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War Horse

War Horse

War · History · Drama · 2011

On the brink of the First World War, Albert's beloved horse Joey is sold to the Cavalry by his father. Against the backdrop of the Great War, Joey begins an odyssey full of danger, joy, and sorrow, and he transforms everyone he meets along the way. Meanwhile, Albert, unable to forget his equine friend, searches the battlefields of France to find Joey and bring him home.

Movie details

War Horse

“Separated by war. Tested by battle. Bound by friendship.”

2011 War · History · Drama 2h 26m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.3 / 10

Community rating

On the brink of the First World War, Albert's beloved horse Joey is sold to the Cavalry by his father. Against the backdrop of the Great War, Joey begins an odyssey full of danger, joy, and sorrow, and he transforms everyone he meets along the way. Meanwhile, Albert, unable to forget his equine friend, searches the battlefields of France to find Joey and bring him home.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over War Horse?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Steven Spielberg

Written by

Richard Curtis · Lee Hall

Jeremy Irvine

Jeremy Irvine

Albert Narracott

Peter Mullan

Peter Mullan

Ted Narracott

Emily Watson

Emily Watson

Rose Narracott

Niels Arestrup

Niels Arestrup

Grandfather

David Thewlis

David Thewlis

Lyons

Tom Hiddleston

Tom Hiddleston

Capt. James Nicholls

Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch

Maj. Jamie Stewart

Court is in session

Put War Horse on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.