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What's After the Movie?
Action thriller

Born American (1986): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Born American (1986) movie poster

Born American is a 1986 action thriller directed by Renny Harlin, starring Albert Salmi, David Coburn and Ismo Kallio. It runs 1 hour 37 minutes and earned $3.4 million worldwide. Critics gave it 35 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.3/10.

IMDb rating
4.3/10
worldwide gross
$3.4M
Metascore
35
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Born American (1986) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 37m (97 min)
Director
Renny Harlin
Genres
Action , Drama , Thriller
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Born American About?

The premise of Born American without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

While on a hunting trip in the remote Lapland region, three American friends—Mike, Steve, and David—accidentally cross into Soviet territory. Captured by Soviet forces, the men find themselves facing a desperate fight for survival. They must overcome harsh conditions and deal with shifting loyalties as they attempt to escape and return to their own country, confronting the dangers of the Cold War landscape.

Born American Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • rape
  • lapland
  • junkyard
  • finnish lapland
  • road trip
  • target practice
  • bow and arrow
  • finnish russian border
  • compound bow
  • iron curtain
  • crossing the border
  • soviet border guard
+38 more
  • backpacker
  • arctic circle
  • arctic
  • soviet village
  • church service
  • orthodox church service
  • russian orthodox priest
  • shot with a bow and arrow
  • killed with an arrow
  • shot in the chest with an arrow
  • flashback
  • panic
  • red army
  • locked in a burning building
  • leg wound
  • firefight
  • gunshot wound
  • dynamite
  • self sacrifice
  • stick of dynamite
  • torture by electrocution
  • hit in the face with a bottle
  • forced confession
  • soviet prison
  • forced labor
  • prison labor
  • chess game
  • playing chess
  • prison fight
  • foundry
  • driven insane
  • flipping car
  • shower scene
  • rear nudity
  • forced into prostitution
  • infected wound
  • head dunked in a toilet bowl
  • mercenary
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Cast & crew

Born American Cast

Albert Salmi leads the cast, with David Coburn and Ismo Kallio. Directed by Renny Harlin; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Renny Harlin

More films directed by Renny Harlin, best-rated first: Bodies at Rest, Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger and A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master.

Full filmography
Ratings

Born American Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Born American 35 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.3/10.

Plot

Born American Plot Summary

What happens in Born American from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

As winter break envelops Finland, three college friends embark on an audacious journey to the Soviet Union. The charming leader Savoy (Albert Salmi), the easygoing Mitch (David Coburn), and the thoughtful KC (Ismo Kallio) find themselves in a small village soon after crossing the border. Unfortunately, their decision leads them straight into the clutches of corrupt officials, resulting in their arrest and subsequent transfer to a grim prison where they endure severe mistreatment by KGB agents.

Full summary

The whole story of Born American, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Born American Box Office

Born American grossed $3.4 million worldwide.

1986 box office

Worldwide gross

$3.4M

US & Canada
$3.4M
Videos

Born American Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Born American.

Born American 1986 TV trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Born American?

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

Who are the three main characters in 'Born American'?

Cars

Cars in Born American

16 cars on screen, including the 1964 Mercury Montclair Marauder and the 1973 Volvo F88.

All 16 cars
  • 1964 Mercury Montclair Marauder in Born American 1964 Mercury Montclair Marauder Important role
  • 1973 Volvo F88 in Born American 1973 Volvo F88 Important role
  • Bedford J5 in Born American Bedford J5 Minor role
  • 1942 Dodge WC 52 in Born American 1942 Dodge WC 52 Minor role
Details

Born American Also Known As

10 alternative titles, including “Jäätävä polte” and “Arctic Heat”.

Also known as
  • Jäätävä polte
  • Arctic Heat
  • Nacionalidade Americana
  • Infierno en el Ártico
  • Született amerikaiak
  • Frontière interdite
  • Народжений американцем
  • Dikenli Teller
  • Férias para a Morte
  • Рожденный американцем

Seen Born American?

FAQ

Born American FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Born American, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Born American?

Born American runs 1 hour 37 minutes (97 minutes).

When was Born American released?

Born American was released on August 29, 1986.

Who directed Born American?

Born American was directed by Renny Harlin.

More films by Renny Harlin

Who is in the cast of Born American?

Born American stars Albert Salmi, David Coburn and Ismo Kallio, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Born American make at the box office?

Born American grossed $3.4 million worldwide.

How is Born American rated?

Born American has 4.3/10 on IMDb, 35 on Metacritic and 39% on TMDB.

Does Born American have a post-credit scene?

No. Born American has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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