The Thin Red Line (1999): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Thin Red Line is a 1999 action drama directed by Terrence Malick, starring Sean Penn, Nick Nolte and James Caviezel. It is based on The Thin Red Line by James Jones. It runs 2 hours 50 minutes and earned $98.1 million worldwide on a $52 million budget. It was nominated for 7 Oscars. Critics gave it 78 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 50m (170 min)
- Director
- Terrence Malick
- Original language
-
English - Budget
- $52M
- Based on
- The Thin Red Line by James Jones
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Thin Red Line About?
The premise of The Thin Red Line without spoilers, adapted from The Thin Red Line by James Jones. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
During World War II, on a peaceful South Pacific island in 1942, Private Witt is drawn back into the conflict by his commanding officer, disrupting his solitary life. He rejoins his unit and confronts the harsh realities of war as they participate in the fierce fighting on Guadalcanal. The film explores the varied emotional and psychological responses of soldiers facing intense combat and the ever-present threat of death. It's a study of courage, fear, and the human condition amidst the chaos of war.
The Thin Red Line Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- battle
- tropical island
- jungle
- guadalcanal
- hill
- multiple perspectives
- multiple narrators
- spirituality
- philosophy
- u.s. soldier
- world war two
- based on novel
+38 more Show fewer
- japanese soldier
- u.s. military
- japanese military
- military uniform
- tropics
- american abroad
- man shot to death
- nco
- military operation
- soldier
- sergeant
- private
- pacific theater
- survival
- u.s. army
- in medias res
- fear of death
- pacific war
- pacific island
- christianity
- dying young
- grim reality
- visual metaphor
- voice over letter
- voice over inner thoughts
- transcendence
- pursuit
- lieutenant
- lieutenant colonel
- japanese army
- general
- duality
- casualty of war
- captain
- beach landing
- voice over narration
- existentialism
- insanity
The Thin Red Line Cast
Sean Penn leads the cast, with Nick Nolte and James Caviezel. Directed by Terrence Malick.
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Director Terrence Malick
More from Terrence Malick
More films directed by Terrence Malick, best-rated first: Badlands, The Tree of Life, A Hidden Life and The New World.
The Thin Red Line Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Thin Red Line 78 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 78 Metascore
User score 8.1
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 75% User score
See on TMDB
The Thin Red Line Plot Summary
What happens in The Thin Red Line from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the summer of 1942, against the backdrop of the South Pacific, two American Army privates find themselves stranded on an island in Micronesia, living among the Melanesian natives. Both are AWOL from their unit, C Company. One fateful morning, an American naval vessel arrives, leading to their capture. Among these soldiers is Private Witt, who encounters his sergeant, Welsh. Welsh expresses concern that Witt’s laissez-faire approach will not contribute positively to the Army’s struggle against the advancing Imperial Japanese Army, which poses a significant threat to Australia. Welsh informs Witt that he will be reassigned to a stretcher-bearer’s unit ahead of the impending invasion of Guadalcanal—a pivotal move that underscores the strained relationship between the two men.
Full summary
The whole story of The Thin Red Line, scene by scene
The Thin Red Line Box Office & Budget
The Thin Red Line grossed $98.1 million worldwide on a $52 million budget, 1.9 times what it cost. $36.4 million came from the US and Canada and $61.7 million (63%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$98.1M
1.9× its budget
- US & Canada
- $36.4M
- International
- $61.7M
- Budget
- $52M
The Thin Red Line Awards & Nominations
The Thin Red Line was nominated for 7 Oscars. The 8 nominations come from 2 ceremonies, the most at the Oscars 1999.
8 nominations2 ceremonies
-
Oscars 1999 7 nominations- Nominated Best Picture
- Nominated Cinematography
- Nominated Directing – Terrence Malick
- Nominated Film Editing
- Nominated Music (Original Dramatic Score)
-
DGA Awards 1999 1 nomination- Nominated Feature Film – Terrence Malick
The Thin Red Line Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Thin Red Line.
How Well Do You Know The Thin Red Line?
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 Thin Red Line' take place?
Cars in The Thin Red Line
7 cars on screen, including the Studebaker US6 and the 1942 Willys MB 'Jeep'.
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Studebaker US6 Minor role -
1942 Willys MB 'Jeep' Minor role -
Allis-Chalmers HD-7 Background role -
1941 Diamond T 969 A Background role
The Thin Red Line Also Known As
39 alternative titles, including “İnce Kırmızı Hatt” and “I lepti kokkini grammi”.
- Also known as
-
- İnce Kırmızı Hatt
- I lepti kokkini grammi
- Cienka Czerwona Linia
- La delgada línea roja
- Mince Ligne rouge
- İncə Qırmızı Xətt
- Der schmale Grat
- A Barreira Invisível
- Az őrület határán
- La Ligne rouge
- İnce Kırmızı Hat
- La sottile linea rossa
+27 more Show fewer
- Тонкая красная линия
- 细细的红线
- Tenká červená linie
- Den tunna röda linjen
- Den tynne røde linjen
- Veteen piirretty viiva
- ฝ่านรกยึดเส้นตาย
- Den tynde røde linie
- シン・レッド・ライン
- Η λεπτή κόκκινη γραμμή
- הקו האדום
- La hotarul dintre viață și moarte
- Além da Linha Vermelha
- 씬 레드 라인
- Тонка червона лінія
- Тънка червена линия
- Šaurā, sārtā līnija
- 狂林戰曲
- 紅色警戒
- La Mince Ligne rouge
- Tenká červená čiara
- الخط الأحمر الرفيع
- Tanka rdeča črta
- Plona raudona linija
- Lằn Ranh Đỏ Mỏng Manh, წვრილი წითელი ხაზი
- Tanka crvena linija
- Peenike punane joon
Seen The Thin Red Line?
Movies Like The Thin Red Line
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Thin Red Line, Beach Red and Hell in the Pacific.
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The Thin Red Line 1964 -
Beach Red 1967 -
Hell in the Pacific 1968 -
Guadalcanal Diary 1943 -
Tarawa Beachhead 1958 -
The Big Red One 1980 -
The Long and the Short and the Tall 1961 -
Danger Close 2019 -
Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan 2019 -
The Naked and the Dead 1958 -
Battle of Blood Island 1960 -
Cry of Battle 1963
The Thin Red Line FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of The Thin Red Line, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Thin Red Line?
The Thin Red Line runs 2 hours 50 minutes (170 minutes).
When was The Thin Red Line released?
The Thin Red Line was released on January 8, 1999.
Who directed The Thin Red Line?
The Thin Red Line was directed by Terrence Malick.
More films by Terrence Malick Who is in the cast of The Thin Red Line?
The Thin Red Line stars Sean Penn, Nick Nolte and James Caviezel.
How much did The Thin Red Line make at the box office?
The Thin Red Line grossed $98.1 million worldwide ($36.4 million domestic, $61.7 million international) on a budget of $52 million.
How is The Thin Red Line rated?
The Thin Red Line has 78 on Metacritic and 75% on TMDB.
Is The Thin Red Line based on a book?
Yes. The Thin Red Line is adapted from The Thin Red Line by James Jones.
Was The Thin Red Line nominated for any awards?
The Thin Red Line received 8 nominations across 2 ceremonies.
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