Apocalypse Now (1979)
Francis Ford Coppola's Vietnam War epic — a harrowing journey into darkness, madness, and the moral abyss of armed conflict.
Apocalypse Now - Movie Information
- Original Title: Apocalypse Now
- Release Year: 1979
- Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, War
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 2h 27m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: Khmer, English, French, Vietnamese
- Release Date (Theatrical): September 26, 1979 (France - TP), August 28, 1987 (United States - R), August 10, 2001 (Canada - 18A), April 3, 1992 (United Kingdom - 15), October 4, 1979 (Germany - 16), July 20, 2019 (New Zealand), November 15, 1979 (Australia - R 18+), December 16, 1979 (Brazil - 16), March 20, 1980 (Mexico - C), December 18, 1979 (Italy - VM14), November 7, 1979 (Spain - 18), June 4, 1988 (South Korea)
- Alternative Titles: Apocalypse Now Redux (US), Dommedag nu (DK), Апокалипса данас (RS), Haminak Akharozzaman (IR), 地甚の默示録 (JP), Šių dienų Apokalipsė. Sugrįžimas (LT), Kiyamet (TR), Ilmestyskirja. Nyt. (FI)
- Production Companies: American Zoetrope
- Production Countries: United States of America
Apocalypse Now - Plot
At the height of the Vietnam war, Captain Benjamin Willard is sent on a dangerous mission that, officially, "does not exist, nor will it ever exist." His goal is to locate - and eliminate - a mysterious Green Beret Colonel named Walter Kurtz, who has been leading his personal army on illegal guerrilla missions into enemy territory.
Apocalypse Now - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and experience the descent into darkness:
This is the end...
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Apocalypse Now - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Francis Ford Coppola
Main Cast
- Martin Sheen
- Marlon Brando
- Frederic Forrest
- Albert Hall
- Laurence Fishburne
- Sam Bottoms
- Robert Duvall
- G.D. Spradlin
- Harrison Ford
- Jerry Ziesmer
Writers
- John Milius
- Francis Ford Coppola
Producers
- Francis Ford Coppola
Apocalypse Now - FAQs
Is Apocalypse Now based on a true story?
Apocalypse Now is not based on a true story, but it is loosely adapted from Joseph Conrad's 1899 novella Heart of Darkness. The screenplay by John Milius and Francis Ford Coppola transplants Conrad's colonial African setting to the Vietnam War, drawing on real historical events and documented atrocities of that conflict for authenticity.
Where can you stream Apocalypse Now?
Apocalypse Now is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It can also be streamed for free with ads on Fandango at Home Free and Plex. Check JustWatch for the most current availability in your region.
What does the ending of Apocalypse Now mean?
The ending, in which Willard kills Kurtz, represents the confrontation between institutional order and the chaos of unchecked power. Kurtz has embraced the horror of war completely, while Willard, by completing his mission, becomes complicit in the same moral darkness he was sent to eradicate — a deliberate, ambiguous moral collapse.
Who are the main actors in Apocalypse Now?
The film stars Martin Sheen as Captain Benjamin Willard and Marlon Brando as the enigmatic Colonel Walter Kurtz. The supporting cast includes Robert Duvall, Laurence Fishburne, Frederic Forrest, Albert Hall, Sam Bottoms, Harrison Ford, G.D. Spradlin, and Jerry Ziesmer.
What is the age rating for Apocalypse Now?
Apocalypse Now is rated R in the United States, meaning viewers under 17 require accompanying parental guidance. The film contains intense depictions of war violence, disturbing imagery, strong language, and themes of psychological breakdown, drug use, and moral corruption throughout its runtime.
Did Apocalypse Now win any major awards?
Apocalypse Now won two Academy Awards: Best Cinematography for Vittorio Storaro and Best Sound. It also shared the Palme d'Or at the 1979 Cannes Film Festival alongside The Tin Drum. The film has since been widely recognized as one of the greatest movies ever made.
How long is Apocalypse Now?
The original theatrical cut of Apocalypse Now runs approximately 147 minutes (2 hours 27 minutes). The extended Redux version, released in 2001, runs approximately 202 minutes (3 hours 22 minutes), restoring scenes cut from the original release, including the French plantation sequence.
What is Apocalypse Now about?
Set during the Vietnam War, the film follows Captain Benjamin Willard on a classified mission to locate and kill rogue Colonel Walter Kurtz, who commands a private army in Cambodia. The journey becomes a descent into madness, exploring the psychological toll of war, the nature of evil, and the collapse of moral order.
More About Apocalypse Now
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