Behind Enemy Lines

Name: Behind Enemy Lines
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller, War
Released: November 30, 2001
Duration: 106 min
Rating: 49
Cast: Gene Hackman, Owen Wilson

2001

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 29 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 66 Ratings

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6.2

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6.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 66 Ratings

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Behind Enemy Lines

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: November 30, 2001 | PG-13

Starring: Gene Hackman, Owen Wilson

Summary: A Navy pilot (Wilson) is shot down over enemy territory, and struggles to survive the relentless pursuit of a ruthless secret police enforcer, a deadly tracker, and countless hostile troops. With time running out, the injured pilot's commanding officer (Hackman) goes against orders to carry out a desperate rescue mission. (20th Century Fox)

Director: John Moore

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Thriller, War

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 106 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Michael O'Sullivan

Its real agenda is rip-roaring adventure, and that it delivers all wrapped up with a bow. Read full review

Chris Kaltenbach

It's plenty thrilling, and it appeals to the flag-waving patriot in all of us.

Richard Schickel

The journey is never boring, and it's morally satisfying too. O.K., the movie is what Hollywood likes to call "a ride." But it's one worth taking.

New Times (L.A.) Robert Wilonsky

The film desperately wants to play like "Three Kings," a war film with a guilty conscience, but it's too pat and familiar to earn its high-minded stripes. Read full review

Mike Clark

There's nothing very rockin' about seeing Gene Hackman give a rare indifferent performance as a Navy admiral trying to effect a rescue for which his hands are tied. Read full review

Marc Savlov

You get the feeling the filmmakers didn't want to make anyone think too hard about what's going on here behind the scenes of the main storyline, and that's more than a little insulting. Read full review

Gareth Von Kallenbach

Sadly, it seems that the people behind this film saw a quick buck over quality and gave audiences a turkey. Read full review

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User Reviews

Heather

Mar 18, 2007

fantastic film, one i could watch over and over again

1 of 1 users found this helpful

Sam

Oct 16, 2005

It has great effects and performances, but without Mr. Wilson and Hackman, it just wouldn't have been as good.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

Aug 9, 2007

Some great action sequences and two strong central performances make this a superior blockbuster. John Moores direction is perfectly suited for this sort of fair and the critical reaction of 49 really is a bit shocking.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

forgedsledge

Feb 26, 2023

Imagine, some Saturday afternoon roughly 20ish years ago, I had just finished up watching a movie on a "free HBO weekend" (those were a thing) and with nothing else better to watch I started what would become one of my favorite military movies of all-time, Behind Enemy Lines. I nearly turnedImagine, some Saturday afternoon roughly 20ish years ago, I had just finished up watching a movie on a "free HBO weekend" (those were a thing) and with nothing else better to watch I started what would become one of my favorite military movies of all-time, Behind Enemy Lines. I nearly turned it off at first because it starred Owen Wilson, an actor who was in a string of annoying comedy films that I refused to watch, but I decided to give it a chance and... I'm so glad I did. While Owen Wilson jokes around on a couple of occasions, this is far from a comedy. While the setup is simple, a fighter pilot and his navigator (Wilson) go on a routine reconnaissance mission when they're shot down and crash behind enemy lines, it's what follows that makes the movie great. Gene Hackman is a commanding presence as always, and Wilson is witty and actually kinda likeable as an action star. While it's far from an Oscar award winning movie, it's still a fun popcorn flick.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Tyranian

Nov 3, 2019

Reasonably entertaining but pretty stupid in parts, acting is fine and some of the action is cool.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

kublay0880

Dec 19, 2012

Even though I don't consider Owen Wilson an action nor dramatic actor I believe this is his best job as of yet. Of course the movie has Gene Hackman in it, but the director manages to make you focus on Wilson. Great action scenes with very realistic effects and a good story. But overall it'sEven though I don't consider Owen Wilson an action nor dramatic actor I believe this is his best job as of yet. Of course the movie has Gene Hackman in it, but the director manages to make you focus on Wilson. Great action scenes with very realistic effects and a good story. But overall it's just another action movie.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

recky

Jun 10, 2017

This is bull...."We are good they are bad".Just remember Madeleine Albright and William Walker "the body counter".Just follow CIA and you start counting terrorist attacks.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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89	#89 Most Discussed Movie of 2001
35	#35 Most Shared Movie of 2001