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The Hurt Locker

Play trailerPoster for The Hurt LockerRReleased Jul 31, 20092h 7mWarDramaMystery & ThrillerActionPlay Trailer Watchlist
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96%Tomatometer 287 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 Times (UK) ... An unflinching look at the personal cost of being really good at a really tough job. Sep 30, 2022 Full Review Ed Koch The Atlantic The Hurt Locker is without a doubt one of the best war pictures I have ever seen, and I have seen most of them. Jan 17, 2018 Full Review Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online 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. Rated: B+ Sep 12, 2017 Full Review Noah Berlatsky Splice Today 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. May 29, 2024 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review More enduring than your typical war movie, Bigelow has constructed a suspenseful and confident motion picture about addiction, filled with biting observations about why some go to war, and then why some stay. Rated: 3.5/4 Sep 4, 2023 Full Review Mark Johnson Awards Daily Evocative and unsettling, The Hurt Locker remains an outstanding and cautionary war drama. Jun 14, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Fer S It has got a few very well achieved suspense moments until you realize how uninteresting the plot is. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars04/22/25 Full Review Grant H Another movie I put off seeing for decade and I suppose it was worth the wait. Jeremy Renner and Anthony Mackie are fantastic in their roles bringing the messiness of Iraq in those years we were over there. Kathryn Bigelow is at her best with these type of movies, and the Oscar for Best Director on this front was well deserved! Rated 5 out of 5 stars02/11/25 Full Review Nick R Incredible acting and excellent direction make 'The Hurt Locker' an absolute must-watch war film. Rated 5 out of 5 stars12/30/24 Full Review Kauã M An experience that takes light on a heavy topic, and yet leaves you on the edge of your seat agonizing and reflecting every second. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars11/17/24 Full Review Jason K. C It’s a movie that one can watch. I finished it. I probably will never watch it again or think about it again after posting this review. Rated 2 out of 5 stars10/30/24 Full Review Nicholas R As a veteran of Iraq, I despise this film. What a load of rubbish. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars09/11/24 Full Review Read all reviews
The Hurt Locker

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Cast & Crew

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Kathryn Bigelow

Director

Jeremy Renner

Staff Sergeant William James

Anthony Mackie

Sergeant JT Sanborn

Brian Geraghty

Specialist Owen Eldridge

Guy Pearce

Sergeant Matt Thompson

Ralph Fiennes

Contractor Team Leader

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The Hurt Locker

The Hurt Locker (2008)The Hurt Locker (2008) View more photos

Movie Info

SynopsisStaff 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
Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier
Screenwriter
Mark Boal
Distributor
Summit Media
Production Co
Kingsgate Films, Voltage Pictures, First Light Production
Rating
R (War Violence|Language)
Genre
War, Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 31, 2009, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 24, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$15.7M
Runtime
2h 7m
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