History
Biographical drama
Jarhead (2005): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Jarhead is a 2005 biographical drama directed by Sam Mendes, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Jamie Foxx and Lucas Black. It is based on Jarhead by Anthony Swofford. It runs 2 hours 5 minutes and earned $97.1 million worldwide on a $72 million budget. Critics gave it 60% on Rotten Tomatoes and 58 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10.
Loading streaming availability…
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 5m (125 min)
- Director
- Sam Mendes
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Universal Pictures
- Budget
- $72M
- Based on
- Jarhead by Anthony Swofford
- After the credits
- Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story
What Is Jarhead About?
The premise of Jarhead without spoilers, adapted from Jarhead by Anthony Swofford. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
During the Gulf War in the late 1980s, Marine Anthony Swofford and his fellow soldiers find themselves stationed in the barren deserts of Saudi Arabia. While awaiting orders, they endure rigorous training and the psychological pressures of military life, facing the harsh realities of their situation. The experience tests their mental fortitude as they grapple with boredom, uncertainty, and the potential for conflict, blurring the lines between duty and personal identity.
Jarhead Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- gulf war
- soldier
- american abroad
- u.s. soldier
- automatic gunfire
- gunfire
- man in uniform
- american in foreign country
- u.s. marine
- weapon
- desert
- sniper
+38 more Show fewer
- boot camp
- sniper rifle
- jarhead
- hot weather
- u.s. military
- m 48 rifle
- sex standing up
- dear john letter
- dancer
- iraq war
- underwear
- year 1991
- cheating wife
- anti war
- panties
- undressing
- horniness
- wagner ride of the valkyries
- sex talk
- female nudity
- firearm
- reference to the john f. kennedy assassination
- watching tv
- blowtorch
- landmine
- minefield
- back of head slap
- man killed
- original author as character
- american imperialism
- sweaty face
- armed man
- m40 sniper rifle
- oil well on fire
- oil fire
- scorched earth policy
- male star appears nude
- fellatio
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew
Jarhead Cast
Jake Gyllenhaal leads the cast, with Jamie Foxx and Lucas Black. Directed by Sam Mendes.
-
Director Sam Mendes
From the director
More from Sam Mendes
More films directed by Sam Mendes, best-rated first: American Beauty, 1917, Road to Perdition and Revolutionary Road.
Ratings
Jarhead Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Jarhead 60% on Rotten Tomatoes and 58 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10.
-
IMDb 7.0 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 60% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 68%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 58 Metascore
User score 7.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 67% User score
See on TMDB
Plot
Jarhead Plot Summary
What happens in Jarhead 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
In 1989, Anthony Swofford, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, is undergoing intense training at a U.S. Marine Corps boot camp, led by the fiery and uncompromising Drill Instructor Fitch (Scott MacDonald). After completing boot camp, Swoff is sent to Camp Pendleton, where he struggles with the transition to civilian life, contemplating college but ultimately focusing on highlights from his tumultuous experiences, including an awkward moment he describes as taking a “dump” and volatile relationships with his girlfriend, who ultimately betrays him.
Full summary
The whole story of Jarhead, scene by scene
Box office
Jarhead Box Office & Budget
Jarhead grossed $97.1 million worldwide on a $72 million budget, 1.3 times what it cost. $62.7 million came from the US and Canada and $34.4 million (35%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$97.1M
1.3× its budget
- US & Canada
- $62.7M
- International
- $34.4M
- Budget
- $72M
US & Canada 65%
Rest of the world 35%
Videos
Jarhead Trailers & Videos
5 videos: 1 trailer, 3 clips and 1 featurette.
- Clip Jarhead | Fight the Power
- Clip Jarhead | Staff Sergeant Sykes’ Scout Sniper Course (Jake Gyllenhaal, Jamie Foxx) | Extended Preview
- Clip Jake Gyllenhaal's Training - Extended Preview
- Featurette Jake Gyllenhaal - Jarhead - Behind the Scenes
Quiz
How Well Do You Know Jarhead?
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 year does the story of 'Jarhead' begin?
Cars
Cars in Jarhead
28 cars on screen, including the AM General HMMWV M998 and the AM General HMMWV M1038.
-
AM General HMMWV M998 Important role -
AM General HMMWV M1038 Minor role -
1973 International Harvester Loadstar Minor role -
1983 International Harvester S-Series Minor role
Details
Jarhead Also Known As
30 alternative titles, including “鍋蓋頭” and “Merijalkaväen mies”.
- Also known as
-
- 鍋蓋頭
- Merijalkaväen mies
- Gušteri
- Marinac
- Marinec
- Soldado anonimo
- Máquina Zero
- 자헤드: 그들만의 전쟁
- ジャーヘッド：2005
- Jarhead - El infierno espera
- 锅盖头
- 平頭日記
+18 more Show fewer
- Jarhead - Willkommen im Dreck
- Jarhead : La Fin de l'innocence
- Морпехи
- Jarhead, el infierno espera
- Jarhead: Żołnierz Piechoty Morskiej
- Mariňák
- Bőrnyakúak
- ג'ארהד
- ジャーヘッド
- Pușcași marini
- Σύρριζα
- Soldado Anônimo
- Снайперисти
- Морпіхи
- Soldado anónimo
- จาร์เฮด พลระห่ำสงครามนรก
- Lính Thủy Đánh Bộ
- Desantininkai
Seen Jarhead?
More like this
Movies Like Jarhead
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Jarhead: Law of Return, Boys of Abu Ghraib and Full Metal Jacket.
From the blog
Articles About Jarhead
Our article about Jarhead: “The Evolution of War Movies: From Propaganda to Realism”.
FAQ
Jarhead FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Jarhead, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Jarhead?
Jarhead runs 2 hours 5 minutes (125 minutes).
When was Jarhead released?
Jarhead was released on November 4, 2005.
Who directed Jarhead?
Jarhead was directed by Sam Mendes.
More films by Sam Mendes Who is in the cast of Jarhead?
Jarhead stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Jamie Foxx and Lucas Black.
How much did Jarhead make at the box office?
Jarhead grossed $97.1 million worldwide ($62.7 million domestic, $34.4 million international) on a budget of $72 million.
How is Jarhead rated?
Jarhead has 7.0/10 on IMDb, 60% on Rotten Tomatoes, 58 on Metacritic and 67% on TMDB.
Is Jarhead based on a book?
Yes. Jarhead is adapted from Jarhead by Anthony Swofford.
Does Jarhead have a post-credit scene?
Yes. Jarhead has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
