SummaryDuring the Vietnam War, Captain Willard is sent on a dangerous mission into Cambodia to assassinate a renegade colonel who has set himself up as a god among a local tribe.
Directed By:Francis Ford Coppola
Written By:John Milius, Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Herr, Joseph Conrad
Apocalypse Now
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
94
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.7
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Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
94
93% Positive
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
7% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
100
Apocalypse Now is the ultimate war movie, a riveting adventure story, a searching and deeply committed probing of the moral problem of the Vietnam War -- and something more than all of these, transcending categories and genres in a way that only true art, and specifically true movie art, does at its best. The film seethes with violence, horror, madness, irony, humor, sweetness, anger, despair and hope, but the seething is controlled by the hand of a master. [20 Aug 1979, p.57]
100
Apocalypse Now was worth the wait. Alternately a brilliant and bizarre film, Francis Coppola’s four year ‘work in progress’ offers the definitive validation to the old saw, “war is hell.”
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.7
91% Positive
756 Ratings
756 Ratings
5% Mixed
44 Ratings
44 Ratings
4% Negative
31 Ratings
31 Ratings
May 6, 2026
10
Greetings from Lithuania.
"Apocalypse Now" (1979) is to simply put - a true movie masterpiece. There isn't anything new that can be said in a praise for this movie. This is one of a few best war movies ever made, and this is simply one of the top 5 movies ever made.I don't even know where should i start to praise this movie. This movie is probably one of the cases where you not only "love it" or "hate it" - "Apocalypse Now" won't leave anyone, and by anyone i mean casual or true movie buff in some way "unmoved" - it has everything (well maybe except for a love story- but save that for a "Director's Cut")."Apocalypse Now" is in some sort a "road movie". It is also a "war movie". It is also a "finding yourself" or even "coming of age story". It is about finding a true horror in surrounding of nature, and how this horror becomes part of you. But no matter the way in which you will see this masterpiece - one thing is clear - it is simply one of the best movies ever made.Overall, i saw the original cut like 3 or 4 times, and 2 times "Director's Cut". For all rookies of "Apocalypse Now" I would recommend the original cut first, and after this masterpiece will become a part of your mind, then you can see "Director's Cut" - it is a deeper road into a rabbit **** now in 2025 after seeing it on 4K UHD disk "Final Cut" I can only urge to rewatch it - this is the definitive edition **** movie.
Mar 27, 2026
10
One of the two greatest war-themed movies ever made (along with Saving Private Ryan). Whereas the other focused on the Greatest Generation and their struggles during a moral crusade in Europe, this one focuses on the sheer madness and horror of the American conflict in Vietnam. It's also an adaptation of the novel Heart of Darkness.
100
A film that needs to be seen on the big screen.
100
As befits both its tortuous hand-to-mouth genesis and the devastating conflict it reflects, this is a film of pure sensation, dazzling audiences with light and noise, laying bare the stark horror – and unimaginable thrill – of combat. And therein lies the true heart of darkness: if war is hell and heaven intertwined, where does morality fit in? And, in the final apocalyptic analysis, will any of it matter?
100
Coppola and Murch have balanced their new edit with grace notes of sweetness, elegance and eroticism, and the payoff is grand, providing both a reprieve from the multiple blitzkriegs and a break in the monotony of the cruise up the Nung.
88
Coppola, with his bravura style of direction, has created a movie of harrowing intensity and staggering power. But if you accept the belief that art should enlighten and illuminate as well as arouse the emotions, I’m afraid that Apocalypse Now does not qualify as great art.
40
The finished film remains a mess of tangled, turgid continuity and florid, mock-operatic style -- at best a collection of production numbers and set pieces waiting in rain for a story capable of accumulating suspense and meaning.
Oct 20, 2024
10
“I love the smell of napalm in the morning,” proclaims Col. Kilgore (Duvall), a crazed Vietnam war lieutenant who blasts “Ride of the Valkyries” during helicopter attacks before surfing in the decimated villages. Duvall steals the show in Francis Ford Coppola’s episodic Vietnam saga, based in part on Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. Martin Sheen stars as Capt. Willard, who’s sent on a perilous mission through Cambodia to assassinate the renegade Col. Kurtz (Marlon Brando). Along the way he and his team have several harrowing, hallucinatory occurrences, including their encounter with Kilgore. The role brought Duvall a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination, which he lost to Melvin Douglas (Being There); he did, however, win the BAFTA prize and tied Douglas at the Globes.
Dec 12, 2025
6
Apocalypse Now presents important examples of both the horrors of war and the extent in which a man can become a monster when unchecked, even if it’s grueling run time and extremely slow burn may make some say “The horror”.
Oct 27, 2015
6
A superb central performance from Martin Sheen and some truly memorable scenes almost, but doesn’t quite, make up for the often uneven slow pace.
Nov 26, 2024
3
esta película, a pesar de que cae hecha por Copola es muy lenta y aburrida No recomendaría ver esta película de Vietnam si quieren ver una buena película de Vietnam vean vean si el casador, Se hace muy larga el director queríamos mostrar muchas cosas y se quedó corto lo importante, La película dura mas de 3 horas y no se abarca bien a muchos personajes y hay escenas que sí hace muy largas, Si la película hubiera demorado 1:30 h hubiera esta en perfecto pero tenía que demorar más de 3 horas, En mi opinión película como full metaljacket o el cazado Son mucho mejores y abarca menos tiempo, tambien, El razonamiento de muchos de los protagonistas especialmente los villanos se hacen muy raros o difícil de entender, La trama va de un lado para otro y si hace muy aburrida no tiene ningún tipo de ahí attention getter, Ni nada por el estilo. Muy mala película de guerra.
Production Company:
- American Zoetrope
- Zoetrope Studios
Release Date:Aug 15, 1979
Duration:2 h 33 m
Rating:R
Tagline:The Horror. . . The Horror. . .
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 2 Wins & 8 Nominations
Golden Globes, USA
• 3 Wins & 4 Nominations
BAFTA Awards
• 2 Wins & 9 Nominations
