Apocalypse Now
A hallucinatory war epic that plunges into the heart of darkness, where the jungle's fever dream mirrors the madness of the human soul.
Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now

"This is the end..."

19 May 1979 United States of America 147 min ⭐ 8.3 (8,669)
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Cast: Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Frederic Forrest, Albert Hall, Laurence Fishburne
Drama War
The Madness of War The Duality of Human Nature (Civilization vs. Savagery) Moral Ambiguity and Hypocrisy Critique of American Imperialism and Culture
Budget: $31,500,000
Box Office: $150,000,000

Apocalypse Now - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details

Easter Eggs

Harrison Ford's character is named Colonel G. Lucas.

This is a direct and playful reference to George Lucas, who was a close friend of Coppola's and was originally supposed to direct Apocalypse Now. Ford had, of course, starred in Lucas's films American Graffiti and Star Wars.

The graffiti 'Our Motto: Apocalypse Now' is visible in Kurtz's compound.

This is a literal in-film appearance of the movie's title. It suggests that Kurtz and his followers have fully embraced the chaotic and destructive philosophy that the title implies, seeing the end of the old world and the creation of their new one as an immediate, ongoing event.

In an outtake from Marlon Brando's monologue, a bug flew into his mouth.

During one of his intense, improvised monologues, a bug flew into Marlon Brando's mouth, to which he calmly ad-libbed, 'I swallowed a bug.' The moment, featured in the documentary Hearts of Darkness, has become legendary among fans and was later referenced in the film Good Will Hunting when Casey Affleck's character says the line.