Behind Enemy Lines

Behind Enemy Lines (2001)

  • 37% of critics liked it
    (130 reviews)

  • 65% of users liked it
    (301,118 ratings)

A television commercial for a Sega game system that aired during the 1999 MTV Music Video Awards landed debut director John Moore a gig behind the camera of this military action thriller. Owen Wilson stars as Lt. Chris Burnett, a naval aviator aboard the U.S.S. Carl Vinson who's frustrated with… More

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PG-13,
Directed By
Written By
Zak Penn, David Veloz, John Thomas, James Thomas
Genres
Drama, Action & Adventure
In Theaters
Nov 30, 2001 Wide
20th Century Fox

Critic Reviews

  • Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune

    The filmmakers do their best to distract us, but eventually it becomes hard to ignore that Behind Enemy Lines is one long chase sequence.

  • Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

    An old-fashioned game of the cinematic cat-and-mouse, soldier-on-the-run variety.

  • Rex Reed, New York Observer

    The only thing certain about Behind Enemy Lines is that Mr. Wilson is in it for the chance to work with Mr. Hackman, and Mr. Hackman is in it for the money.

  • Nell Minow, Common Sense Media

    Action movie with intense peril and devastation.

  • Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

    From its prosaic title to its convenient timeliness, this valentine to U.S. military guys hamstrung by officious NATO bureaucrats could hardly seem less promising

Read all 9 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Jeff "


    Behind Enemy Lines is a decent action film. The film is a departure for Owen Wilson who has worked exclusively in the comedy genre. Behind Enemy Lines is not a perfect film, but for what it is, the film succeeds somewhat at being entertaining despite the fact that the film at times… More

  • Manu G


    Prepare to cross the line. Very good movie! It's shocking to see Owen Wilson in this film since usually his roles are in comedies but he did quite good as a air force soldier. The story was interesting and in a few moments intense, not bat at all. Lt. Chris Burnett has lost… More

  • Dean M


    Superb and touching action-thriller film. The action sequences and visual effects are superb. The missile-jet scene has some of the best surround sound I have ever heard in an action scene, along with super visuals. Owen Wilson's travails, as he tries to stay alive in hostile… More

  • Mike S


    No deeper analyze is required as to why this has received such heavy critism. It's naive, stupid and questionably executed. Just take the choice of music for example, which in some places sounds like something out of a high school comedy. Also to add to the list of negatives is… More

  • Conner R


    Kind've just an odd casting selection, but it's not as corny as you might expect. The fact that it's Gene Hackman and Owen Wilson makes it worthwhile and the plot is somewhat original and engaging. I would say it's something that's fun to watch on tv if you… More

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

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Cast

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