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War drama

Dauntless: The Battle of Midway (2019): Cast, Ratings & Plot

Dauntless: The Battle of Midway (2019) movie poster

Dauntless: The Battle of Midway is a 2019 war drama directed by Mike Phillips, starring Jade Willey as Norman Vandiver, John Enick and Judd Nelson. It runs 1 hour 38 minutes. Its Echo Score is 33/100.

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Dauntless: The Battle of Midway (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 38m (98 min)
Director
Mike Phillips
Genres
War , Action , Adventure , Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Dauntless: The Battle of Midway About?

The premise of Dauntless: The Battle of Midway without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In June 1942, the Japanese Navy dominated the Pacific, prompting the United States to position a carrier group near Midway in a strategic attempt to ambush the enemy. During this crucial battle, a U.S. Navy dive bomber’s two-man crew is forced to ditch in the ocean and are left adrift. They desperately await rescue, relying on a PBY Catalina and its crew to search for survivors amidst the vastness of the Pacific. As days pass and hope diminishes, the stranded men confront their own mortality and the uncertainty of survival.

Dauntless: The Battle of Midway Themes & Keywords

· 16 tags
  • mockbuster
  • honolulu hawaii
  • year 1941
  • gun held to one's own head
  • reference to clark gable
  • reference to gene kelly
  • reference to norma shearer
  • aircraft carrier
  • world war two
  • douglas sbd dauntless dive bomber
  • dive bomber
  • airplane crash
+4 more
  • general quarters
  • crash in the ocean
  • adrift
  • based on true story
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Cast & crew

Dauntless: The Battle of Midway Cast & Characters

Jade Willey leads the cast as Norman Vandiver, with John Enick as Lee Keaney and Judd Nelson as Rear Admirial Raymond Spruance. Directed by Mike Phillips; 13 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Dauntless: The Battle of Midway

· 9 more
From the director

More from Mike Phillips

One more film directed by Mike Phillips: Fortress.

Full filmography
Ratings

Dauntless: The Battle of Midway Reviews & Ratings

Our Echo Score gives it 33/100, strongest in sensory experience (40) and weakest in art & craft (30).

33 /100

Dauntless: The Battle of Midway Echo Score Breakdown

Dauntless: The Battle of Midway delivers a largely unsatisfying experience, with criticism dominating across most dimensions. Reviewers repeatedly point to substandard visual effects, weak performances, and a scattered narrative that fails to engage. While a minority found personal resonance in the story and noted moments of immersive imagery, these sentiments are outweighed by widespread disappointment. Consequently, the film’s overall impact remains limited and unlikely to attract repeat viewings.

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

  • Art & Craft 30

    In terms of art and craft, the film struggles with low-budget production values. Multiple reviewers cite overexposed shots, poorly rendered CGI, and a lack of polished cinematography. The editing appears uneven, contributing to a disjointed visual flow. These technical deficiencies dominate the consensus, resulting in a weak artistic impression.

  • Character & Emotion 35

    When it comes to character and emotion, acting is widely described as flat and dialogue as clumsy. Critics note a failure to generate empathy for the protagonists, though one reviewer praised the chemistry among the rescue crew. Overall, character depth is limited, leading to a generally negative assessment of this aspect.

  • Story & Flow 35

    Regarding story and flow, the plot is characterized as ill‑defined and unsatisfying by most reviewers. Pacing issues and a lack of clear focus on the historic battle diminish engagement. A single positive account mentions an engrossing narrative, but the prevailing view is that the story fails to deliver coherence or originality.

  • Sensory Experience 40

    In sensory experience, the film’s visual style suffers from cheap CGI and overexposed scenes, undermining immersion. Sound design receives little mention, implying it is unremarkable. One viewer highlighted vivid imagery that evoked the ocean environment, but the dominant sentiment is that sensory execution falls short of expectations.

  • Rewatch Factor 35

    When evaluating rewatch factor, the consensus leans toward low replay value. Reviewers describe the movie as a waste of time and unlikely to warrant another viewing. An outlier expressed enthusiasm for future sequels, yet overall the film lacks lasting appeal, resulting in a modest rewatch rating.

Plot

Dauntless: The Battle of Midway Plot Summary

What happens in Dauntless: The Battle of Midway from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

By June 1942, in the wake of the devastating Pearl Harbor attack, the United States faces a critical moment in the Pacific. The Imperial Japanese Navy has surged across the theater, but a carrier task group is positioned off Midway Atoll with a bold plan to lure the enemy into a trap. The Battle of Midway becomes a turning point in the war, a rare moment when skill, timing, and a bit of luck could reshape the balance of power in the Pacific. Bold moves and heavy stakes unfold against the vast, open ocean, where every decision carries lasting consequences.

Full summary

The whole story of Dauntless: The Battle of Midway, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

Dauntless: The Battle of Midway Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Dauntless: The Battle of Midway.

Dauntless: The Battle Of Midway (2019) - Official Trailer (HD)
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Dauntless: The Battle of Midway?

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

In what year did the Battle of Midway take place?

Details

Dauntless: The Battle of Midway Also Known As

12 alternative titles, including “Schlacht um Midway - Entscheidung im Pazifik” and “Dauntless : L'Enfer de Midway”.

Also known as
  • Schlacht um Midway - Entscheidung im Pazifik
  • Dauntless : L'Enfer de Midway
  • 無畏:中途島之戰
  • 无畏:中途岛之战
  • 돈틀리스: 미드웨이 해전
  • Rettenthetetlenül: A Midway-i csata
  • Бесстрашные: Битва за Мидуэй
  • Dauntless - La Battaglia di Midway
  • Nieustraszony - Bitwa o Midway
  • Korkusuzlar: Midway Savaşı
  • ミッドウェイ 運命の海
  • Безстрашні: Битва за Мідвей

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FAQ

Dauntless: The Battle of Midway FAQ: Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Dauntless: The Battle of Midway, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Dauntless: The Battle of Midway?

Dauntless: The Battle of Midway runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).

When was Dauntless: The Battle of Midway released?

Dauntless: The Battle of Midway was released on September 6, 2019.

Who directed Dauntless: The Battle of Midway?

Dauntless: The Battle of Midway was directed by Mike Phillips.

More films by Mike Phillips

Who is in the cast of Dauntless: The Battle of Midway?

Dauntless: The Battle of Midway stars Jade Willey as Norman Vandiver, John Enick as Lee Keaney and Judd Nelson as Rear Admirial Raymond Spruance, among 13 credited actors.

Does Dauntless: The Battle of Midway have a post-credit scene?

No. Dauntless: The Battle of Midway has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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