Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- tense
- harrowing
- urgent
- war movie marathon
- action movie night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film tense and involving, with strong performances and sharp cinematography, but faulted its simplistic politics and video-game-style war action.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
After freeing Elsa and Amen, the special-forces team must abandon the original extraction plan and cross inhospitable land while pursued by the Taliban.
Kovax, Tic-Tac, Lucas, Elias, Victor, and Marius remain committed to protecting one another and Elsa during the escape.
Elsa and Amen are abducted because their reporting can be weaponized against Western governments.
The group’s escape depends on crossing unforgiving Afghan and Pakistani terrain without radios while Taliban forces pursue them.
Films like Special Forces, and why
The Mission
French military action drama centered on a rescue mission, combat-unit camaraderie, and survival in hostile terrain
Body of Lies
War-zone rescue thriller combining journalistic vulnerability, armed pursuit, and tense battlefield action
Lone Survivor
Gritty military survival drama focused on a small unit under pressure in an unforgiving conflict zone
A Mighty Heart
Journalist-in-danger war thriller with hostage-taking, political violence, and morally charged rescue efforts
Movie Details
- Director
- Stéphane Rybojad
- Release Date
- 2011-11-02
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (646)
Cast
- Diane Kruger
- Djimon Hounsou
- Benoît Magimel
- Denis Ménochet
- Raphaël Personnaz
- Alain Figlarz
- Alain Alivon
- Mehdi Nebbou
- Raz Degan
- Tchéky Karyo
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Special Forces about?
- A French special-forces unit races across hostile Afghan-Pakistani terrain after rescuing a kidnapped journalist from Taliban captivity.
- What is Special Forces like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Special Forces as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Special Forces violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Special Forces as graphic.
- What did critics think of Special Forces?
- Critics generally found the film tense and involving, with strong performances and sharp cinematography, but faulted its simplistic politics and video-game-style war action.
- Which films are like Special Forces?
- Films with a similar feel include The Mission, Body of Lies, Lone Survivor, and A Mighty Heart.
- How long is Special Forces?
- Special Forces runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch Special Forces?
- In United States, Special Forces is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube.
