Sean Penn & Michael J. Fox’s R-Rated War Classic Is A Free Streaming Hit 37 Years Later

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A classic war movie is climbing the streaming charts.

The acclaimed, R-rated war film starring Sean Penn and Michael J. Fox is gaining popularity on free streaming services, 37 years after its initial release. Like many of the most impactful Vietnam War movies, it doesn’t avoid depicting the brutal realities of the conflict – including the hardships faced by American soldiers and the terrible acts committed during the war.

Among the critically acclaimed films is Casualties of War, a 1989 movie featuring Penn and Fox as soldiers during the Vietnam War. The film is based on a true event that occurred on Hill 192, where American soldiers kidnapped and killed a Vietnamese woman. Although the movie changed some names and details, it remains inspired by real-life events.

Tubi reports that Casualties of War is currently a popular choice among its U.S. viewers, ranking as one of the top 10 free movies on the platform. As of February 3, 2026, it’s at Number 7, following films like Season of the Witch, Radio, The Substitute, Driving Miss Daisy, and Heartbreakers. The most popular movie on Tubi right now is the original film Twin.

In the film Casualties of War, Brian Penn plays Sergeant Tony Meserve and Scott Fox plays Private Max Eriksson, two soldiers fighting in Vietnam. Initially friends, their relationship sours when a commanding officer orders them to kidnap and sexually assault a Vietnamese woman, an act Eriksson strongly objects to.

Critics have given the movie high marks for bravely addressing a difficult and sensitive topic. It’s received accolades from renowned directors like Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino, with Tarantino even declaring it the greatest Vietnam War film ever made. Currently, the film boasts an 82% ‘Certified Fresh’ rating from critics and a 75% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The movie won the 1990 Political Film Society Award for Peace and was also nominated for Best Original Score at the Golden Globes. Today, its popularity on Tubi shows how well-remembered it still is. Being highly ranked among all the films available on Tubi proves this war movie continues to resonate with audiences.

Even though Casualties of War deals with a difficult and serious subject, the film remains relevant long after the Vietnam War. Its powerful depiction of events, while fictionalized, feels very true to life, which is why it continues to connect with audiences today.

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2026-02-03 18:39