Farewell to the King
Seen it?1989 | 117 min | War, Adventure
Weeknight Watchearly ratingWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With middling reviews (55% on Rotten Tomatoes) and a box office loss, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for adventure fans and history buffs. If you loved The Thin Red Line or Letters from Iwo Jima, start here.
- The mood
- Intense.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 57 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG-13: peril. Probably too much for younger kids.
An American soldier who escapes the execution of his comrades by Japanese soldiers in Borneo during WWII becomes the leader of a personal empire among the headhunters in this war story told in the style of Joseph Conrad and Rudyard Kipling. The American is reluctant to rejoin the fight against the Japanese on the urging of a British commando team but conducts a war of vengeance when the Japanese attack his adopted people.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
55% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$3 million worldwide on a $16 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 29K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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The Thin Red Line
Saturday SpecialAlso stars Nick Nolte, in another war story, and a Saturday Special.
Letters from Iwo Jima
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed war story.
Force 10 from Navarone Weeknight WatchAnother war adventure, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Full Metal Jacket Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed war story.
From Here to Eternity Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed war story.
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Cast & crew
Directed by John Milius
- Nick NolteLearoyd
- Nigel HaversCapt. Fairbourne
- Marilyn TokudaYoo
- Frank McRaeSgt. Tenga
- Gerry LopezGwai
- James FoxCol. Ferguson
- Marius WeyersSgt. Conklin
- John Bennett PerryGen. MacArthur
- Aki AleongCol. Mitamura
- Elan OberonVivienne