Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Kernel Score: 90% · 11,269 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama, War
Released: 1987-06-26
Runtime: 117 minutes
Is Full Metal Jacket worth watching?
Must-watch. A war film in two halves: brutal Marine boot camp, then chaotic street fighting in Vietnam. It's cold, sharp and unforgettable, and the first half is among the most intense scenes ever filmed.
Watch it if you
- like serious war dramas
- appreciate Kubrick's cold, precise style
- want a film about what war does to people
Skip it if you
- dislike harsh language and cruelty
- want a conventional heroic war story
Best for: Serious night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Full Metal Jacket
- Stream: MGM+, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel
- Free with ads: YouTube Free
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A pragmatic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects the U.S.-Vietnam War has on his fellow recruits from their brutal boot camp training to the bloody street fighting in Hue.
Full Metal Jacket parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Full Metal Jacket is an R-rated Vietnam War drama with brutal boot camp abuse, war violence, and a suicide.
- Violence & scariness: Intense — Graphic war violence, brutal military training, and an on-screen suicide.
- Language: Intense — R-rated Kubrick war film known for harsh, dehumanizing military language throughout.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: A little — Includes references to prostitution and wartime vice per keywords.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Full Metal Jacket
If you liked Full Metal Jacket, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Platoon (1986) — 87%: Another Vietnam story, seen through a young soldier's eyes.
- Apocalypse Now (1979) — 91%: Surreal, descending Vietnam epic about war's madness.
- Paths of Glory (1957) — 91%: Kubrick's earlier anti-war drama about command and cruelty.
- The Thin Red Line (1998) — 85%: Reflective, poetic war film about men in combat.
- All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) — 86%: Early anti-war classic about young soldiers and the toll of fighting.
- Come and See (1985) — 89%: A harrowing, brutal war film that refuses comfort.
Director
Cast
- Matthew Modine as Pvt. Joker
- Adam Baldwin as Animal Mother
- Vincent D'Onofrio as Pvt. Pyle
- R. Lee Ermey as Gny. Sgt. Hartman
- Dorian Harewood as Eightball
- Kevyn Major Howard as Rafterman
- Arliss Howard as Pvt. Cowboy
- Ed O'Ross as Lt. Touchdown
- John Terry as Lt. Lockhart
- Kieron Jecchinis as Crazy Earl
Full Metal Jacket FAQ
Is Full Metal Jacket worth watching?
Must-watch. A war film in two halves: brutal Marine boot camp, then chaotic street fighting in Vietnam. It's cold, sharp and unforgettable, and the first half is among the most intense scenes ever filmed.
Where can I watch Full Metal Jacket?
In the US you can stream Full Metal Jacket on MGM+, HBO Max and Cinemax Apple TV channel, watch it free with ads on YouTube Free and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Full Metal Jacket OK for kids?
Full Metal Jacket is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Full Metal Jacket is an R-rated Vietnam War drama with brutal boot camp abuse, war violence, and a suicide.
What movies are like Full Metal Jacket?
If you liked Full Metal Jacket, try Platoon, Apocalypse Now, Paths of Glory and The Thin Red Line.