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The Hurt Locker

Play trailer Poster for The Hurt Locker R 2009 2h 15m War Drama Mystery & Thriller Action Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 288 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Staff Sgt. William James (Jeremy Renner), Sgt. J.T. Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Specialist Owen Eldridge (Brian Geraghty) are members of a bomb-disposal unit in Baghdad. As their tour of duty enters its final weeks, the men face a set of increasingly hazardous situations, any of which could end their lives in an explosive instant.
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The Hurt Locker

The Hurt Locker

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Critics Consensus

A well-acted, intensely shot, action filled war epic, Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker is thus far the best of the recent dramatizations of the Iraq War.

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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide The Times (UK) 09/30/2022
... An unflinching look at the personal cost of being really good at a really tough job. Go to Full Review
Ed Koch The Atlantic 01/17/2018
The Hurt Locker is without a doubt one of the best war pictures I have ever seen, and I have seen most of them. Go to Full Review
Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online 09/12/2017
B+
I probably should have seen this movie when I had the chance in theaters, but as a DVD it didn't live up to the hype, though it was well done. Go to Full Review
Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh Sep 11
3/5
Every actor gave their best, and while some of the sequences are effective, the overall message undercut some of the concepts it was trying to get across. Go to Full Review
Josh Parham Next Best Picture Aug 22
8/10
It crafts a mesmerizing display that manifests intense suspense sequences while building an intimate space for these characters to interact and explore their feelings in this constrictive arena. Go to Full Review
Noah Berlatsky Splice Today 05/29/2024
War movies like The Hurt Locker show us that Americans are the nuanced protagonists of our own stories, even if those stories occur on other people’s land, in other people’s homes, with other people as the main casualties. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Vixo S @vixo_six 1h The Hurt Locker kept me attentive through tension rather than spectacle. Its rough, immediate style makes the heat, dust and uncertainty feel almost documentary, and every mission carries the possibility that something could go wrong without warning. Jeremy Renner gives the film its strongest idea, portraying a man who seems more comfortable under constant danger than inside ordinary life. His confidence and recklessness suggest that war has become not only his profession, but the only place where he knows how to function. I admired the performances, realism and control of suspense, even if the film left a smaller emotional mark on me than its strongest moments suggested. See more Michael A @Kinich61 Jul 10 Such a delicate subject and, yet, what a great screenplay, directing, and acting. See more Chris S @Janomi Jul 4 The Hurt Locker is a tense war drama that finds suspense in the smallest decisions. Mark Boal's screenplay turns routine bomb disposal missions into nerve-racking set pieces, using uncertainty rather than large-scale combat to create constant tension. Kathryn Bigelow's restrained, documentary-style direction and handheld camerawork make every mission feel immediate and dangerously unpredictable. Jeremy Renner delivers a career-defining performance as Staff Sergeant William James, portraying him as fearless, charismatic, and deeply addicted to the danger he faces. Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty provide strong support, grounding the film's emotional conflict and contrasting James' reckless approach. The episodic structure leaves some supporting characters underdeveloped, and certain tactics sacrifice military realism for dramatic effect. Even so, the gripping atmosphere, outstanding direction, and Renner's performance make The Hurt Locker an absorbing and memorable war film. See more Pedro Henrique C @Pedro2005 May 31 The Hurt Locker (2009) It's incredible how the direction of this film manages to make the war environment feel so realistic. The central cast delivers a memorable performance, and the tense atmosphere makes the experience even better. See more Mr S @Jotaro May 13 The story is good and balanced it worth to watch See more Per S @RT83737705 Mar 28 Absolute Propaganda! Utter BS, so be aware. Sorry to find such a brilliant actor and actually nice guy like Ralph Fiennes in the cast. The same could be said for Jeremy Renner. Awarding it an Oscar for best picture 2010 was a disaster. See more Read all reviews
The Hurt Locker

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The Hurt Locker

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Movie Info

Synopsis Staff Sgt. William James (Jeremy Renner), Sgt. J.T. Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Specialist Owen Eldridge (Brian Geraghty) are members of a bomb-disposal unit in Baghdad. As their tour of duty enters its final weeks, the men face a set of increasingly hazardous situations, any of which could end their lives in an explosive instant.
Director
Kathryn Bigelow
Producer
Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier
Distributor
Summit Media
Production Co
Kingsgate Films, Voltage Pictures, First Light Production
Rating
R (War Violence|Language)
Genre
War, Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Action, Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 31, 2009, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 24, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$15.7M
Runtime
2h 15m