The Thin Red Line: 1998 War Film Surges on HBO Max

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Released in 1998, The Thin Red Line is the second film based on the 1962 novel of the same title. While critics generally liked the movie and it earned $98 million at the box office with a $52 million budget, it didn’t receive as much attention because another highly praised film came out just a few months earlier.

After over twenty-five years, The Thin Red Line is gaining a lot of attention on streaming services. FlixPatrol data shows it’s currently the ninth most-watched movie on HBO Max. The film is especially popular right now in countries like Albania, Croatia, Romania, and Slovenia, consistently ranking among the top ten most-watched movies there for the past week.

The 1998 movie The Thin Red Line boasts a talented cast including Jim Caviezel, Nick Nolte, Elias Koteas, and Ben Chaplin. Sean Penn plays 1st Sgt. Edward Welsh, and Jim Caviezel portrays Pvt. Robert E. Lee Witt, a soldier who chooses to leave his unit and live peacefully among the local people.

The film stars John Cusack, Woody Harrelson, Adrien Brody, and John Travolta. It’s based on James Jones’s novel of the same name, which draws from his personal experiences in World War II. Terrence Malick, a director known for exploring philosophical ideas in his films, returned after a 20-year break to direct The Thin Red Line.

Critics Praised Sean Penn and Jim Caviezel’s Performances and the Movie’s Philosophical Themes

Currently, The Thin Red Line has a high approval rating, earning an 80% score from both critics and general audiences. It also boasts a 7.6 rating on IMDb, based on over 200,000 reviews. Reviewers particularly appreciated the film’s thoughtful exploration of complex ideas, its realistic portrayal of the emotional toll of war, and its stunning visuals.

TIME Magazine’s Richard Schickel beautifully described the film as a tribute to a forgotten soldier. Rob Humanick of Slant Magazine gave it a perfect score, praising its dreamlike visuals as the heart of what makes movies special. And Todd McCarthy from Variety, in a review on Rotten Tomatoes, called it a smart and ambitious film with a lot of talent behind it.

Many viewers have praised the film, with one IMDb reviewer, pmov, calling it “the most beautiful film about the horrors of war.” Jacob L, on Rotten Tomatoes, described The Thin Red Line as an amazing portrayal of how soldiers cope with the realities of combat.

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Though The Thin Red Line was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, Shakespeare in Love ultimately won the Best Picture award. Despite this, The Thin Red Line still received recognition, winning Best Motion Picture – Drama at the Satellite Awards and Best Director from the Chicago Film Critics Association.

Currently, you can’t stream The Thin Red Line on HBO Max in the US, but it is available for purchase or rental on AppleTV.

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2025-12-24 23:39