
The Wild Geese
Seen it?1978 | 134 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller, War
Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It's still drawing plenty of interest, though it had a box office loss. 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 anyone who likes to be kept guessing, action fans and history buffs. If you loved Blood Diamond, start here.
- The mood
- Tense, intense.
- The pace
- Fast-moving, at 2 hr 14 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
- Made in 1978: an older pace and style.
A British multinational company seeks to overthrow a vicious dictator in central Africa. It hires a band of (largely aged) mercenaries in London and sends them in to save the virtuous but imprisoned opposition leader who is also critically ill and due for execution. Just when the team has performed a perfect rescue, the multinational does a deal with the vicious dictator leaving the mercenary band to escape under their own steam and exact revenge.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsSolid
70% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
6.8 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$10 million worldwide on a $12 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 161K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
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ProtectorSunday Safe BetAnother kidnapping action film, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Blood DiamondSaturday SpecialAnother thriller, and a Saturday Special.
Redemption DayMonday Morning MaybeAnother kidnapping action film. Fair warning: it's a Monday Morning Maybe.
KandaharWeeknight WatchAnother action film, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen
- Richard BurtonCol. Allen Faulkner
- Richard HarrisCapt. Rafer Janders
- Roger MooreLt. Shawn Fynn
- Hardy KrügerLt. Pieter Coetze
- Stewart GrangerSir Edward Matherson
- John KaniSgt. Jesse Blake
- Jack WatsonRSM Sandy Young
- Frank FinlayFr. Geoghagen
- Kenneth GriffithArthur Witty
- Ronald FraserSgt. Jock McTaggart