Few war films have cast a shadow as long as Apocalypse Now. Francis Ford Coppola's journey up the river into the heart of the Vietnam War arrived in 1979 after one of the most famous productions in Hollywood history, won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and has been reshaped by its director twice since, most recently with the 2019 Final Cut.
Here is the story of the film, its cast, its many versions and its awards, plus our fan designs. Browse more big-screen tributes in our Movies collection.
Apocalypse Now Fact File
| Released | Cannes premiere 19 May 1979; US release 15 August 1979 |
| Director | Francis Ford Coppola |
| Writers | John Milius and Francis Ford Coppola; narration by Michael Herr |
| Inspired by | Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness (1899) |
| Studio | Omni Zoetrope; distributed by United Artists |
| Main cast | Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Frederic Forrest, Albert Hall, Sam Bottoms, Laurence Fishburne, Dennis Hopper |
| Cinematography | Vittorio Storaro |
| Setting | Vietnam and Cambodia during the Vietnam War |
| Filmed in | The Philippines, March 1976-May 1977 |
| Box office | About $150 million worldwide |
Key Films
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Apocalypse Now | Original release, around 147 minutes; Palme d'Or winner |
| 1991 | Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse | Documentary on the making of the film |
| 2001 | Apocalypse Now Redux | Extended cut, around 3 hours 22 minutes, restoring cut scenes |
| 2019 | Apocalypse Now: Final Cut | 40th anniversary version, around 3 hours 2 minutes, 4K restoration |
Running times are approximate. The Final Cut sits between the tight original and the sprawling Redux in length.
From Conrad to Cambodia
The film began as a John Milius script written in the late 1960s, which transplanted Conrad's journey into the African interior to the Vietnam War. The story follows Captain Willard (Martin Sheen), sent upriver to find and terminate Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando), a decorated officer who has set himself up as a god among the people of a remote Cambodian temple.
Relive it with our Apocalypse Now Movie Icon Frame Men's Hoodie.
Behind the Scenes
Shooting in the Philippines was meant to take a few months and stretched to 238 days. Typhoon Olga wrecked sets in May 1976, the budget ballooned and the schedule slipped again and again. Coppola's wife Eleanor filmed the chaos, footage that became the acclaimed 1991 documentary Hearts of Darkness. In post-production, Walter Murch and the sound team built a pioneering layered surround mix that later earned them an Oscar.
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Defining Moments
Robert Duvall's surf-mad Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore and the helicopter assault set to Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries remain among the most famous scenes ever filmed. Vittorio Storaro's smoky, saturated images, the opening montage with The End by the Doors, and a teenage Laurence Fishburne and a young Harrison Ford in supporting roles all add to the legend. The film premiered as a work in progress at Cannes and shared the Palme d'Or with The Tin Drum.
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Awards
Academy Awards
- Won: Best Cinematography (Vittorio Storaro) and Best Sound
- Eight nominations in total, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor (Robert Duvall)
Festivals and Other Honours
- Palme d'Or, Cannes 1979 (shared with The Tin Drum)
- Golden Globes: Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Duvall) and Best Original Score
- BAFTAs: Best Direction (Coppola) and Best Supporting Actor (Duvall)
- Selected for the US National Film Registry in 2000
Legacy
Nearly half a century on, Apocalypse Now is still on lists of the greatest films ever made, and each new version has brought it to a fresh audience. The 2019 Final Cut was restored in 4K from the original negative, with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos sound, and premiered at the Tribeca Festival before returning to cinemas for its 40th anniversary.
FAQs
Who directed Apocalypse Now?
Francis Ford Coppola directed and co-wrote it with John Milius, with narration written by Michael Herr.
Where was Apocalypse Now filmed?
It was filmed in the Philippines, including Manila and Iba, between March 1976 and May 1977.
Is Apocalypse Now based on a book?
Yes, it is loosely based on Joseph Conrad's 1899 novella Heart of Darkness, moved to the Vietnam War.
How many versions of Apocalypse Now are there?
Three main versions: the 1979 original, Apocalypse Now Redux (2001) and Apocalypse Now: Final Cut (2019).
How many Oscars did Apocalypse Now win?
It won two Oscars, for Best Cinematography and Best Sound, from eight nominations.
How old is Apocalypse Now?
The film was first shown in May 1979, making it 47 years old in 2026.
Shop the Apocalypse Now Collection
Our Apocalypse Now range features tribute fan designs inspired by the film, made to order on comfy hoodies and tees.
Explore more cinema classics in our Movies collection, or put your own name on a custom name hoodie.
Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: The Godfather: The Trilogy, the Cast and the Oscars and Taxi Driver at 50.
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