Waco: The Rules of Engagement
Seen it?1997 | 136 min | Documentary
Saturday Specialearly ratingWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It earned strong reviews (88% on Rotten Tomatoes), despite a box office flop. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for the curious. If you loved Citizenfour or Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, start here.
- The mood
- Eye-opening.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 2 hr 16 min.
- What might put you off
- Nothing much for most grown-ups.
In one of the most tragic face-offs in the history of law enforcement, the deadly debacle at Waco pitted the Branch Davidian sect against the FBI in an all-out war. This documentary makes the most of footage and recordings to examine how the events that led to the tragedy of April 19, 1993, unfolded, and how the FBI's unrelenting approach made what was already a bad situation much worse.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
88% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsBelow par
Nominated for 1 Oscar.
- Reach & staying powerWeak
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 7K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
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Room 237
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Cast & crew
Directed by William Gazecki
- Dan GiffordNarrator (voice)
- Clive DoyleSelf - Branch Davidian
- Jack HarwellSelf - Sheriff
- Joseph PennoSelf - Former Chief, Houston Fire Department
- Dick J. ReavisSelf - Author
- James D. TaborSelf - Biblical Scholar
- David ThibodeauSelf - Branch Davidian
- Joe BidenSelf - U.S. Senate (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Sonny BonoSelf (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Howard CobleSelf - U.S. Congress (archive footage) (uncredited)