Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- tense
- heroic
- poignant
- war film marathon
- aviation movie night
What critics said
Critics found the World War II bomber drama entertaining and gripping, but overly conventional, clichéd, and limited by thinly differentiated characters.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Lt. Col. Bruce Derringer seeks to publicize the crew's prospective twenty-fifth success before the dangerous Bremen mission is complete.
The Memphis Belle crew faces its twenty-fifth and last mission after completing twenty-four successful sorties while other aircraft increasingly fail to return.
The ten officers and enlisted men have sharply different personalities and views but must operate together aboard the B-17 over enemy territory.
The central mission takes the B-17 into heavily threatened skies over Bremen, Germany, making military aviation action a defining visual feature.
Films like Memphis Belle, and why
The Dam Busters
shared world war ii aviation setting, bomber crews under mortal risk, and heroic combat drama
Twelve O'Clock High
shared wartime ensemble drama, dangerous military mission, and tension between duty and survival
Saving Private Ryan
shared world war ii combat, youthful soldiers, visceral mission suspense, and emphasis on camaraderie
Flight of the Intruder
shared aviation-centered war drama, confined crew dynamics, and perilous military action
Movie Details
- Director
- Michael Caton-Jones
- Release Date
- 1990-09-07
- Runtime
- 107 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (455)
Cast
- Matthew Modine
- Eric Stoltz
- Tate Donovan
- D. B. Sweeney
- Billy Zane
- Sean Astin
- Harry Connick Jr.
- Bradley Lavelle
- Reed Diamond
- Courtney Gains
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- DocuramaFilms 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 Memphis Belle about?
- A young B-17 crew confronts its most perilous sortie as wartime publicity turns a final mission into a symbol of hope.
- What is Memphis Belle like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Memphis Belle as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Memphis Belle violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Memphis Belle as graphic.
- What did critics think of Memphis Belle?
- Critics found the World War II bomber drama entertaining and gripping, but overly conventional, clichéd, and limited by thinly differentiated characters.
- Which films are like Memphis Belle?
- Films with a similar feel include The Dam Busters, Twelve O'Clock High, Saving Private Ryan, and Flight of the Intruder.
- How long is Memphis Belle?
- Memphis Belle runs 107 minutes.
- Where can I watch Memphis Belle?
- In United States, Memphis Belle streams on DocuramaFilms Amazon Channel.
