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Sports film

Bennett's War (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Bennett's War (2019) movie poster

Bennett's War is a 2019 sports film directed by Alex Ranarivelo, starring Michael Roark as Marshall Bennett, Allison Paige and Trace Adkins. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes and earned $1.1 million worldwide. Critics gave it 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10.

IMDb rating
6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes
50%
worldwide gross
$1.1M
Echo Score
63
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Bennett's War (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 34m (94 min)
Director
Alex Ranarivelo
Genre
Sport
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Bennett's War About?

The premise of Bennett's War without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

After returning home from combat, a decorated soldier struggles with the lingering effects of war. Marshall Bennett seeks a way to heal and redeem himself, finding purpose and excitement in the competitive world of motocross racing. He fights to overcome personal demons while also striving to save his family’s farm from financial ruin.

Bennett's War Themes & Keywords

· 23 tags
  • motocross
  • military
  • motorcycle
  • recovering from injury
  • medical discharge from army
  • teaser
  • veteran
  • view through rifle scope
  • ied
  • time jump
  • underdog
  • traumatic injury
+11 more
  • husband wife relationship
  • punched in the face
  • pantsing
  • broken leg
  • iranian american
  • reference to loretta lynn
  • written by director
  • actress shares first name with character
  • actor shares first name with character
  • trailer
  • movie clips
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Cast & crew

Bennett's War Cast & Characters

Michael Roark leads the cast as Marshall Bennett, with Allison Paige as Sophie Bennett and Trace Adkins as Cal Bennett. Directed by Alex Ranarivelo; 9 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Bennett's War

· 5 more
From the director

More from Alex Ranarivelo

More films directed by Alex Ranarivelo, best-rated first: Born a Champion, A Christmas Mystery, The Dog Lover and Pray for Rain.

Full filmography
Ratings

Bennett's War Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Bennett's War 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 63/100, strongest in sensory experience (70) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).

63 /100

Bennett's War Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Bennett’s War balances modest production values with a straightforward inspirational narrative. Critics highlight the film’s dynamic motocross footage and clean execution, while noting its formulaic structure and lack of dramatic surprises. User feedback praises the performances and feel-good themes, though some find the dialogue and pacing uninspired. The film delivers a reliable family-friendly drama with some engaging moments but falls short of leaving a lasting impression. Overall, it provides an agreeable yet unremarkable viewing experience.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 65

    In terms of art and craft, the film presents competent direction and functional production design highlighted by energetic race sequences. Cinematography captures motocross action with clear framing, though overall visual style remains conventional. Editing smoothly connects scenes but rarely surprises. The net result is a polished but unadventurous technical presentation.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    When it comes to character and emotion, performances are uniformly solid yet lack distinctive presence. Acting is generally competent, providing straightforward conveyance of the protagonist’s determination but with limited depth. Dialogue delivers motivational beats but often reads as formulaic. Chemistry between leads offers some warmth, but underwritten emotional arcs keep the film from achieving true character resonance.

  • Story & Flow 55

    Regarding story and flow, Bennett’s War adheres to a predictable inspirational arc that follows established family drama conventions. Plot coherence is strong, with clear progression from injury to redemption, but pacing often feels sluggish between key motocross events. Originality is limited by familiar setups and by-the-numbers dialogue, although the earnest emotional beats maintain a degree of engagement. Overall, the narrative remains serviceable but unsurprising.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    When it comes to sensory experience, the film delivers engaging sound design and a dynamic score that underscore racing sequences effectively. The soundtrack supports the emotional high points without drawing undue attention, while visual style emphasizes clear, clean imagery of motocross action. Despite occasional commercialized aesthetics, the sensory elements cohere to produce an entertaining atmosphere.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    In terms of rewatch factor, the inspirational themes and spirited race footage offer some appeal for subsequent viewings. However, the predictable plot structure and limited character complexity reduce its replay value. Viewers may revisit key motocross sequences, but the film’s overall familiarity and lack of narrative surprises limit lasting appeal.

Plot

Bennett's War Plot Summary

What happens in Bennett's War from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 10 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In Bennett’s War, Michael Roark portrays Marshall Bennett, a young soldier who faces a life-altering transition after being medically discharged from the 75th Ranger Regiment due to an explosive incident in Afghanistan. With both legs injured and a wealth of battlefield experience, Marshall returns to the States, only to discover that his family farm is on the verge of foreclosure, largely due to the financial difficulties faced by his father, Trace Adkins, who plays Cal Bennett.

Full summary

The whole story of Bennett's War, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Bennett's War Box Office

Bennett's War grossed $1.1 million worldwide. $1.1 million came from the US and Canada and $11,213 (1%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.1M

US & Canada
$1.1M
International
$11.2K
US & Canada 99% Rest of the world 1%
Videos

Bennett's War Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.

Bennett's War | Official Trailer [HD] | In Theatres August 30
  • Clip Bennett's War | Exclusive Clip "I Think I'll Race" | On Digital 11/12 and DVD 12/3
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Bennett's War?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What military branch does Marshall Bennett serve in?

Cars

Cars in Bennett's War

35 cars on screen, including the KTM unknown and the 1991 GMC Syclone.

All 35 cars
  • KTM unknown in Bennett's War KTM unknown Main role
  • 1991 GMC Syclone in Bennett's War 1991 GMC Syclone Important role
  • Harley-Davidson unknown in Bennett's War Harley-Davidson unknown Important role
  • Kawasaki KX 450 F in Bennett's War Kawasaki KX 450 F Important role
Details

Bennett's War Also Known As

27 alternative titles, including “Mona” and “Les chiens ne portent pas de pantalons”.

Also known as
  • Mona
  • Les chiens ne portent pas de pantalons
  • Mona - Sie raubt dir den Atem
  • Koirat Eivat Kayta Housuja
  • Koirat eivät käytä housuja
  • Τα σκυλιά δεν φοράνε παντελόνια
  • A kutyák nem hordanak nadrágot
  • ブレスレス
  • Psy nie noszą spodni
  • Собаки не носят штанов
  • Los perros no llevan pantalones
  • Os Cães Não Usam Calças
+15 more
  • Cachorros Não Usam Calças
  • 개는 바지를 입지 않는다
  • Psi nenosí kalhoty
  • Les chiens ne portent pas de pantalon
  • Собаки не носять штанів
  • Köpekler Pantolon Giymez
  • A kutyák nem viselnek nadrágot
  • 狗不穿裤子
  • Dog Don't Wear Pants
  • 窒愛診療室
  • Dogs don't wear Pants
  • Câinii nu poartă pantaloni
  • Suņi nevalkā bikses
  • Hundar bär inte byxor
  • Koerad ei kanna pükse

Seen Bennett's War?

FAQ

Bennett's War FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Bennett's War, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Bennett's War?

Bennett's War runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).

When was Bennett's War released?

Bennett's War was released on August 30, 2019.

Who directed Bennett's War?

Bennett's War was directed by Alex Ranarivelo.

More films by Alex Ranarivelo

Who is in the cast of Bennett's War?

Bennett's War stars Michael Roark as Marshall Bennett, Allison Paige as Sophie Bennett and Trace Adkins as Cal Bennett, among 9 credited actors.

How much did Bennett's War make at the box office?

Bennett's War grossed $1.1 million worldwide ($1.1 million domestic, $11,213 international).

How is Bennett's War rated?

Bennett's War has 6.1/10 on IMDb, 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, 67% on TMDB and 3.5/5 on Letterboxd.

Does Bennett's War have a post-credit scene?

No. Bennett's War has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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