Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Moderate
- propulsive
- patriotic
- tense
- action movie night
- military thriller marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the remake's urgent low-fi action intermittently diverting but undermined by weak characterization, implausible logic, confused geopolitics, and bargain-bin effects.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jed, Matt, and their friends form the Wolverines after Spokane is invaded and their father is executed.
Marine veteran Jed and civilian Matt must cooperate as brothers while leading the resistance.
The remake updates the original's foreign-invasion premise while retaining its home-front guerrilla fantasy.
The battle scenes are described as having a propulsive urgency and an effective semi-documentary look.
Films like Red Dawn, and why
Red Dawn
Shared invasion premise, guerrilla warfare, patriotic action, and young civilians becoming resistance fighters.
Tomorrow, When the War Began
Shared military occupation, civilian resistance, urgent combat set pieces, and heightened geopolitical thriller tone.
The Hunger Games
Shared youthful resistance movement, occupied homeland, guerrilla tactics, and accessible action-adventure style.
Movie Details
- Director
- Dan Bradley
- Release Date
- 2012-03-15
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 5.7 / 10 (1787)
Cast
- Chris Hemsworth
- Josh Peck
- Josh Hutcherson
- Isabel Lucas
- Adrianne Palicki
- Connor Cruise
- Edwin Hodge
- Jeffrey Dean Morgan
- Michael Beach
- Alyssa Diaz
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- 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 Red Dawn about?
- After a North Korean invasion of Spokane, a Marine veteran and his friends transform into the Wolverines, a guerrilla force fighting to reclaim their occupied home.
- What is Red Dawn like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Red Dawn as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Red Dawn violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Red Dawn as moderate.
- What did critics think of Red Dawn?
- Critics broadly found the remake's urgent low-fi action intermittently diverting but undermined by weak characterization, implausible logic, confused geopolitics, and bargain-bin effects.
- Which films are like Red Dawn?
- Films with a similar feel include Red Dawn, Tomorrow, When the War Began, and The Hunger Games.
- How long is Red Dawn?
- Red Dawn runs 93 minutes.
- Where can I watch Red Dawn?
- In United States, Red Dawn is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex.
