Courage Under Fire (1996): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
Courage Under Fire is a 1996 action mystery film directed by Edward Zwick, starring Denzel Washington and Meg Ryan. It runs 1 hour 57 minutes and earned $100.9 million worldwide. Critics gave it 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and 77 on Metacritic. Rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 57m (117 min)
- Director
- Edward Zwick
- Original language
-
English - After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Courage Under Fire About?
The premise of Courage Under Fire without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
During the Gulf War, Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling is haunted by a past incident of friendly fire. He is assigned to investigate the death of Captain Karen Walden, a highly decorated helicopter pilot. Through interviews with her crew, Serling encounters inconsistencies and conflicting stories, questioning the circumstances surrounding her final mission. His pursuit of the truth becomes a complicated and dangerous exploration of courage, sacrifice, and the blurred lines between heroism and deception amidst the realities of war.
Courage Under Fire Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- unreliable flashback
- military life
- bravery
- medal of honor
- desert storm
- helicopter
- u.s. army
- combat
- soldier
- strong female character
- helicopter crash
- car hit by a train
+38 more Show fewer
- pentagon
- drug addict
- female pilot
- 1990s
- main character shot
- behind enemy lines
- mexican standoff
- female soldier
- contradictory accounts
- woman in military
- investigation
- friendly fire
- suicide
- gulf war
- military
- tank
- cover up
- f rated
- vietnam war veteran
- 20th century fox
- 20th century studios
- cnn
- train car collision
- conspiracy thriller
- honor
- desert
- captain
- lieutenant
- lieutenant colonel
- army
- gym
- photograph
- deception
- held at gunpoint
- hand grenade
- news report
- bar
- father son relationship
Where to Watch Courage Under Fire
Rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Streaming availability in the US, powered by 
Courage Under Fire Cast
Denzel Washington leads the cast, with Meg Ryan. Directed by Edward Zwick.
-
Director Edward Zwick
Courage Under Fire Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Courage Under Fire 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and 77 on Metacritic.
-
Rotten Tomatoes 86% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 66%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 77 Metascore
User score 6.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 65% User score
See on TMDB
Courage Under Fire Plot Summary
What happens in Courage Under Fire from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
As Lieutenant Colonel Serling navigates the perilous environment of the Persian Gulf War, his life takes a dramatic turn when a chaotic nighttime battle results in his tank being struck by friendly fire, tragically ending the life of his esteemed comrade, Lieutenant Boylar. In a rush to preserve their reputation, the United States Army opts for a cover-up, awarding Serling for his bravery, while silently pushing him into a desk job to silence him.
Full summary
The whole story of Courage Under Fire, scene by scene
Courage Under Fire Box Office
Courage Under Fire grossed $100.9 million worldwide. $59 million came from the US and Canada and $41.8 million (41%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$100.9M
- US & Canada
- $59M
- International
- $41.8M
Courage Under Fire Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer Courage Under Fire (1996) Trailer
How Well Do You Know Courage Under Fire?
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 tragic event occurs involving Lieutenant Colonel Serling's tank?
Cars in Courage Under Fire
9 cars on screen, including the 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier and the 1989 Ford Mustang.
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1988 Chevrolet Cavalier Important role -
1989 Ford Mustang Important role -
Vickers-Armstrongs Centurion Important role -
AM General HMMWV M1043 Minor role
Courage Under Fire Also Known As
41 alternative titles, including “Valor bajo fuego” and “Mut zur Wahrheit”.
- Also known as
-
- Valor bajo fuego
- Mut zur Wahrheit
- Кураж под огъня
- Coragem Sob Fogo
- Le courage à l'épreuve
- Det afgørende bevis
- Vaprus tule all
- En honor a la verdad
- Tulikokeessa
- À l'épreuve du feu
- To timima tou tharrous
- A bátrak igazsága
+29 more Show fewer
- Ometz Tahat Esh
- Il coraggio della verità
- Abejotina drasa
- Tapperhet i strid
- Szalona odwaga
- Coragem Debaixo de Fogo
- Curaj în linia întâi
- Hrabrost u borbi
- Мужество в бою
- I sanningens namn
- Pravi pogum
- Ates altinda cesaret
- À l’épreuve du feu
- 커리지 언더 화이어
- Мужність у бою
- Випробування вогнем
- Ateş Altında Cesaret
- 生死豪情
- 戦火の勇気
- Odvaha pod palbou
- אומץ תחת אש
- 커리지 언더 파이어
- Curaj sub foc
- Το Τίμημα του Θάρρους
- 火線勇氣
- Мужність під вогнем
- Abejotina drąsa
- Hrabrost ratnika, სიმამაცე ბრძოლაში
- สมรภูมินาทีวิกฤติ
Seen Courage Under Fire?
Movies Like Courage Under Fire
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Courageous, Uncommon Valor and Courage.
Courage Under Fire FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Courage Under Fire, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Courage Under Fire?
Courage Under Fire runs 1 hour 57 minutes (117 minutes).
When was Courage Under Fire released?
Courage Under Fire was released on April 12, 1996.
Who directed Courage Under Fire?
Courage Under Fire was directed by Edward Zwick.
More films by Edward Zwick Who is in the cast of Courage Under Fire?
Courage Under Fire stars Denzel Washington and Meg Ryan.
Where can I watch Courage Under Fire?
In the US, Courage Under Fire is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did Courage Under Fire make at the box office?
Courage Under Fire grossed $100.9 million worldwide ($59 million domestic, $41.8 million international).
How is Courage Under Fire rated?
Courage Under Fire has 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, 77 on Metacritic and 65% on TMDB.
Does Courage Under Fire have a post-credit scene?
No. Courage Under Fire has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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