Platoon (1986)

Platoon follows Chris Taylor, a young college dropout who volunteers for combat duty in Vietnam in 1967 and soon finds himself the inexperienced newcomer in a battle-scarred platoon. Torn between two veteran sergeants — the hard, uncompromising Staff Sergeant Barnes and the more humane Sergeant Elias — Taylor is drawn into a clash of values that explodes after an illegal massacre during a village raid. As the fighting drags on, he watches comrades die, witnesses moral lines being crossed, and edges toward a psychological breaking point, realizing he is fighting both the enemy outside and the darkness within his own unit. Watching the film is a visceral, often harrowing experience: gritty jungle patrols, chaotic firefights, and stark, emotional confrontations create a tense, immersive atmosphere. The story emphasizes moral ambiguity and the personal cost of war, delivering powerful performances and scenes that are likely to leave viewers unsettled, moved, and reflective about the human toll of combat. Fans of character-driven war dramas and uncompromising, realistic portrayals of battlefield ethics will find it especially affecting.

Actors: Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe

Director: Oliver Stone

Runtime: 120 min

Genres: Drama, War

7.7 /10 92 /100 8.1 /10 8.3 /10