago
, Omar N. Bradley
, Francis Ford Coppola
, Edmund H. North

Expand

George C. Scott utterly loses himself in his performance as the eponymous general in 1970’s Patton, perfectly capturing the real-life individual’s ruthless discipline and mercurial nature. While Scott produces some masterful work in his Academy Award-winning bow, no piece of dialogue better exemplifies his character’s nature than his very first line of the movie, delivered in an epic monologue against the backdrop of the American flag.

Opening the movie with a bang, “Old Blood-and-Guts” delivers his seminal line, before concluding his explanation in emblematic fashion of the legendary soldier: “He won it by making some other dumb bastard die for his country.” Serving as the perfect introduction to this inimitable individual, the superb quote highlights Patton’s no-nonsense personality in sharp relief.

13

“If I’m Gonna Die, I Want To Die Comfortable.”

The Hurt Locker (2008)

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1/10

The Hurt Locker

R
ThrillerWarDrama

From director Kathryn Bigelow comes The Hurt Locker, the 2008 oscar winning war thriller film that follows Jeremy Renner as Sergeant William James and his bomb disposal team as they navigate beyond enemy lines during the Iraq War. The movie explores the trauma and stresses the soldiers face as they attempt to disarm active explosives on the field, with the repercussions beginning to take their toll on the squadmates.

Release Date

July 31, 2009

Runtime

131 minutes

Cast

Jeremy Renner
, David Morse
, Guy Pearce
, Anthony Mackie
, Ralph Fiennes
, Christian Camargo
, Evangeline Lilly
, Brian Geraghty

Director

Kathryn Bigelow

Writers

Mark Boal

Studio(s)

Summit Entertainment

Distributor(s)

Summit Entertainment

Expand

Winning six Academy Awards, 2008’s The Hurt Locker is regarded as one of the greatest war movies of all time, even if the film was criticized by many military experts. Kathryn Bigelow’s movie features an electrifying lead performance from Jeremy Renner as Sergeant William James; a prolific bomb disposal expert who is soon revealed to be an adrenaline fiend.

Confronted with a car boot groaning under enough explosives to blow him to hell, James demonstrates the extent of his complete disregard for his own safety. The soldier removes his protective gear to allow him to work quicker, wryly remarking there’s “enough bang in there to send us all to Jesus” before delivering the soundbite that perfectly encapsulates his daredevil nature.

12

“This Is Sparta!”

300 (2007)

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8/10

300

R
ActionDramaHistory

Loosely based on Frank Miller’s comic series of the same name, Zack Snyder’s 300 tells the legend of the historical battle of Thermopylae. It follows King Leonidas of Sparta (Gerard Butler) as he leads a small force of 300 Spartans against the amassed Persian army of 300,000. Meanwhile, his wife Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) remains in Sparta to negotiate reinforcements against political resistance.

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Release Date

March 9, 2007

Runtime

117 minutes

Cast

Vincent Regan
, Giovanni Cimmino
, Lena Headey
, David Wenham
, Gerard Butler
, Dominic West

Director

Zack Snyder

Main Genre

Action

Writers

Zack Snyder
, Kurt Johnstad
, Michael B. Gordon

Studio(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Expand

Depicting a fictionalized take on the Battle of Thermopylae, Zack Snyder’s 300 is widely viewed as one of the best sword-and-sandals movies ever made. Gerard Butler’s Leonidas turns in a litany of iconic war movie one-liners, but his foremost soundbite comes in the movie’s early goings, as he ruthlessly disposes of a Persian emissary demanding a Spartan surrender.

Confronted with Spartan swords, the panicked Persian reasons that “This is madness!” only for Leonidas to set the score straight with his unforgettable quote before dispatching him. Things don’t get much more Spartan than gleefully booting a diplomatic messenger into a bottomless pit, underlining the Greek warriors’ indomitable nature and seamlessly setting the tone for the movie to follow.

11

“Ideals Are Peaceful. History Is Violent.”

Fury (2014)

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9.3/10

Fury

R
WarAction

Brad Pitt stars as tank commander Don “Wardaddy” Collier in David Ayer’s war movie Fury. Set during the end of World War II, the film follows the Allied forces breaking through into Nazi Germany as Don and his crew pilot their tank known as Fury into enemy lines in gruesome battles to capture critical stronghold points and help secure victory in the war.

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Release Date

October 17, 2014

Runtime

135 Minutes

Cast

Brad Pitt
, Shia LaBeouf
, Logan Lerman
, Michael Pena
, Jon Bernthal
, Jim Parrack
, Brad William Henke

Director

David Ayer

Writers

David Ayer

Studio(s)

Sony

Distributor(s)

Sony

Expand

Chronicling WWII’s endgame from the perspective of a US Sherman tank crew, David Ayer’s Fury is a front-runner for one of the best war movies of the century. Painting a harrowing and graphic picture of the brutal conflict, the movie relentlessly stresses that “war is hell,” a state of affairs summarized in sublime fashion by a piece of dialogue from Brad Pitt in one of his finest war movies.

Showing Logan Lerman’s Ellison a roomful of dead German aristocrats who had committed suicide to avoid capture, Pitt’s Wardaddy offers up his iconic one-liner as rationale to hammer Ayer’s message home with merciless pragmatism. Later history books might show that the town was taken with no violence, but the roomful of corpses tells a different story.

10

“You Are Never Out Of The Fight.”

Lone Survivor (2013)

lone-survivor

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9/10

Lone Survivor

R
WarAction

Lone Survivor is a dramatization of the United States Navy SEALs’ Operation Red Wing, an unsuccessful military operation that aimed to track down the leader of the Taliban. The film follows the four-man SEAL team, and the danger and psychological strain they faced on their mission.

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Release Date

December 25, 2013

Runtime

121 minutes

Cast

Mark Wahlberg
, Taylor Kitsch
, Emile Hirsch
, Ben Foster
, Eric Bana
, Ali Suliman

Director

Peter Berg

Writers

Peter Berg

Studio(s)

Universal Pictures

Distributor(s)

Universal Pictures

Expand

Unsurprisingly, for a film paying tribute to the real-life bravery of US Navy SEALs, 2013’s Lone Survivor heavily features a common saying among these elite soldiers: “I am never out of the fight.” Spoken by Marcus Luttrell at the beginning and end of the movie, the rousing one-liner is also Michael Murphy’s last quote before his heroic sacrifice, exposing himself to a hail of Taliban gunfire to regain communications in a moment that never fails to elicit goosebumps.

Even after the horrific extent of his ordeal, the rousing quote is also what brings Marcus back from the brink of death. Perfectly encapsulating the spectacular bravery and steadfast resilience of these near-superhuman soldiers, there’s arguably no better quote that exemplifies SEAL culture.

9

“…They May Take Our Lives, But They’ll Never Take Our Freedom!”

Braveheart (1995)

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7/10

Braveheart

R
BiographyDramaHistory

Mel Gibson directs, produces, and stars in Braveheart as William Wallace, a Scottish warrior who leads a rebellion against the English monarchy in the 13th century. As his army grows, Wallace becomes a symbol of hope and freedom for his people.

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Release Date

May 24, 1995

Runtime

178 Minutes

Cast

Mel Gibson
, Sophie Marceau
, Patrick McGoohan
, Angus Macfadyen
, james robinson
, Sean Lawlor
, Sandy Nelson
, James Cosmo

Director

Mel Gibson

Main Genre

Biography

Writers

Randall Wallace

Studio(s)

Paramount Pictures

Distributor(s)

Paramount Pictures

Expand

In terms of quotes that are arguably more famous than their parent movie at this point in proceedings, William Wallace’s impassioned battle cry in 1995’s Braveheart serves as the quintessential example. A prevalent staple of popular culture almost three decades later, Mel Gibson’s charge roars the piece of dialogue to rally the Scottish forces for battle against the English.

A textbook battlefield pep talk that also forms the basis of Wallace’s final words, it’s near-impossible not to get pumped up as the Scot concludes his speech with this fierce line against the backdrop of James Horner’s stirring score. The quote is now virtually synonymous with Scotland and the country’s fierce desire for independence, serving as the perfect tribute to Wallace himself; glaring historical inaccuracies aside, that is.

8

“One Shot Is All It’s About.”

The Deer Hunter (1978)

The Deer Hunter Movie Poster

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The Deer Hunter

R
DramaEpicWar

The Deer Hunter is a 1978 war drama film by director Michael Cimino that centers on three men in a small steel mill town in Pennsylvania during the Vietnam War. The film explores the effects of the war on small-town workers, with the trio of Russian-American friends bonding over one last hunting trip. Holding onto the hope of bringing home militaristic glory back to their friends and families, their reality quickly comes crashing down when they experience the war in Vietnam firsthand.

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Release Date

February 23, 1979

Runtime

184 Minutes

Cast

Robert De Niro
, John Cazale
, John Savage
, Meryl Streep
, Christopher Walken
, George Dzundza

Director

Michael Cimino

Writers

Deric Washburn
, Michael Cimino
, Louis Garfinkle
, Quinn K. Redeker

Studio(s)

EMI Films

Distributor(s)

Universal Pictures

Expand

One of the best war movies of the 1970s, The Deer Hunter is a devastating examination of the mental scars left by war. The movie’s immortal soundbite is used to demonstrate the characters’ journey from the quote’s first appearance to its last; first featuring when Mike and Nick discuss the humane way to kill a deer, before returning in the movie’s final game of Russian Roulette.

De Niro’s charge uses memories of their hunting trips to try and bring Christopher Walken’s shell-shocked character back from the brink, compounding the tragedy when his dear friend still shoots himself. The quote’s most devastating aspect is that it reveals that Nick finally recognized Mike in his last seconds, but was so broken by his experiences that he pulled the trigger anyway.

7

“Each And Every Man Under My Command Owes Me 100 Nazi Scalps…And I Want My Scalps!”

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

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9/10

Inglourious Basterds

R
DramaWarAdventure

In Nazi-occupied France, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as “The Basterds” execute a mission to terrorize the Third Reich. Simultaneously, a young Jewish cinema owner plots to kill Nazi leaders attending a premiere at her theater. Both plans converge in a high-stakes showdown filled with action and revenge​.

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Release Date

August 21, 2009

Runtime

153 minutes

Cast

Brad Pitt
, Diane Kruger
, Mélanie Laurent
, Christoph Waltz
, Eli Roth
, Michael Fassbender
, Daniel Brühl
, Til Schweiger

Director

Quentin Tarantino

Main Genre

War

Writers

Quentin Tarantino

Studio(s)

Universal Pictures

Distributor(s)

Universal Pictures

Expand

A front-runner for the most quotable war movie character of all time, Brad Pitt’s Aldo Raine serves as the leader of the eponymous group of Jewish-American soldiers in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds. Raine explains the mission to his men with an unforgettable speech, turning in one of the single greatest introductory monologues in the history of cinema.

Demanding that each soldier kill and defile 100 Nazis in non-negotiable fashion, Raine’s orders capture a perfect snapshot of the man’s ruthless nature; he is called “Aldo the Apache,” after all. The quote also serves to remind audiences of Tarantino’s penchant for graphic excess; is there a better exemplification of the director’s love for spectacular violence than the visual of 100 bloody human scalps?

6

“This Is My Safety.”

Black Hawk Down (2001)

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9.2/10

Black Hawk Down

R
WarDramaHistory

Black Hawk Down recounts the harrowing true story of a U.S. military mission gone awry in Somalia. Tasked with capturing a warlord, elite soldiers find themselves in a fierce battle against Somali militia forces.

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Release Date

January 18, 2002

Runtime

144 minutes

Cast

Jason Isaacs
, Eric Bana
, Josh Hartnett
, Ewan McGregor
, Tom Sizemore
, Tom Hardy
, Hugh Dancy
, Orlando Bloom

Director

Ridley Scott

Writers

Ken Nolan

Turned in by Eric Bana’s Delta Force operator Norm “Hoot” Gibson, Black Hawk Down’s “This is my safety” line is arguably the acclaimed 2001 movie’s most iconic piece of dialogue. Chastised for failing to place the safety catch on his assault rifle, Hoot deadpans the immortal line in ice-cool fashion while motioning a trigger finger squeeze in the irate face of Jason Isaacs’ Captain Steele.

Providing an intriguing window into the procedure-be-damned personality of arguably the movie’s most memorable character, Bana’s slick one-liner spawned countless memes and parodies that are still doing the rounds to this day. Tactfully defying a stuck-up superior officer is likely the stuff of soldiers’ dreams, a daydream given life by Hoot’s classic soundbite in one of Ridley Scott’s best movies.

5

“There Are No Pacts Between Lions And Men.”

Troy (2004)

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9/10

Troy

R
Drama

Troy, directed by Wolfgang Petersen and released in 2004, is a historical epic based on Homer’s Iliad. The film chronicles the legendary Trojan War, focusing on the conflict between Achilles, played by Brad Pitt, and Hector, portrayed by Eric Bana. Starring Orlando Bloom as Paris and Diane Kruger as Helen, it explores themes of honor, betrayal, and the fates of the warriors involved in the siege of Troy.

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Release Date

May 14, 2004

Runtime

163 Minutes

Cast

Brad Pitt
, Eric Bana
, Orlando Bloom
, Julian Glover
, Brian Cox
, Nathan Jones
, Adoni Maropis
, Jacob Smith

Director

Wolfgang Petersen

Main Genre

Drama

Writers

Homer
, David Benioff

Expand

While Wolfgang Peterson’s Troy never quite lived up to expectations, the 2004 epic war movie boasts a magnificent turn from Brad Pitt as the legendary Greek warrior, Achilles. The highlight of the actor’s performance arguably comes in the aftermath of his cousin Patroclus’ death at the hands of Eric Bana’s Hector, leading Achilles to vengefully confront him at Troy’s gates.

Lending terrifying authenticity to Achilles’ implacable rage, Pitt uses the unforgettable line to scornfully decline Hector’s request for funeral rights after their duel in one of the genre’s most menacing monologues. Ominously telling the Trojan prince how he plans to defile his body, the Myrmidon leader signs off in iconic fashion before advancing: “This is Hector, the fool who thought he killed Achilles.”

4

“I Don’t Know How I’m Going To Live With Myself If I Don’t Stay True To What I Believe.”

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

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9.2/10

Hacksaw Ridge

R
DramaBiographyDocumentaryHistoryWar

Hacksaw Ridge is a historical war film based on the true story of Desmond Doss, a soldier in Okinawa during the bloodiest battle of WWII, who saved 75 men without firing or carrying a gun. He was the only American soldier in WWII to fight on the front lines without a weapon, as he believed that while the war was justified, killing was nevertheless wrong due to his upbringing.

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Release Date

November 4, 2016

Runtime

139minutes

Cast

Sam Worthington
, Rachel Griffiths
, Richard Roxburgh
, Andrew Garfield
, Teresa Palmer
, Matt Nable
, Vince Vaughn
, Luke Bracey
, Nathaniel Buzolic
, Hugo Weaving
, Ryan Corr

Director

Mel Gibson

Writers

Robert Schenkkan
, Andrew Knight

Studio(s)

Lionsgate

Distributor(s)

Lionsgate
, Summit Entertainment

Expand

Based on the remarkable true story of WWII conscientious objector Desmond Doss, 2016’s Hacksaw Ridge delivers a superb dramatization of the soldier’s personal conflict, the clash between his desire to serve his country and his religion. This serves as an integral narrative thread of Mel Gibson’s acclaimed movie, evidenced by Doss’ impassioned explanation of his moral stance after he is arrested for refusing to carry a weapon.

Producing a stirring snapshot of a man so principled that even the threat of a court-martial or the pleas of his beloved cannot sway him, the soundbite turned in by Garfield’s character is enough to move the sternest individual. A testament to courage and staying true to one’s self, Doss’ rousing quote is one of the genre’s more uplifting examples.

3

“Gentlemen, You Can’t Fight In Here! This Is The War Room!”

Dr Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb (1964)

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10/10

Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb

PG
Comedy

Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 black-and-white satire Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb parodies the growing tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Starring Peter Sellers, the plot revolves around a US Air Force general who orders a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union against the wishes of the government.

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Release Date

January 29, 1964

Runtime

95 minutes

Cast

George C. Scott
, Slim Pickens
, Peter Sellers
, Keenan Wynn
, Sterling Hayden

Director

Stanley Kubrick

Writers

Terry Southern
, Stanley Kubrick
, Peter George

Studio(s)

Columbia Pictures

Distributor(s)

Columbia Pictures

Expand

Contentiously the finest war movie from the 1960s, Stanley Kubrick’s Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is universally regarded as one of the most influential films of all time. This blisteringly satirical take on the Cold War is a wickedly funny, timeless classic that holds up to this day, a status quo that is underlined by the movie’s best quote.

As a scuffle breaks out in the War Room against the backdrop of impending nuclear war, the fighting parties are hilariously chastised by President Muffley for their conduct. If ever there was a soundbite that perfectly symbolized irony, it has to be this one; a deathly serious situation so comical that Kubrick couldn’t resist turning it into satire.

2

“Ain’t War Hell?”

Full Metal Jacket (1987)

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9.8/10

Full Metal Jacket

R
WarDrama

Full Metal Jacket is a war movie directed by Stanley Kubrick where a group of young soldiers endure the brutal training regimen of U.S. Marine Corps drill sergeant Hartman (Lee Ermey) and fight in the Vietnam War. The film was highly acclaimed for its crude portrayal of the dehumanizing effects of war and the psychological toll it takes on soldiers.

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Release Date

July 10, 1987

Runtime

116 minutes

Cast

Matthew Modine
, Arliss Howard
, Adam Baldwin
, R. Lee Ermey
, Vincent D’Onofrio

Director

Stanley Kubrick

Writers

Michael Herr
, Stanley Kubrick
, Gustav Hasford

Studio(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures
, Columbia Pictures

Expand

While Gunnery Sergeant Hartmann’s more brutal one-liners during boot camp likely serve as the most memorable quotes from 1987’s Full Metal Jacket, the foul-mouthed and abusive nature of R. Lee Ermey’s dialogue means that the overwhelming majority are too inappropriate to print. Fortunately, Stanley Kubrick’s offering also hosts another seminal war genre soundbite.

The line comes from Tim Colceri’s helicopter machine-gunner, a violent psychopath who takes pot shots at Vietnamese locals for fun. When asked by Joker how he can bring himself to shoot women and children, the gunner cackles “You just don’t lead them so much!” before following with the quote to underline his sadistic proclivities. Much like the wider movie, the quote serves to witheringly exemplify the absurdity and immorality of the Vietnam War.

1

“I Love The Smell Of Napalm In The Morning.”

Apocalypse Now (1979)

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9.5/10

Apocalypse Now

R
DramaWarMystery

In Francis Ford Coppola’s classic Vietnam War film, loosely based on Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness, an army Captain is tasked with assassinating a rogue Colonel who has created a cult-like compound in the Cambodian jungle and is currently waging his own war outside the army’s purview. Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando star as Captain Willard and Colonel Kurtz respectively, with an ensemble cast that includes Robert Duvall, Laurence Fishburne, and Dennis Hopper. 

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Release Date

August 15, 1979

Runtime

147 minutes

Cast

Marlon Brando
, Martin Sheen
, Robert Duvall
, Frederic Forrest
, Sam Bottoms
, Laurence Fishburne

Director

Francis Ford Coppola

Main Genre

War

Writers

Joseph Conrad
, John Milius
, Francis Ford Coppola
, Michael Herr

Studio(s)

United Artists

Distributor(s)

United Artists

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The most famous soundbite that the genre has to offer, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning” is the best quote from one of the most iconic war movies of all time in 1979’s Apocalypse Now. The line comes from Robert Duvall’s Bill Kilgore in the immediate aftermath of a colossal napalm strike that reduces the Vietnamese vegetation to apocalyptic flames in the space of a second.

Speaking effusively of the napalm’s effects on the enemy, a shirtless Kilgore describes the smell of a terrifying chemical weapon like a person discussing their favorite coffee. Subtly serving to highlight Kilgore’s status as the movie’s true villain, the quote serves to perfectly capture the warmongering nature and moralistic detachment of Duvall’s iconic character.