Platoon
Chris Taylor, a neophyte recruit in Vietnam, finds himself caught in a battle of wills between two sergeants, one good and the other evil. A shrewd examination of the brutality of war and the duality of man in conflict.
Directed by Oliver Stone · Drama · War · 120 min · 1986
Trailer
Director
Oliver Stone
Writer
Oliver Stone
Studio
Hemdale Film Corporation
Release
19 Dec 1986
Runtime
120 min
Genres
Drama, War
Full Plot
Chris Taylor is a young, naive American who gives up college and volunteers for combat in Vietnam. Upon arrival, he quickly discovers that his presence is quite nonessential, and is considered insignificant to the other soldiers, as he has not fought for as long as the rest of them and felt the effects of combat. Chris has two non-commissioned officers, the ill-tempered and indestructible Staff Sergeant Robert Barnes and the more pleasant and cooperative Sergeant Elias Grodin. A line is drawn between the two NCOs and a number of men in the platoon when an illegal killing occurs during a village raid. As the war continues, Chris himself draws towards psychological meltdown. And as he struggles for survival, he soon realizes he is fighting two battles, the conflict with the enemy and the conflict between the men within his platoon.
Cast & Characters
Chris Taylor
Charlie Sheen
Staff Sgt. Barnes
Tom Berenger
Sgt. Elias
Willem Dafoe
Big Harold
Forest Whitaker
Rhah
Francesco Quinn
Bunny
Kevin Dillon
Sgt. O'Neill
John C. McGinley
Junior
Reggie Johnson
Lt. Wolfe
Mark Moses
Francis
Corey Glover
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $6.0M, Platoon has grossed $138.5M worldwide — about 23.1x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
The seeds of what would become Platoon began as early as 1968, months after Oliver Stone had completed his own tour of duty fighting in the Vietnam War.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Exterior shooting began on the island of Luzon in the Philippines in February 1986, although the production was almost canceled because of the political upheaval in the country, due to then-president Ferdinand Marcos.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Critical Assessment
Platoon holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (472,202 votes), 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 92/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of July 30, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.1/10 on IMDb (472,202 votes), 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 92/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Platoon's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
Platoon holds a 89% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is Platoon's IMDb rating?+
Platoon has a 8.1/10 rating on IMDb from 472,202 votes.
What is Platoon's Metacritic score?+
Platoon has a Metascore of 92/100 on Metacritic.
Is Platoon good? What are critics saying?+
Platoon holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (472,202 votes), 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 92/100 on Metacritic.
How long is Platoon?+
Platoon has a runtime of 120 min.
Who directed Platoon?+
Platoon was directed by Oliver Stone.
Where can I watch Platoon?+
Platoon is available to stream, rent, or buy on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex, MGM Plus Amazon Channel, Rakuten TV, Sky Store.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The public reaction to "Platoon" has been overwhelmingly positive, with many considering it a must-see film about the Vietnam War. Some reviewers praised its realistic portrayal and well-developed characters, while others criticized its anti-war themes and alleged exaggeration of events. The film's impact on the public is evident in comments from those who saw it live at the theater or have since rewatched it.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
Platoon is a must see. The film that put Stone on the map, Platoon is considered by Vietnam Vets as the most realistic. But in keeping the maxim of giving credit where credit is due, much of the success of Platoon belongs to military adviser Captain Dale Dye, who has been linked…
**A film with a good script and good characters, but which exaggerates some things and is as anti-war as almost all films about Vietnam.** The Vietnam War is one of the most brutal conflicts the US was involved in the 20th century, and one of the first wars that Americans lost. F…
Filipe Manuel Neto · 9/10The corn at home might have been green, but nowhere near as green as “Chris” (Charlie Sheen) when he arrives in Vietnam ready to take up arms against the well entrenched Viet-Cong. The scene as he arrives speaks volumes as his far most experienced colleagues look upon his fresh f…
CinemaSerf · 7/10
From the trailer's comments
This is my all time favourite film ever!! So awfully sad though, with a terrific sound track. Willem Defoe and all the actors are brilliant
@susankirkland3852 · 515 likesI saw it live at the theater when I was twenty. It hit hard. That’s why I’m here now. Commenting at 56.
@YTjndallas · 231 likesCharlie sheen did a great acting job in platoon movie
@BrettLloyd-z5x · 46 likesIt'd have been hilarious to make a trailer where they're only smiling, dancing, laughing, and drinking/smoking. Would've been an awesome misconception.
@srujan00 · 202 likesOne of the greatest films I’ve ever laid eyes on
@hughmungus8071 · 253 likesWhoa! This movie takes on a significantly more authentic experience since learning that Oliver Stone was a Vietnam Grunt himself. How could I have missed that fact all of these years? Don't disturb me for the next two hours......
@cletusvandamme6262 · 71 likesI think now, looking back, we did not fight the enemy; we fought ourselves. And the enemy was in us.
@rozembergbarbosa24 · 69 likesTrailer was ahead of its time
@reelrocknrolla4251 · 81 likes
