X

2009
R
Overture Films
1 h 34 m

2009
R
Overture Films
1 h 34 m

Summary Reporter Bob Wilton is in search of his next big story when he encounters Lyn Cassady, a shadowy figure who claims to be part of an experimental U.S. military unit. According to Cassady, the New Earth Army is changing the way wars are fought. A legion of "Warrior Monks" with unparalleled psychic powers can read the enemy's thoughts, pass...

Directed By: Grant Heslov

Written By: Jon Ronson, Peter Straughan

2009
R
Overture Films
1 h 34 m

2009
R
Overture Films
1 h 34 m

The Men Who Stare at Goats

Metascore Mixed or Average Based on 33 Critic Reviews

54

User Score Generally Favorable Based on 109 User Ratings

6.3

My Score

Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Where to Watch

Summary Reporter Bob Wilton is in search of his next big story when he encounters Lyn Cassady, a shadowy figure who claims to be part of an experimental U.S. military unit. According to Cassady, the New Earth Army is changing the way wars are fought. A legion of "Warrior Monks" with unparalleled psychic powers can read the enemy's thoughts, pass...

Directed By: Grant Heslov

Written By: Jon Ronson, Peter Straughan

Where to Watch

Critic Reviews

Metascore

Mixed or Average Based on 33 Critic Reviews

55% Positive
18 Reviews

33% Mixed
11 Reviews

12% Negative
4 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

Metascore

Mixed or Average Based on 33 Critic Reviews

55% Positive
18 Reviews

33% Mixed
11 Reviews

12% Negative
4 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

A superbly written loony-tunes satire, played by a tony cast at the top of its game.

By Derek Elley FULL REVIEW

Philadelphia Inquirer

Has a glorious good time satirizing the extravagant lengths to which the military and intelligence establishments will go if they think there's a payoff at the other end.

By Steven Rea FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

User Score

Generally Favorable Based on 109 User Ratings

43% Positive
47 Ratings

47% Mixed
51 Ratings

10% Negative
11 Ratings

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

User Reviews

User Score

Generally Favorable Based on 109 User Ratings

43% Positive
47 Ratings

47% Mixed
51 Ratings

10% Negative
11 Ratings

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Aug 6, 2014

A little gem, as crazy as poignant!! You enjoy every minute !! Ewan McGregor and George Clooney give us a fantastic duo, full of surprises, emotion and, mostly, laughs... A good reflection on the importance given to our faith. I love this parallel between the wacky humour's side, and the serious side, at the end of the movie... Yes, after all, we all need Jedi Knights !!

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Apr 30, 2020

A quirky and funny satire with a great cast full of actors really giving it their all.

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Los Angeles Times

Still worth watching because it provides a showcase for a group of actors who really appreciate this kind of farcical comedy.

By Kenneth Turan FULL REVIEW

Washington Post

Content to be sparkly when it should be sharp-edged and shrewd; it has the potential to roar like a lion, but instead it lays lambs at our feet.

By Ann Hornaday FULL REVIEW

New York Daily News

When the haze wears off and the movie grounds itself in reality, it's a bummer. Until then, though, what's weird here is gloriously weird.

By Joe Neumaier FULL REVIEW

An unfocused comedy about weird Army pseudoscience, ends up blinking before we laugh.

By Joshua Rothkopf FULL REVIEW

Entertainment Weekly

A magical-realist sitcom war farce that ends up being about nothing but its own slovenly smugness.

By Owen Gleiberman FULL REVIEW

See All 33 Critic Reviews

Feb 22, 2018

Overall, this is a very good movie with great, Coen brothers like style and writing, that knows not to take itself too seriously. However, I wish some worked with Ewan Mcgreggor a little more on his American accent for his voice-over parts

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Jun 16, 2011

I liked it and was touched by this story about beliefs, like winning a war with love instead of violence, the movie made â

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Jun 1, 2015

The critics may have been a touch harsh here, but generally, I cannot fault them too hard here, as this one is pretty middling as an overall film. Pretty funny at times, The Men Who Stare at Goats manages to be a satire that takes itself a touch too seriously and goes a little too deep into the "bad weird" territory for me, in that it goes weird, but is not funny in doing so, just weird. At those moments, this one is off-putting. However, luckily, the moments where it is some quality satire and quite funny outnumber them. Also in the "pro" corner for this one is the great cast. I really liked George Clooney and Ewan McGregor here. Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey were not quite as good, but still turned in assured performances here. Ultimately, the moments where this one struggles mightily is when it takes itself too seriously and thinks it is being truly profound. As I said, these moments are not many when compared to the strong scenes, but those strong scenes are also short of being great. Overall, this one is an above average film that hits "pretty good" territory at moments, but is largely middle of the road.

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May 14, 2022

The Men Who Stare at Goats has a great cast, but the mixture of sheer absurdity and narrative incoherence make it a less memorable satire about the army.

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Oct 29, 2019

Reasonably entertaining with good performances but the ending is a stuff-up.

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See All 13 User Reviews

Details

Production Company BBC Film, Ruby Films, Smokehouse Pictures, Westgate Film Services, Winchester Capital Partners

Release Date Nov 6, 2009

Duration 1 h 34 m

Rating R

Genres

Tagline No goats. No glory.

View All Details

Awards

Central Ohio Film Critics Association

• 1 Win & 1 Nomination

Empire Awards, UK

• 1 Nomination

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