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Black Hawk Down

Play trailer 2:25 Poster for Black Hawk Down R 2002 2h 24m War Drama Action Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
77% Tomatometer 172 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
In 1993, the U.S. sends special forces into Somalia to destabilize the government and bring food and humanitarian aid to the starving population. Using Black Hawk helicopters to lower the soldiers onto the ground, an unexpected attack by Somalian forces brings two of the helicopters down immediately. From there, the U.S. soldiers must struggle to regain their balance while enduring heavy gunfire.
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Black Hawk Down

Black Hawk Down

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Critics Consensus

Though it's light on character development and cultural empathy, Black Hawk Down is a visceral, pulse-pounding portrait of war, elevated by Ridley Scott's superb technical skill.

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Critics Reviews

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Lisa Alspector Chicago Reader 11/08/2011
I also don't know how well this 2001 drama represents the events of October 3 and 4, 1993, though I can see that it represents them in a realist vein, referring to other war movies without becoming frivolous. Go to Full Review
Richard Schickel TIME Magazine 11/08/2011
Black Hawk Down makes that point without preachment, in precise and pitiless imagery. And for that reason alone it takes its place on the very short list of the unforgettable movies about war and its ineradicable and immeasurable costs. Go to Full Review
Todd McCarthy Variety 01/02/2009
A relentless immersion in combat strikingly realized but none too pleasurable to sit through. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 11/12/2023
2/4
For the most part, the unflagging sound and fury make it impossible to identify with these characters as individuals, since their primary function seems to be to serve as anonymous slabs of American fortitude. Go to Full Review
Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies 08/19/2022
5/5
“Black Hawk Down” is an intense, visceral experience. It's gritty action one minute and deeply moving the next. But it never loses sight of its main focus – the soldiers. Go to Full Review
Jim Rohner Battleship Pretension 04/14/2021
...arguably the best performance of Josh Hartnett's career... Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Chris S @Janomi 1h Black Hawk Down is excellent because the combat feels relentless, chaotic, and overwhelming. Once the mission falls apart, the movie barely lets up, and Ridley Scott makes the danger feel immediate through streets, rooftops, alleys, crash sites, and constantly shifting positions. The cast helps the soldiers feel like part of a larger unit instead of one obvious movie hero. Josh Hartnett gives the film a steady young-leader presence, Ewan McGregor brings an ordinary-soldier perspective, Eric Bana adds hardened confidence, and Tom Sizemore and William Fichtner give the command structure grit and authority. The technical craft is outstanding. The sound, editing, cinematography, helicopters, gunfire, explosions, and production design make the battle immersive and exhausting. The character depth is limited because the movie is so focused on the battle itself, but Black Hawk Down is intense, expertly made, and gripping. See more Romas M @Romas 13h Greetings from Lithuania. "Black Hawk Down" (2001) is an excellent war movie. Its brutal, raw, down to earth and shows the war as it is. This is great film make by a legendary Ridley Scott, and one of his best. I have seen this movie more then 3 times, and its one of those films that are done so well that you can't really tire from watching it from time to time. A recent release on 4K UHD was the way i was watching it recently, and its a blast - audio and video is top notch and truly puts you in a middle of action scenes. Overall, "Black Hawk Down" features a stellar cast, but it doesn't focuses on a main soldier or squad, and that was a very refreshing thing to see in a war film back in 2001 and a bold move by creators. Because its a story about the event itself. Cinematography, editing, sound design are very impressive in this film and directing by R. Scott was truly what elevated this movie from a bunch. Its an excellent war movie. See more bruce C @bruce999 Aug 3 a mission becomes increasingly difficult. ...trying to save everyone leads to more deaths. Likely this movie is well done for military, but for others...i'd stay away too much death , killing, destruction, with no real emotion. See more Sylvester C @francisco67 Jun 27 Once the shooting starts, it doesn’t stop until the end. And while the constant action can be a bit overwhelming at times, it only makes the conclusion that much more relieving and satisfying. Understandably a classic. See more Pedro Henrique C @Pedro2005 Jun 17 Black Hawk Down (2002) This movie has a huge action sequence that only ends in the final minutes of the final act. That was amazing! The direction manages to create a great war atmosphere. See more Kau M @KauaMiguel Jun 14 Great movie, dynamic characters, building brotherhood and how important brotherhood is, but the feeling, even though it's an incredible film with great direction, script and cast, is that I'll forget it in a week, but that's just a personal opinion that doesn't make the film any worse. See more Read all reviews
Black Hawk Down

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1993, the U.S. sends special forces into Somalia to destabilize the government and bring food and humanitarian aid to the starving population. Using Black Hawk helicopters to lower the soldiers onto the ground, an unexpected attack by Somalian forces brings two of the helicopters down immediately. From there, the U.S. soldiers must struggle to regain their balance while enduring heavy gunfire.
Director
Ridley Scott
Producer
Jerry Bruckheimer
Screenwriter
Mark Bowden, Ken Nolan
Distributor
Columbia TriStar Home Video, Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Tristar, Cascade Film, Svensk Filmindustri (SF) AB, Revolution Studios
Production Co
Columbia Pictures Corporation, Revolution Studios, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Scott Free Productions
Rating
R (Intense Realistic War Violence|Intense Graphic War Violence|Language)
Genre
War, Drama, Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 18, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$108.6M
Runtime
2h 24m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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