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Poster for The Wild Geese

The Wild Geese

Seen it?

1978 | 134 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller, War

Sunday Safe Bet

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

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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