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Enemy at the Gates

Play trailer Poster for Enemy at the Gates R 2001 2h 11m War Drama Action History Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
53% Tomatometer 132 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Vassili is a young Russian sharpshooter who becomes a legend when a savvy political officer makes him the hero of his propaganda campaign. Their friendship is threatened when both men fall in love with a beautiful female soldier. As the battle for the city rages, Vassili faces the ultimate challenge when the Nazi command dispatches its most elite marksman to hunt down and kill the man who has become the hope of all Russia.
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Enemy at the Gates

Enemy at the Gates

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Critics Consensus

Atmospheric and thrilling, Enemy at the Gates gets the look and feel of war right. However, the love story seems out of place.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media Dec 24, 2010
4/5
Tense and violent WWII movie. Go to Full Review
Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Feb 9, 2007
There's never much risk of reality intruding--just a lot of histrionic James Horner music nd plenty of designer stubble on the soldiers' faces. Go to Full Review
Peter Rainer New York Magazine/Vulture Sep 26, 2002
It's as if an obsessed movie nut had decided to collect every bad war-movie convention on one computer and program it to spit out a script. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Sep 6, 2026
2.5/4
A terrific subject for a major motion picture — the Battle of Stalingrad, the bloodbath during which the conquering German army suffered one of its first major setbacks of World War II — receives only half-hearted treatment in this handsome production. Go to Full Review
Michael Sragow Baltimore Sun Jul 15, 2023
3/4
Without its ambitious underpinnings, these virtuoso set pieces wouldn't flicker with emotion. In Enemy at the Gates, gravity has entertainment value, at least to those who can respond to wartime fervor. Go to Full Review
Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) Oct 2, 2020
2.5/5
Time and time again, Enemy at the Gates squanders its pulse-pounding momentum on long, high-falutin' stretches of pointy-headed pretentiousness that just get in the road of the good stuff. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad 19 hrs ago Enemy At the Gates is a *4* star Movie! See more
Henry D @Henry_Domke 4 days ago Seeing it in 4K was a revelation. The image was so much richer than I remembered. I often dislike the olive greens and blues that were popular when this film was made, but they suited the ruins of Stalingrad perfectly. Even after several viewings, the script, tight editing and fine acting held our attention from start to finish. See more
James H @JamesAnthony101 Sep 22, 2026 Historically not always accurate.. It is not the best war film either.. But the acting of the two leads and the villain are very enjoyable! Rachel Weisz always amazing in whatever I see her in, maybe deserved more as a character in the film.. See more
Kong K @kingkong2000 Sep 5, 2026 the cinematic part is ok. the story is the problem. it's a pathetic appropriation of an heroic story. even after the ussr has collapsed after decades of cold war, the west just can't get over demonising the commie to make itself looks good. funny how people could be forced to fight and win in stalingrad. the movie depicts Vasily as a peasant and conscript; in real life, he was college-educated, and had already served for at least five years in the soviet navy's pacific fleet before the war began. he entered the army as a trained warrant officer and was far from illiterate or unfamiliar with military discipline. yes, he was likely a real card-carrying commie; instead, in this western politically-correct narrative, a fictional selfish jewish commissar needs to be inserted, so the only bad guys who appear in the movies are all commies. the nazis appear so noble in comparison. just that thought sickened me enough to lower the score from 2 to 1 star. See more
Jordan C @RT05058361 Sep 4, 2026 I've always loved this movie. Visually stunning, exciting and it's got Rachel Weisz!! ❤️😆 Got to love Jude Law as well 🙂 When i realised it was leaving Netflix, I actually messaged a friend so they didn't miss watching it again! See more
James A @Droz27 Aug 10, 2026 So disappointed given the positive reviews.. The opening scene is okay, but then the focus shifts to the nerdy, jealous journalist writing about the hero in a bunker. Half the movie is them talking in this bunker. There is way too little of what we want, an exciting, clever cat and mouse game between top snipers. Instead we get an unbelievable eight year old double agent and a love story and awkward love scenes with an ugly girl. Ed Harris can't carry his role at all, he's a bit part actor at best, he's dull and without personality. For the climax, he just walks out into the open and Jude Law is suddenly there. Worse than what Netflix is doing rn, which says a lot. See more
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Enemy at the Gates

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis Vassili is a young Russian sharpshooter who becomes a legend when a savvy political officer makes him the hero of his propaganda campaign. Their friendship is threatened when both men fall in love with a beautiful female soldier. As the battle for the city rages, Vassili faces the ultimate challenge when the Nazi command dispatches its most elite marksman to hunt down and kill the man who has become the hope of all Russia.
Director
Jean-Jacques Annaud
Producer
John D. Schofield, Jean-Jacques Annaud
Screenwriter
Jean-Jacques Annaud, Alain Godard
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Swanford Films, Reperage, Little Bird, DOS, Mandalay Pictures, Paramount Pictures, KC Medien AG
Rating
R (Strong Graphic War Violence|Some Sexuality)
Genre
War, Drama, Action, History, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 16, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$51.4M
Runtime
2h 11m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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