The Thin Red Line: Terrence Malick’s WWII Epic Gains Global Streaming Popularity 27 Years On

by

Terrence Malick’s 1998 film, The Thin Red Line, is now a hit with viewers around the world thanks to streaming. The movie, starring George Clooney, John Travolta, and a talented ensemble cast, is known for its realistic and powerful battle sequences, as well as its thought-provoking look at the human side of war.

Despite being released 27 years ago, Terrence Malick’s The Thin Red Line is currently ninth on HBO Max’s list of the most popular movies worldwide, according to data from FlixPatrol as of December 23rd. It’s performing well, ranking higher than Shrek the Halls and below One Battle After Another, as well as several other films like The Polar Express, It Chapter Two, It, Us, The Conjuring: Last Rites, The Mule, and A Minecraft Movie.

This week, the film The Thin Red Line is a top 10 hit on HBO Max in 14 countries throughout Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, including the Balkans. While it’s not currently available on HBO Max in the U.S., you can rent or buy it on Prime Video starting at $4.19.

Terrence Malick’s critically acclaimed film, The Thin Red Line, is a fictionalized portrayal of the Battle of Mount Austen during World War II. Inspired by James Jones’ 1962 novel, the movie follows U.S. soldiers from C Company as they fight on Guadalcanal in the Pacific Theater.

The film boasts an impressive cast featuring Academy Award winners Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, George Clooney, and Jared Leto, alongside Oscar nominees Woody Harrelson, Nick Nolte, John C. Reilly, and John Travolta. Rounding out the ensemble are notable actors Jim Caviezel, Ben Chaplin, John Cusack, Elias Koteas, Dash Mihok, Tim Blake Nelson, Larry Romano, John Savage, and Arie Verveen.

Released in 1998, The Thin Red Line signaled Terrence Malick’s comeback to directing after a 20-year break. The film was highly praised by critics for its bold and thoughtful take on World War II, and for featuring a large cast of well-known actors.

The World War II film earned seven Academy Award nominations, including top honors like Best Picture and Best Director. Terrence Malick was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, and the film also received nominations for Cinematography, Editing, Sound, and Hans Zimmer’s original score.

Gene Siskel praised The Thin Red Line as the best war film he’d seen in years. However, Roger Ebert specifically highlighted the battle scenes, noting their skill in portraying the landscape – the hill, the Japanese defenses, and the American soldiers’ efforts to capture it.

Read More

2025-12-23 23:38