Bat★21
Seen it?1988 | 105 min | Action, War, Drama
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (82% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a lukewarm 6.3 out of 10 from audiences and soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for action fans and history buffs. If you loved We Were Soldiers or Apocalypse Now, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Intense.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 45 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Lt. Col. Iceal "Ham" Hambleton is a weapons countermeasures expert and when his aircraft is shot over enemy territory the Air Force very much wants to get him back. Hambleton knows the area he's in is going to be carpet-bombed but a temporary shortage of helicopters causes a delay. Working with an Air Force reconnaissance pilot, Capt. Bartholomew Clark, he maps out an escape route.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
82% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesBelow par
6.3 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$4 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 52K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Peter Markle
- Gene HackmanLt. Col. Iceal Hambleton
- Danny GloverCapt. Bartholomew Clark
- Jerry ReedCol. George Walker
- David Marshall GrantRoss Carver
- Clayton RohnerSgt. Harley Rumbaugh
- Erich AndersonMajor Jake Scott
- Joe DorseyCol. Douglass
- Michael NgVietnamese Man (as Rev. Michael Ng)
- Theodore Chan Woei-ShyongBoy on Bridge
- Don RuffinHelicopter Crew