Apocalypse Now poster

Apocalypse Now

1979 147 min
10.9 Score

Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola

Genre: Drama, Mystery, War

Apocalypse Now poster

Apocalypse Now

1979 147 min
10.9 Exemplary Score

Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola

Genre: Drama, Mystery, War

Plot Summary

It is the height of the war in Vietnam, and U.S. Army Captain Willard is sent by Colonel Lucas and a General to carry out a mission that, officially, 'does not exist - nor will it ever exist'. The mission: To seek out a mysterious Green Beret Colonel, Walter Kurtz, whose army has crossed the border into Cambodia and is conducting hit-and-run missions against the Viet Cong and NVA. The army believes Kurtz has gone completely insane and Willard's job is to eliminate him. Willard, sent up the Nung River on a U.S. Navy patrol boat, discovers that his target is one of the most decorated officers in the U.S. Army. His crew meets up with surfer-type Lt-Colonel Kilgore, head of a U.S Army helicopter cavalry group which eliminates a Viet Cong outpost to provide an entry point into the Nung River. After some hair-raising encounters, in which some of his crew are killed, Willard, Lance and Chef reach Colonel Kurtz's outpost, beyond the Do Lung Bridge. Now, after becoming prisoners of Kurtz, will Willard & the others be able to fulfill their mission?

Where to Watch

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List Appearances

Sight & Sound Critics Poll #14
AFI Top 100 #28
Cannes Palme d'Or Winners #3
NY Times Best 1000 #26
Rotten Tomatoes Top 100 #49
IMDB Top 250 #22

Film Statistics

Exemplary Score 10.9
Appears on 6 prestigious lists
← Back to Rankings

Plot Summary

It is the height of the war in Vietnam, and U.S. Army Captain Willard is sent by Colonel Lucas and a General to carry out a mission that, officially, 'does not exist - nor will it ever exist'. The mission: To seek out a mysterious Green Beret Colonel, Walter Kurtz, whose army has crossed the border into Cambodia and is conducting hit-and-run missions against the Viet Cong and NVA. The army believes Kurtz has gone completely insane and Willard's job is to eliminate him. Willard, sent up the Nung River on a U.S. Navy patrol boat, discovers that his target is one of the most decorated officers in the U.S. Army. His crew meets up with surfer-type Lt-Colonel Kilgore, head of a U.S Army helicopter cavalry group which eliminates a Viet Cong outpost to provide an entry point into the Nung River. After some hair-raising encounters, in which some of his crew are killed, Willard, Lance and Chef reach Colonel Kurtz's outpost, beyond the Do Lung Bridge. Now, after becoming prisoners of Kurtz, will Willard & the others be able to fulfill their mission?

List Appearances

Sight & Sound Critics Poll #14
AFI Top 100 #28
Cannes Palme d'Or Winners #3
NY Times Best 1000 #26
Rotten Tomatoes Top 100 #49
IMDB Top 250 #22

Where to Watch

Loading viewing options…