Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Moderate
- patriotic
- bombastic
- earnest
- classic war movie night
- john wayne marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as an overlong, clichéd, politically simplistic, and historically distorted presentation of the Vietnam War.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Colonel Mike Kirby's troops are portrayed as courageous defenders while the film frames the Vietnam War through an unapologetically pro-American viewpoint.
The Green Berets treats the Vietnam conflict in sharply binary terms, a simplification repeatedly identified in its critical reception.
Kirby's unit first defends and retakes a firebase, then receives orders to capture a high-level Viet Cong officer.
John Wayne's commanding screen presence and the large-scale firebase battles frame military action as heroic pageantry.
Films like The Green Berets, and why
Inchon
Vietnam War combat drama with a strongly patriotic, pro-military perspective and conventional battlefield heroics
Missing in Action
Vietnam War drama centered on American troops, military duty, and sharply defined ideological positions
Platoon
Vietnam conflict film whose overt political viewpoint and combat spectacle contrast with later anti-war treatments
The Sands of Iwo Jima
Patriotic military drama built around an iconic American star, mission structure, and idealized soldierly courage
Movie Details
- Directors
- John Wayne, Ray Kellogg
- Release Date
- 1968-07-04
- Runtime
- 142 min
- Rating
- 5.7 / 10 (197)
Cast
- John Wayne
- David Janssen
- Jim Hutton
- Aldo Ray
- Raymond St. Jacques
- Bruce Cabot
- Jack Soo
- George Takei
- Patrick Wayne
- Luke Askew
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 Green Berets about?
- A resolutely patriotic Vietnam War drama follows Colonel Mike Kirby and his Green Berets from firebase defense to a high-stakes Viet Cong capture mission.
- What is The Green Berets like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Green Berets as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.
- Is The Green Berets violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Green Berets as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Green Berets?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as an overlong, clichéd, politically simplistic, and historically distorted presentation of the Vietnam War.
- Which films are like The Green Berets?
- Films with a similar feel include Inchon, Missing in Action, Platoon, and The Sands of Iwo Jima.
- How long is The Green Berets?
- The Green Berets runs 142 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Green Berets?
- In United States, The Green Berets is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
