Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- deadpan
- irreverent
- late night comedy
- double feature with war satire
What critics said
Critics generally found the film entertaining and performed with strong comic charisma, but considered its satire and dark humor less incisive than its premise promised.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The secret psychic unit, its bizarre training methods, and its mission to end war through paranormal techniques satirize military authority.
Bill Django's unit combines military objectives with meditation, psychic abilities, communal living, and hippie-influenced ideas.
Reporter Bob Wilton travels into a dangerous and bizarre military story while trying to escape the collapse of his marriage.
Psychic warfare, remote viewing, and staring at goats are presented through restrained performances and journalistic investigation.
Films like The Men Who Stare at Goats, and why
Burn After Reading
Shares an offbeat ensemble comedy style, eccentric male characters, deadpan humor, and absurd satire of American institutions.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Shares military absurdism, dark comedy, antiwar themes, and a surreal critique of institutional power.
The Big Lebowski
Shares a charismatic eccentric protagonist, countercultural themes, oddball humor, and an unconventional journey toward self-discovery.
Wag the Dog
Shares a skeptical outsider entering a bizarre world of conspiratorial power structures and darkly comic political satire.
Movie Details
- Director
- Grant Heslov
- Release Date
- 2009-10-17
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (2489)
Cast
- George Clooney
- Ewan McGregor
- Jeff Bridges
- Kevin Spacey
- Robert Patrick
- Stephen Lang
- Waleed Zuaiter
- Stephen Root
- Glenn Morshower
- Nick Offerman
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Starz Amazon Channel, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, CuriosityStream Apple TV channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Starz Apple TV channel, CuriosityStream Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel
- 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 Men Who Stare at Goats about?
- A heartbroken reporter follows a mysterious special forces operative into a bizarre psychic military conspiracy that turns warfare into deadpan farce.
- What is The Men Who Stare at Goats like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Men Who Stare at Goats as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Men Who Stare at Goats violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Men Who Stare at Goats as mild.
- What did critics think of The Men Who Stare at Goats?
- Critics generally found the film entertaining and performed with strong comic charisma, but considered its satire and dark humor less incisive than its premise promised.
- Which films are like The Men Who Stare at Goats?
- Films with a similar feel include Burn After Reading, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, The Big Lebowski, and Wag the Dog.
- How long is The Men Who Stare at Goats?
- The Men Who Stare at Goats runs 94 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Men Who Stare at Goats?
- In United States, The Men Who Stare at Goats streams on Amazon Prime Video, Starz Amazon Channel, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, CuriosityStream Apple TV channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Starz Apple TV channel, CuriosityStream Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel.
