Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- earnest
- sentimental
- melancholic
- reflective evening
- family drama night
What critics said
Critics largely found the film overstuffed and heavy-handed, while consistently praising Kevin Costner's and Elijah Wood's performances and the father-son bond.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Stephen Simmons's Vietnam experiences shape his parenting, work problems, and attempts to reconnect with his family.
Stu and his friends confront a rival group of children while dealing with bullying and contested space.
The film combines Vietnam trauma, family hardship, bullying, and lessons about friendship in an explicitly sentimental register.
Stephen's personal and employment problems unfold alongside Stu's struggle with his friends and their rivals.
Films like The War, and why
Jacknife
shared focus on a vietnam veteran, family trauma, childhood conflict, and earnest dramatic storytelling
A Perfect World
shared father son bond, emotionally direct family drama, and themes of wounded masculinity
The Man in the Moon
shared child-centered conflict, coming-of-age perspective, and bittersweet small-town atmosphere
Coming Home
shared treatment of veterans returning to domestic life and the lingering psychological effects of war
Movie Details
- Director
- Jon Avnet
- Release Date
- 1994-11-04
- Runtime
- 126 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (233)
Cast
- Elijah Wood
- Kevin Costner
- Mare Winningham
- Lexi Randall
- LaToya Chisholm
- Christopher Fennell
- Donald Sellers
- Leon Sills
- Will West
- Lucas Black
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The War about?
- A Vietnam veteran’s struggle to rebuild his civilian life parallels his son’s bruising battle against childhood bullies and rivals.
- What is The War like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The War as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The War violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The War as mild.
- What did critics think of The War?
- Critics largely found the film overstuffed and heavy-handed, while consistently praising Kevin Costner's and Elijah Wood's performances and the father-son bond.
- Which films are like The War?
- Films with a similar feel include Jacknife, A Perfect World, The Man in the Moon, and Coming Home.
- How long is The War?
- The War runs 126 minutes.
- Where can I watch The War?
- In United States, The War is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
