Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- serious
- intense
- earnest
- true story night
- social issue film night
What critics said
Critics generally found a complex central character and committed lead performance, but regarded the film as shapeless and emotionally vacant in its treatment of his story.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Sam Childers moves from addiction, prison, and biker violence toward Christianity, construction work, and building an orphanage.
Sam’s armed humanitarian work in Northern Uganda and South Sudan presents him as a Western protector while foregrounding the tensions of that role.
Sam builds an orphanage for children affected by the LRA but also fights with a machine gun when he believes protection requires it.
Sam’s history as an addicted gang biker and prisoner is contrasted with his defense of war-affected children.
Films like Machine Gun Preacher, and why
Hotel Rwanda
shared biographical drama, redemption arc, armed conflict, and morally complicated humanitarian intervention
Blood Diamond
shared true-story drama, African war setting, child endangerment, and conflicted outsider protagonist
The Last King of Scotland
shared action drama, religious conviction, personal transformation, and intervention in violent conflict
Beasts of No Nation
shared war drama, moral urgency, child soldiers, and contentious Western involvement in Africa
Movie Details
- Director
- Marc Forster
- Release Date
- 2011-09-23
- Runtime
- 129 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (1169)
Cast
- Gerard Butler
- Michelle Monaghan
- Kathy Baker
- Richard Goteri
- Peter Carey
- Barbara Coven
- Michael Shannon
- Ryann Campos
- Madeline Carroll
- Mandalynn Carlson
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz Apple TV channel
- Rent
- JustWatch TV, 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 Machine Gun Preacher about?
- A reformed Pittsburgh biker turns Christian missionary and armed protector after building an orphanage for children caught in the LRA’s war.
- What is Machine Gun Preacher like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Machine Gun Preacher as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Machine Gun Preacher violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Machine Gun Preacher as brutal.
- What did critics think of Machine Gun Preacher?
- Critics generally found a complex central character and committed lead performance, but regarded the film as shapeless and emotionally vacant in its treatment of his story.
- Which films are like Machine Gun Preacher?
- Films with a similar feel include Hotel Rwanda, Blood Diamond, The Last King of Scotland, and Beasts of No Nation.
- How long is Machine Gun Preacher?
- Machine Gun Preacher runs 129 minutes.
- Where can I watch Machine Gun Preacher?
- In United States, Machine Gun Preacher streams on fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz Apple TV channel.
