Courage Under Fire is a 1996 American war drama film directed by Edward Zwick and starring Denzel Washington and Meg Ryan. The film follows Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling, a troubled Gulf War veteran who is assigned to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Captain Karen Walden, a female pilot who is nominated for the Medal of Honor.
As Serling interviews multiple soldiers, he discovers conflicting versions of the story from her crew, and he must determine the truth. The film was released on July 12, 1996, to positive reviews and grossed $100 million worldwide. Denzel Washington's acting was specifically lauded, and the film was praised for its stunning cinematography and deftly turning a whodunit into a meditation on character.
Full Cast
- Denzel Washington as Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling
- Meg Ryan as Captain Karen Emma Walden
- Lou Diamond Phillips as Staff Sergeant John Monfriez
- Michael Moriarty as Brigadier General Hershberg
- Matt Damon as Specialist Ilario
- Bronson Pinchot as Bruno
- Seth Gilliam as Altameyer
- Regina Taylor as Meredith Serling
- Zeljko Ivanek as Banacek
- Scott Glenn as Tony Gartner
- Tim Guinee as Boylar
- Sean Astin as Patella
- Armand Darrius as Andrew Ilario
- Ken Jenkins as General Perry
- Sean Patrick Thomas as Thompson
- Regina Taylor as Meredith Serling
Director: Edward Zwick
Writer: Patrick Sheane Duncan
Box Office Gross: $100,860,818
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery & thriller
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 12, 1996
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015