Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- tense
- somber
- gritty
- historical film night
- war cinema marathon
What critics said
Danish critics generally found the film an effective and favorable, though uneven, dramatization of the opening German invasion of Denmark.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story follows second lieutenant Sand and his bicycle company through the first Danish encounters with German forces.
The Danish unit is ordered to delay Europe's strongest army until reinforcements can mobilize, despite overwhelming disadvantages.
The film dramatizes Germany's April 9, 1940 invasion of Denmark through Danish soldiers in Southern Jutland.
The plot unfolds across the fatal morning's military movements as the bicycle and motorcycle companies meet the enemy in combat.
Films like April 9th, and why
Dunkirk
shared World War II combat drama, battlefield realism, and focus on ordinary soldiers facing overwhelming forces
The Unknown Soldier
shared historical war setting, intimate soldier-level perspective, and morally serious atmosphere
Land of Mine
shared grounded military drama, tactical urgency, and emphasis on men under extreme battlefield pressure
Movie Details
- Director
- Roni Ezra
- Release Date
- 2015-03-12
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (117)
Cast
- Pilou Asbæk
- Lars Mikkelsen
- Gustav Dyekjær Giese
- Martin Greis-Rosenthal
- Joachim Fjelstrup
- Jannik Lorenzen
- Elliott Crosset Hove
- Mikkel Bentzen
- Ari Alexander
- Mathias Lundkvist
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video
- Buy
- Amazon Video
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is April 9th about?
- A Danish bicycle company confronts an overwhelming German invasion force during the first hours of World War II.
- What is April 9th like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of April 9th as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is April 9th violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in April 9th as brutal.
- What did critics think of April 9th?
- Danish critics generally found the film an effective and favorable, though uneven, dramatization of the opening German invasion of Denmark.
- Which films are like April 9th?
- Films with a similar feel include Dunkirk, The Unknown Soldier, and Land of Mine.
- How long is April 9th?
- April 9th runs 93 minutes.
- Where can I watch April 9th?
- In United States, April 9th streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
