All Quiet on the Western Front | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

98% Tomatometer 90 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings

The film follows a group of German schoolboys, talked into enlisting at the beginning of World War I by their jingoistic teacher. The story is told entirely through the experiences of the young German recruits and highlights the tragedy of war through the eyes of individuals.

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All Quiet on the Western Front

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Critics Consensus

Director Lewis Milestone's brilliant anti-war polemic, headlined by an unforgettable performance from Lew Ayres, lays bare the tragic foolishness at the heart of war.

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Critics Reviews

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All Quiet on the Western Front | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Clive MacManus London Evening Standard Mr. Lewis Milestone, the Russian who directed it, has made the most remarkable film I have ever seen. His battles scenes alone are astonishing. Aug 2, 2022 Full Review All Quiet on the Western Front | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Don B. Reed Washington Post Here is a photoplay which carries a wallop in every scene. Without doubt, it is as mighty a weapon against war as any infernal machine might be for conflict. After seeing it, there can be few to argue in favor of shedding the blood of any nation's youth. Aug 2, 2022 Full Review All Quiet on the Western Front | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Ella H. McCormick Detroit Free Press All Quiet on the Western Front will grip you and leave an indelible mark upon your soul. Apr 8, 2021 Full Review All Quiet on the Western Front | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Pare Lorentz Judge If two writers and a director of the caliber responsible for [the film] had been allowed money and opportunity an original work the result would have to produce been far more exciting. What they have done has power, but it is spread all over the place. Oct 30, 2023 Full Review All Quiet on the Western Front | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Mark Johnson Awards Daily No film detailed the horrors of World War I better than Lewis Milestone’s All Quiet on the Western Front. A technically groundbreaking film that doubles as an extremely powerful anti-war message. Just as compelling in its time as it is today. Jun 8, 2023 Full Review All Quiet on the Western Front | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Amy Thomasson InSession Film All Quiet on the Western Front remains profoundly moving. Apr 25, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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William B Best WW1 film. Great message and performance. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/22/24 Full Review Der I A classic that should be made compulsory in schools. Especially because the heroes are recruited at school, too. Very close to the book, really sad and (fortunately) you can't escape the terrible atmosphere. In contrast to Nolan's movie with the scenes from the ‘home front’, I think that's very important. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/10/24 Full Review ChrisCSH H The Academy award winning film for best picture for 1930 all quiet on the Western front is simply one of the greatest films ever made the direction from Lewis Milestone is incredible. The way he was able to depict and showcase the horrors of war and what terrible situations These young soldiers are put through when they’re in battle is simply heart wrenching. The acting with the entire cast is fantastic especially Lew Ayres who play Paul his acting was so heartfelt and moving you could feel it in your soul the intense action sequences, and battles throughout the entire film is some of the best of all time even to this day are still fantastic. The way the Director was able to make you feel like you were in the trenches, and in the battle with the soldiers is just amazing that you could feel like you were there with every bomb that went off overhead. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/13/24 Full Review Robert R Definitely one of the top World War One films, and one of the best war films overall. Even at almost 100 years old still worth watching. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/24/23 Full Review Georgan G This is one of the best anti-war films ever made. And my favorite of all 3 versions of All Quiet on the Western Front. Amazing that a film this old still has such an impact. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/17/23 Full Review Louisa E This was so different from the other films I've watched on this journey. It was a film that had something to say. The plot was fairly standard, but it packed a punch. It explored some of the motives of why people went to war. It showed the bond and animosity towards fellow soldiers. It highlighted the terrible conditions of the trenches. It showcased the terrible spectacle of war and death. And through it all, it asked why. The conversation between the men discussing who started the war and why they were fighting in it was fantastic. I empathised with Paul about returning to the front instead of staying home. It is a long movie, and there was one point I got a bit tired and wondered when it would end, but it was worth pushing through. The acting wasn't brilliant by Lew Ayres, as cute as he is. My favourite actor here was Louis Wolheim as Kat. I read that he died shortly after this movie, which made me sad. The sound was pretty good. The trivia section on IMDB says that the director deliberately chose not to have a score. I guess with cinemas providing a musical score in-house, people were sick of music explaining mood now they had real sound. But from a modern viewpoint, I think a score in some places would have been nice. The cinematography was superb. So many innovative elements! My favourites were extreme close-ups, interesting filming angles, such as into a mirror, and having people and objects in the foreground (instead of it looking like filming a stage), and the filming up from inside a ditch. I also liked how at one point, the boots were the focal point. The special effects were also great. I'm not sure how they did it all. It earned the Oscar for cinematography and Best Picture for me. I wish Louis Wolheim were nominated for the best actor, too. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Lewis Milestone Director Lew Ayres Paul Baumer Louis Wolheim Katczinsky John Wray Himmelstoss Raymond Griffith Gerard Duval Slim Summerville Tjaden
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All Quiet on the Western Front

All Quiet on the Western Front: Official Clip - The Charge All Quiet on the Western Front: Official Clip - The Charge 2:59 All Quiet on the Western Front: Official Clip - To Die For Your Country All Quiet on the Western Front: Official Clip - To Die For Your Country 2:42 All Quiet on the Western Front: Official Clip - Forgive Me, Comrade All Quiet on the Western Front: Official Clip - Forgive Me, Comrade 2:10 All Quiet on the Western Front: Official Clip - Heroism In Vain All Quiet on the Western Front: Official Clip - Heroism In Vain 2:12 All Quiet on the Western Front: Official Clip - I Want To Help You All Quiet on the Western Front: Official Clip - I Want To Help You 2:49 All Quiet on the Western Front: Official Clip - Before the Storm All Quiet on the Western Front: Official Clip - Before the Storm 1:40 All Quiet on the Western Front: Official Clip - You Still Think I'm a Child All Quiet on the Western Front: Official Clip - You Still Think I'm a Child 1:32 All Quiet on the Western Front: Official Clip - Dish It Out! All Quiet on the Western Front: Official Clip - Dish It Out! 2:31 All Quiet on the Western Front: Official Clip - What Good Are They to You? All Quiet on the Western Front: Official Clip - What Good Are They to You? 2:01 All Quiet on the Western Front: Official Clip - The Butterfly All Quiet on the Western Front: Official Clip - The Butterfly 1:57 View more videos

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Synopsis The film follows a group of German schoolboys, talked into enlisting at the beginning of World War I by their jingoistic teacher. The story is told entirely through the experiences of the young German recruits and highlights the tragedy of war through the eyes of individuals.

Director
Lewis Milestone

Producer
Carl Laemmle Jr.

Screenwriter
Erich Maria Remarque, George Abbott, Del Andrews, Maxwell Anderson, Maxwell Anderson, Lewis Milestone

Distributor
Universal Pictures

Production Co
Universal Pictures

Genre
War

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 24, 1930, Original

Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 22, 2014

Runtime
1h 45m
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