Quick Links
Summary
The underrated war movie'71deserved to receive more success than its $3.1 million box office because of how outstanding it is compared to other films in the genre. Released in 2014, it earned a 96% Rotten Tomatoes critic score. Unfortunately, the quality of the film was not reflected in its box office. As a result, many are not familiar with it. War movie lovers should watch this movie not just because of how good the acting, storyline, and overall production are but also to unlock a chapter of tragic history that deserves more attention.
‘71is not a typical war movie that audiences may expect based on similar films. It is nota Revolutionary War moviethat tells a story about North America. The film is not evena Vietnam War moviedespite it taking place within the same time frame. Instead,‘71follows a piece of history often overlookedand not discussed in works of fiction. This film shines a light on this piece of history, making it undeserving of its box office reputation while deserving more attention even nine years after its release.
25 Best Cold War Movies Ranked
The Cold War provided a tense and intriguing backdrop for these films. Here are the best movies set during the Cold War.
71 Explained: What The War Thriller Is About & Who’s In The Cast
This Movie Takes Its Audience Back To Belfast In 1971
‘71is about a soldier who accidentally separates from his group in Belfast when riots begin. The young British soldier must find safety, but trying to achieve this is far from easy.Hooks endures seemingly nonstop action-packed yet emotional scenesthat make it nearly impossible to turn away from the film. The story takes place in 1971, but because of how intense the film is, it seems like it is a part of another world.
‘71stars Jack O’Connell as Gary Hooks and theSlow Horsesactor Jack Lowden. O’Connell has recently been in Amy Winehouse’s biopicBack To Blackand will star in the28 Days Latersequel,28 Years Later. Besides'71, Lowden was also in another famous war movie,Dunkirk. Similarly to O’Connell, he has also performed in biopics. He stars inFighting With My Familyfor WWE wrestler Saraya “Paige” Bevis andMary Queen of Scots.
Why 71 Is One Of The Best War Movies Of The Last Decade
It Has An Incredible Storyline
‘71has an incredible mixture of action and emotion. The internal and external struggles Hooks faces as he tries to survive the riots highlight how difficult it can be as a soldier. These conflicts often go hand-in-hand throughout'71.It is then easy to worry about Hooks’ character and whether he will survivethe riots. It is also easy to see how this film is more than just a war movie. It is also a thriller that makes it hard to look away, even if it is sometimes appealing during the film.
The fact that Jack O’Connell brings these themes out so well with his character further establishes the excellence of the film.
Although71is not awar movie based on a true story, it is inspired by the historical conflicts that took place in Ireland during 1971. Mostwar movies do not cover this time in Ireland, which is another reason ‘71is a must-see film.Audiences could then discover how troubling this period was through the lens of fiction. The fact that Jack O’Connell brings these themes out so well with his character further establishes the excellence of the film.
Why Did 71 Only Make $3.1 Million At The Box Office?
This Was A Surprise, Considering How Good The Movie Is
Unfortunately,‘71did not do too well at the box office. Other significantly more advertised and popular films were also released in February 2015. These includeFocus,Kingsman: The Secret Service,Jupiter Ascending,The Lazarus Effect, andHot Tub Time Machine 2. Under such circumstances,audiences are often more drawn to popular franchises and stars, making even great films fail at the box office.Thus, the timing of'71’s release ultimately played against it. Additionally, it can be difficult for R-rated war movies to perform well at the box office.
‘71had a budget of around $10.4 million
It is surprisingly common for war movies not to receive much attention for their theatrical releases. Some of thebest war movies of 2023did not even make as much as they deserved at the box office, one exception beingOppeinheimer.However,this lack of earnings does not take away their greatness.Fortunately, streaming platforms have helped underrated films and titles that flew under the radar to find some success even several years after they first hit theaters.‘71is currently available to stream for free on Tobi, and hopefully, it will continue to find new audiences.
‘71
Cast
A British soldier gets accidentally removed from his group in 1971 in Belfast and must find safety to escape the riots.
