The Big Red One

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The Big Red One

PG

1980

1h 53m

War

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

49 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Having previously fought in World War I, an unnamed sergeant (Lee Marvin) now leads soldiers of the U.S. First Infantry Division through World War II. His men include conflicted marksman Pvt. Griff (Mark Hamill), pulp novel writer Pvt. Zab (Robert Carradine), Sicilian Pvt. Vinci (Bobby Di Cicco) and medic Pvt. Johnson (Kelly Ward). The soldiers adapt to the hardships of war as they see conflict in North Africa and Sicily, take part in the D-Day landings, and liberate a Nazi concentration camp.

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Critics Consensus

The reconstruction of Samuel Fuller's epic account of his days in North Africa in World War II elevates the film into the pantheon of great war movies.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Mar 26, 2009

It's a terrific war yarn, a picture of palpable raw power which manages both Intense intimacy and great scope at the same time.

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Time Out

Jun 24, 2006

Visually and philosophically, it's Fuller's equivalent of Kurosawa's Kagemusha, although Fuller's film is more complex, more absurd and more haunted.

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Angie Errigo

Empire Magazine

May 11, 2005

5/5

Although these are the stock characters of war drama - the sage, grizzled Sarge, the farm boy, the street kid, the nice guy who doesn't want to kill anyone and the witness - Fuller's are particularly credible ordinary people.

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Richard Freedman

Newark Star-Ledger

Jan 6, 2026

A well-meaning but ineffectual movie by a director in over his depth and way past his prime.

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Larry Vitacco

Philadelphia Gay News

May 27, 2020

3.5/4

It's an adventure film as refreshing in content and style as The Deer Hunter was horrifyingly realistic and Apocalypse Now was terrifyingly philosophical.

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Jesús Fernández Santos

El Pais (Spain)

Aug 15, 2019

But in the end, for a film that pretends to be anti-war, it comes across as ambiguous, which isn't anything new in the work of Samuel Fuller. [Full Review in Spanish]

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 7, 2026

The Big Red One = a *4* star movie

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revolver.0 8

@Revolver08 Aug 18, 2026

This one is Top Secret! level of spoof and goof quality

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thiago S

@Thiagostone May 27, 2026

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Horror fan 4

@Horrorfan4life Feb 27, 2026

What a tremendous story about a small group of soldiers who fight in many battles during world war 2. Marvin, Carradine, Hamill,Ward and Diccico are all amazing. The different battle scenes were filmed brilliantly. D-day was my favorite part. I absolutely recommend you watch this movie. Timothy Treakle

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Christopher W

@Vonwisdom Jan 18, 2026

Absolutely a classic !!! Watched allot of times. Free on Memovid app,just figure out the commercials and how to exit them

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 27, 2025

Success in 1 hour and 53 minutes!!!! Rated PG for War Violence and Some Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Samuel Fuller

Director

Lee Marvin

The Sergeant

Mark Hamill

Pvt. Griff

Robert Carradine

Pvt. Zab

Bobby Di Cicco

Pvt. Vinci

Kelly Ward

Pvt. Johnson

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39%

71%

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19%

43%

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86%

82%

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Synopsis

Having previously fought in World War I, an unnamed sergeant (Lee Marvin) now leads soldiers of the U.S. First Infantry Division through World War II. His men include conflicted marksman Pvt. Griff (Mark Hamill), pulp novel writer Pvt. Zab (Robert Carradine), Sicilian Pvt. Vinci (Bobby Di Cicco) and medic Pvt. Johnson (Kelly Ward). The soldiers adapt to the hardships of war as they see conflict in North Africa and Sicily, take part in the D-Day landings, and liberate a Nazi concentration camp.

Director: Samuel Fuller
Producer: Gene Corman, Douglas Freeman, Richard Schickel
Screenwriter: Samuel Fuller
Production Co: United Artists, Lorimar Productions
Rating: PG (War Violence|Some Language)
Genre: War, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 18, 1980, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 15, 2008
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: Surround

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