History
Biographical drama
Born on the Fourth of July (1989): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
Born on the Fourth of July is a 1989 biographical drama directed by Oliver Stone, starring Tom Cruise. It is based on Born on the Fourth of July by Ron Kovic. It runs 2 hours 25 minutes and earned $161 million worldwide. It won 5 awards from 8 nominations, including Best Director at the Golden Globes 1990. Critics gave it 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.8/10.
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- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 25m (145 min)
- Director
- Oliver Stone
- Original language
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English - Studio
- Universal Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
The story
What Is Born on the Fourth of July About?
The premise of Born on the Fourth of July without spoilers, adapted from Born on the Fourth of July by Ron Kovic. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A fervent patriot's beliefs are shattered when he sustains paralyzing injuries during the Vietnam War. Ron Kovic struggles to reconcile his ideals with the harsh realities of conflict and his own physical limitations. As he confronts a changing nation, his disillusionment evolves into a powerful voice, advocating for the rights and recognition of veterans and challenging the political landscape.
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Cast & crew
Born on the Fourth of July Cast
Tom Cruise stars in Born on the Fourth of July. Directed by Oliver Stone.
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Director Oliver Stone
From the director
More from Oliver Stone
More films directed by Oliver Stone, best-rated first: Platoon, JFK, Natural Born Killers and Salvador.
Ratings
Born on the Fourth of July Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Born on the Fourth of July 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.8/10.
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IMDb 8.8 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 84% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 76%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 75 Metascore
User score 7.7
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 70% User score
See on TMDB
Plot
Born on the Fourth of July Plot Summary
What happens in Born on the Fourth of July from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 17 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the sun-drenched streets of Massapequa, New York in 1956, the journey of Ron Kovic (played by Tom Cruise) begins with carefree escapades alongside friends in the local woods. As the following year rolls in, a memorable Fourth of July birthday is celebrated with a vibrant Independence Day parade and heartfelt moments with his family and best friend, Donna. In 1961, the stirring inaugural address of President John F. Kennedy resonates deeply with the now-teenaged Kovic, igniting in him a fervent inspiration to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. Despite the profound support from his mother, his decision to enlist is met with his father’s disapproval, a World War II veteran haunted by the specters of his past.
Full summary
The whole story of Born on the Fourth of July, scene by scene
Box office
Born on the Fourth of July Box Office
Born on the Fourth of July grossed $161 million worldwide. $70 million came from the US and Canada and $91 million (57%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$161M
- US & Canada
- $70M
- International
- $91M
US & Canada 43%
Rest of the world 57%
Awards
Born on the Fourth of July Awards & Nominations
Born on the Fourth of July won 5 awards from 8 nominations, including Best Director at the Golden Globes 1990. Its biggest night was the Golden Globes 1990, with 4 wins from 5 nominations.
5 wins8 nominations3 ceremonies
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BAFTA 1991 2 nominations- Nominated Best Actor in a Leading Role – Tom Cruise
- Nominated Best Adapted Screenplay – Oliver Stone
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Golden Globes 1990 4 wins · 5 nominations- Won Best Director – Oliver Stone
- Won Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Won Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actor) – Tom Cruise
- Won Best Screenplay
- Nominated Best Music, Original Score – John Williams
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DGA Awards 1990 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Feature Film – Oliver Stone
Videos
Born on the Fourth of July Trailers & Videos
5 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser and 3 clips.
- Teaser TV Trailer
- Clip "I Love America"
- Clip Tom Cruise Dances With Donna Before Leaving for Marines Boot Camp
- Clip Tom Cruise Breaks Down
Quiz
How Well Do You Know Born on the Fourth of July?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What pivotal event does Ron Kovic's mother support in his life?
Cars
Cars in Born on the Fourth of July
39 cars on screen, including the 1967 Cadillac DeVille Convertible and the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air.
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1967 Cadillac DeVille Convertible Minor role -
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Minor role -
1951 Chevrolet Fleetline Minor role -
1950 Chevrolet Styleline De Luxe Minor role
Details
Born on the Fourth of July Also Known As
33 alternative titles, including “Né un quatre juillet” and “Született július negyedikén”.
- Also known as
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- Né un quatre juillet
- Született július negyedikén
- Nascut pe patru iulie
- Född den 4 juli
- Nato il 4 luglio
- Urodzony 4 Lipca
- Geboren am 4. Juli
- Nato il quattro luglio
- Né un 4 juillet
- Narozen 4. července
- Született július 4-én
- Doğum Günü Dört Temmuz
+21 more Show fewer
- Nacido el cuatro de julio
- 生于七月四日
- Född den fjärde juli
- Рождённый четвёртого июля
- Nascido a 4 de Julho
- 7月4日に生まれて
- Født den 4. juli
- Γεννημένος την 4η Ιουλίου
- נולד בארבעה ביולי
- 7월 4일생
- Născut pe 4 iulie
- Nascido em 4 de Julho
- Роден на четвърти юли
- 七月四日誕生
- Народжений четвертого липня
- Født 4. Juli
- Gimęs liepos 4-ąją
- Syntynyt 4. heinäkuuta
- เกิดวันที่ 4 กรกฎาคม, ოთხ ივლისს დაბადებული
- Nascut el quatre de Juliol
- Rođen 4. srpnja
Seen Born on the Fourth of July?
From the blog
Articles About Born on the Fourth of July
Our article about Born on the Fourth of July: “The Evolution of War Movies: From Propaganda to Realism”.
FAQ
Born on the Fourth of July FAQ: Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Born on the Fourth of July, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Born on the Fourth of July?
Born on the Fourth of July runs 2 hours 25 minutes (145 minutes).
When was Born on the Fourth of July released?
Born on the Fourth of July was released on December 20, 1989.
Who directed Born on the Fourth of July?
Born on the Fourth of July was directed by Oliver Stone.
More films by Oliver Stone Who is in the cast of Born on the Fourth of July?
Born on the Fourth of July stars Tom Cruise.
How much did Born on the Fourth of July make at the box office?
Born on the Fourth of July grossed $161 million worldwide ($70 million domestic, $91 million international).
How is Born on the Fourth of July rated?
Born on the Fourth of July has 8.8/10 on IMDb, 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, 75 on Metacritic and 70% on TMDB.
Is Born on the Fourth of July based on a book?
Yes. Born on the Fourth of July is adapted from Born on the Fourth of July by Ron Kovic.
What awards did Born on the Fourth of July win?
Born on the Fourth of July won 5 awards from 8 nominations, including Best Director at the Golden Globes 1990.
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