Summary

• '71 is a unique war movie set in Belfast in 1971, shedding light on overlooked history.
• The film stars Jack O'Connell and Jack Lowden, with intense action and emotional depth.
• Despite low box office earnings, '71 deserves attention.

The underrated war movie '71 deserved to receive more success than its $3.1 million box office because of how outstanding it is compared to other films in the genre. Released in 2014, it earned a 96% Rotten Tomatoes critic score. Unfortunately, the quality of the film was not reflected in its box office. As a result, many are not familiar with it. War movie lovers should watch this movie not just because of how good the acting, storyline, and overall production are but also to unlock a chapter of tragic history that deserves more attention.

'71 is not a typical war movie that audiences may expect based on similar films. It is not a Vietnam War movie despite it taking place within the same time frame. Instead, '71 follows a piece of history often overlooked and not discussed in works of fiction. This film shines a light on this piece of history, making it undeserving of its box office reputation while deserving more attention even nine years after its release.

71 Explained: What The War Thriller Is About & Who's In The Cast

This Movie Takes Its Audience Back To Belfast In 1971

'71 is about a soldier who accidentally separates from his group in Belfast when riots begin. The young British soldier must find safety, but trying to achieve this is far from easy. Hooks endures seemingly nonstop action-packed yet emotional scenes that make it nearly impossible to turn away from the film. The story takes place in 1971, but because of how intense the film is, it seems like it is a part of another world.

'71 stars Jack O'Connell as Gary Hooks and the Slow Horses actor Jack Lowden. O'Connell has recently been in Amy Winehouse's biopic Back To Black and will star in the 28 Days Later sequel, 28 Years Later. Besides '71, Lowden was also in another famous war movie, Dunkirk. Similarly to O'Connell, he has also performed in biopics. He stars in Fighting With My Family for WWE wrestler Saraya "Paige" Bevis and Mary Queen of Scots.

Why 71 Is One Of The Best War Movies Of The Last Decade

It Has An Incredible Storyline

'71 has an incredible mixture of action and emotion. The internal and external struggles Hooks faces as he tries to survive the riots highlight how difficult it can be as a soldier. These conflicts often go hand-in-hand throughout '71. It is then easy to worry about Hooks' character and whether he will survive the riots. It is also easy to see how this film is more than just a war movie. It is also a thriller that makes it hard to look away, even if it is sometimes appealing during the film.

The fact that Jack O'Connell brings these themes out so well with his character further establishes the excellence of the film.

Although 71 is not a war movie based on a true story, it is inspired by the historical conflicts that took place in Ireland during 1971. Most war movies do not cover this time in Ireland, which is another reason '71 is a must-see film. Audiences could then discover how troubling this period was through the lens of fiction. The fact that Jack O'Connell brings these themes out so well with his character further establishes the excellence of the film.

Why Did 71 Only Make $3.1 Million At The Box Office?

This Was A Surprise, Considering How Good The Movie Is

Unfortunately, '71 did not do too well at the box office. Other significantly more d and popular films were also released in February 2015. These include Focus, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Jupiter Ascending, The Lazarus Effect, and Hot Tub Time Machine 2. Under such circumstances, audiences are often more drawn to popular franchises and stars, making even great films fail at the box office. Thus, the timing of '71's release ultimately played against it. Additionally, it can be difficult for R-rated war movies to perform well at the box office.

'71 had a budget of around $10.4 million

It is surprisingly common for war movies not to receive much attention for their theatrical releases. Some of the best war movies of 2023 did not even make as much as they deserved at the box office, one exception being Oppeinheimer. However, this lack of earnings does not take away their greatness. Fortunately, streaming platforms have helped underrated films and titles that flew under the radar to find some success even several years after they first hit theaters. '71 is currently available to stream for free on Tobi, and hopefully, it will continue to find new audiences.