War Horse

Name: War Horse
Genre: War
Released: December 25, 2011
Duration: 146 min
Rating: 72

2011

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 40 Critics

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 362 Ratings

See All

6.7

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6.7	Your Score
6.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 362 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

WAR HORSE

Movie Details & Credits

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | Release Date: December 25, 2011

Summary: Set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War, War Horse begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him. When they are forcefully parted, the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war,Set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War, War Horse begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him. When they are forcefully parted, the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets—British cavalry, German soldiers, and a French farmer and his granddaughter—before the story reaches its emotional climax in the heart of No Man's Land. The First World War is experienced through the journey of this horse—an odyssey of joy and sorrow, passionate friendship and high adventure. War Horse is one of the great stories of friendship and war—a successful book, it was turned into a hugely successful international theatrical hit that is arriving on Broadway next year. It now comes to screen in an epic adaptation by one of the great directors in film history. (DreamWorks Pictures)

… Expand

Director: Steven Spielberg

Genre(s): War

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 146 min

See All Details and Credits

Awards & Rankings

31	#31 Most Discussed Movie of 2011
76	#76 Most Shared Movie of 2011

Watch Now

Buy On

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

New York Magazine (Vulture) - David Edelstein

Dec 26, 2011

Spielberg has been ridiculed for shooting his actors from below against impossibly Spielbergian skies and a denouement that lays the love on copiously. But there's nothing simpleminded about how he uses movie magic, as a spell to dispel nihilism, to save us from the worst of ourselves by summoning up the best. Read full review

100

Observer - Rex Reed

Dec 20, 2011

War Horse is a don't-miss Spielberg classic that reaches true perfection. Read full review

Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert

Dec 21, 2011

War Horse is bold, not afraid of sentiment and lets out all the stops in magnificently staged action sequences. Its characters are clearly defined and strongly played by charismatic actors. Its message is a universal one. Read full review

Charlotte Observer - Lawrence Toppman

Dec 19, 2011

For certain movies, the adjectives "formulaic" and "predictable" are complimentary. War Horse is one of them. Read full review

San Francisco Chronicle - Mick LaSalle

Dec 22, 2011

There are extraordinary and beautiful things in War Horse, enough of them to make the movie a pleasure and a worthwhile experience, though not enough to trick the eye or get you believing this movie hangs together. Read full review

Los Angeles Times - Betsy Sharkey

Dec 26, 2011

Has the sweep of a classic John Ford movie, the sentiment of Frank Capra and a spirited steed named Joey who will steal your heart. The film itself is more difficult to love. Read full review

Boxoffice Magazine - Amy Nicholson

Dec 16, 2011

Director Steven Spielberg doesn't have a steady grip on War Horse's careening tone, but he'll be damned if there's not 15 minutes in there for everyone. Read full review

SEE ALL 40 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

CINEFILO

Dec 25, 2011

It is an emotional journey in full gallop. The project is tailored for Spielberg's 'Saving Private Ryan', a specialist in military history and also for Spielberg's 'ET', the chronicler of infantile wishes and desires family.

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

JohnMasterL

Oct 20, 2015

Spielberg sabe manejar perfectamente la acción y el drama en esta gran película. Una bella historia con muchos personajes bien desarrollados gracias a la estupenda dirección de Spielberg, no es su mejor película, pero es sin duda alguna una increíble película.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

alejandro970

Feb 10, 2019

Emotive story about the unbreakable bond of beast and master. No dull moments; supported by dynamic battle sequences and remarkable british performances. Not exactly the best of Spielberg but it´s a good choice for a friday evening.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

shrapnel77

Oct 4, 2013

Torn between a six or a seven,I felt generous. While the movie is well made, as all Spielberg movies usually are, there is an empty involvement throughout the film that this is a war picture. You rarely, if ever, see any horse or human getting shot. You hear the gun, then see the dead horseTorn between a six or a seven,I felt generous. While the movie is well made, as all Spielberg movies usually are, there is an empty involvement throughout the film that this is a war picture. You rarely, if ever, see any horse or human getting shot. You hear the gun, then see the dead horse pulling artillery. You see machine guns blazing away (no sound), then see dead horses and men in a field. Spielberg dances around the issue that this is war. It is disgusting, ugly and vile, but we are carefully steered of that fact. It is a movie for younger kids, so I get he does not want them to be upset of the real travesty that war is. Man is disgusting and ugly, yet here he gets a pass.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

FilipeNeto

Jul 6, 2018

The film basically tells the story of a horse that participated in World War I, like thousands of others. Contrary to many people, I think this movie is not just the story of a horse nor is it focused for people who are fond of horses. It spite of that, it uses the story of a particularThe film basically tells the story of a horse that participated in World War I, like thousands of others. Contrary to many people, I think this movie is not just the story of a horse nor is it focused for people who are fond of horses. It spite of that, it uses the story of a particular horse to focus on a subject we rarely think about: the horse's indispensable help to humans. The horse was essential to our society over the centuries, both at peace and at war. He has been man's best friend, much more useful and important than the dog itself, and the film shows this very well, just like the affective bond that can be built between man and animal. I also liked the way the trenches and the war scenario was rebuilt. Everything seemed quite realistic and according to the historical truth, so I was able to ignore any hypothetical inaccuracies in the details. Jeremy Irvine did very well on the main human character, perfectly up to the challenge, as well as most of the supporting cast. It has been nominated for six Oscars and, although it hasn't won any of them, this is already a prize in itself, it's not?… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

wordy_actions

Jan 19, 2012

A bizarre mix of good and bad scenes. Some scenes are beautifully shot and very well paced. Others are predictable and schmaltzy. There's also infuriating censorship throughout the whole movie. God forbid we see someone get shot in a WAR movie. This movie makes me wish Spielberg would justA bizarre mix of good and bad scenes. Some scenes are beautifully shot and very well paced. Others are predictable and schmaltzy. There's also infuriating censorship throughout the whole movie. God forbid we see someone get shot in a WAR movie. This movie makes me wish Spielberg would just ditch the horse, make the movie rated R, and do a war movie that actually has emotional resonance. It's hard for me to care about a damn horse when there are thousand of humans dying all around it.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

MovieMan12

Jun 28, 2013

This is a stunningly disaster of a movie. Complete rubbish. I don't recommend this to anybody that has taste in movies. Pointless stupid film. Speilberg needs to get back to what he does best.

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

SEE ALL 134 REVIEWS