Born on the Fourth of July
A patriotic teenager enlists in the Marines seeking honor and purpose, only to confront the brutal reality of Vietnam’s killing fields that shatter his ideals and force him to choose between duty and his own humanity.
“A true story of innocence lost and courage found.”
Synopsis
After being paralyzed during the Vietnam War, Ron Kovic becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist, driven by a sense of betrayal from the country he had fought for.
Credits
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How many hands made this film
The scale of the collaboration
A crew of 484+ credited
Why a floor?
This is a minimum, not a total. We only count the credits we’ve captured so far, and coverage is uneven — a blockbuster might show a few hundred names while another of the same size shows a couple dozen. The real crews all ran into the thousands. The number here only grows as full credits are enriched — so we frame it as a floor, never a headcount.
Craft leads on file
Edited by David BrennerShot by Robert RichardsonScored by John WilliamsDesigned by Bruno RubeoSound by Tod A MaitlandCostumes by Andrea WallaceStunts by Gil Arceo
Box Office
1989 · Box office
💰 Box-office hit — grossed 12× its budget
Why 2.5×?
Cinemas keep roughly half of every ticket sold, and a wide release’s marketing often costs about as much again as the film — so a movie needs to gross around 2.5× its production budget just to break even theatrically. It’s a rule of thumb, not the studio’s ledger (home video and streaming come later).
Worldwide gross
$161.0M
US & Canada: $70.0M — 43% of worldwide · International: $91.0M (57%)
Opening weekend: $446K — 1% of its US run. It had legs — it kept earning long after opening weekend.
Opening week (7-day): $446K — 1% of its US & Canada run.
Peak 5 theaters
Full synopsis
Also known as
- Geboren am 4. Julide
- Geboren am 4.Julide
- Nacido el 4 de julioes
- Né un 4 juilletfr
- Nato il 4 luglioit
- Nato il quattro luglioit
- (Bulgarian)Роден на четвърти юли
Release dates around the world4 countries · showhide
- CanadaDec 20, 1989
- United StatesDec 20, 1989
- GermanyFeb 1, 1990
- AustraliaFeb 8, 1990
Production & Distribution
Community tags
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Cast & Crew
484 unique people credited
Top billed cast
Bryan Larkin
as Young Ron
Raymond J Barry
as Mr. Kovic
Caroline Kava
as Mrs. Kovic
Josh Evans
as Tommy Kovic
Seth Allen
as Young Tommy
Tom Cruise
as Ron Kovic
Jamie Talisman
as Jimmy Kovic
Sean Stone
as Young Jimmy
Anne Bobby
as Susanne Kovic
Jenna Von Oy
as Young Susanne
Samantha Larkin
as Patty Kovic
Erika Geminder
as Young Patty
Supporting cast
177Amanda Davis
as Baby Patty
Kevin Harvey Morse
as Jackie Kovic
John Getz
as Marine Major
David Warshofsky
as Lieutenant
Jason Gedrick
as Martinez
Michael Compotaro
as Wilson
Paul Abbott
as Platoon
Bill Allen
as Platoon
William Baldwin
as Platoon
Claude Brooks
as Platoon
Michael Guess
as Platoon
James Le Gros
as Platoon
William Mapother
as Platoon
Christopher W Mills
as Platoon
Byron Minns
as Platoon
Ben Wright
as Platoon
Markus Flanagan
as Doctor
R D Call
as Chaplain
John Falch
as Corpsman
Dan Furnad
as Corpsman
Fred Geise
as Corpsman
Greg Hackbarth
as Corpsman
Donald Wilson
as Corpsman
Kyra Sedgwick
as Donna
Jessica Prunell
as Young Donna
Frank Whaley
as Timmy
Jason Klein
as Young Timmy
Jerry Levine
as Steve Boyer
Lane R Davis
as Young Steve
Richard Panebianco
as Joey Walsh
Johnny Pinto
as Young Joey
Rob Camilletti
as Tommy Finnelli
J R Nutt
as Young Tommy
Stephen Baldwin
as Billy Vorsovich
Philip Amelio
as Young Billy
Michael Mctighe
as Danny Fantozzi
Cody Beard
as Young Danny
Ryan Beadle
as Ballplayer
Harold Woloschin
as Umpire
Richard Grusin
as Coach
Tom Berenger
as Recruiting Sergeant
Richard Haus
as 2nd Recruiting Sergeant
Mel Allen
as Mel Allen
Ed Lauter
as Legion Commander
Liz Moore
as Fat Lady at Parade
Sean Mcgraw
as Young Donna's Father
Oliver Stone Nm0000231
as News Reporter
Dale Dye
as Infantry Colonel
Norma Moore
as Massapequa Mom
Stacey Moseley
as Young Donna's Friend
Mike Miller
as Neighbor
Ellen Pasternack
as Neighbor
Joy Zapata
as Neighbor
Bob Tillotson
as Truck Driver
Corkey Ford
as Marvin
Rocky Carroll
as Willie
Sami Chester
as Aide #2
Chris Pedersen
as Aide #3
Chris Walker
as Aide #4
Willie Minor
as Eddie
David Herman
as Patient #1
Bruce Macvittie
as Patient #2
Damien Leake
as Patient #3
David Neidorf
as Patient #4
Paul Sanchez
as Patient #5
Richard Lubin
as Patient #6
Norman D Wilson
as Patient #7
Peter Benson
as Patient #7
Sergio Scognamiglio
as Patient #8
Billie Neal
as Nurse Washington
Richard Poe
as Frankie
Bob Gunton
as Doctor #1
Vivica A Fox
as Hooker
Mark Moses
as Optimistic Doctor
Abbie Hoffman
as Strike Organizer
Jake Weber
as Donna's Boyfriend
Reg E Cathey
as Speaker
Edie Brickell
as Folksinger
Keri Roebuck
as Loudspeaker, Woman #1
Geoff Garza
as Young Radical
Joseph P Reidy
as Student Organizer
Willem Dafoe
as Charlie
Tom Sizemore
as Vet #1
Andy Lauer
as Vet #2
Michael Wincott
as Vet #3
Ivan Kane
as Villa Vet
Ed Jupp Jr
as Villa Vet
Michael Sulsona
as Villa Vet
Cordelia Gonzalez
as María Elena
Karen Newman
as Whore
Begonya Plaza
as Charlie's Whore
Edith Diaz
as Madame
Anthony Pena
as Bartender
Eduardo Ricaro
as Cab Driver
Holly Marie Combs
as Jenny
Mike Starr
as Man #1 - Arthur's Bar
Beau Starr
as Man #2
Rick Masters
as Man #3
John Del Regno
as Friend #1
Gale Mayron
as Friend #2
Lisa Barnes
as Friend #3
Melinda Renna
as Barmaid
Tony Frank
as Mr. Wilson
Jayne Haynes
as Mrs. Wilson
Lili Taylor
as Jamie Wilson
Elbert Lewis
as Cab Driver
Peter Crombie
as Undercover Vet
Kevin G Mcguire
as Paraplegic #1
Ken Osborne
as Paraplegic #2
Alan Toy
as Paraplegic #3
Chuck Pfeiffer
as Secret Service Agent
Frank Girardeau
as Agent #1
William Wallace
as Agent #2
Chip Moody
as Television Anchor
Eagle Eye Cherry
as Vet #1
Brian Tarantina
as Vet #2
Frank Cavestani
as Vet #3, Vet #4
Jimmy L Parker
as Vet #4
William G Knight
as Chief Cop
David Carriere
as Miami Hippie
John William Galt
as Fat Republican
Jack Mcgee
as Democratic Delegate
Kristel Otney
as Woman #2
Pamela S Neill
as Woman #3
Jodi Long
as Reporter #1
Michelle Hurst
as Reporter #2
John C Mcginley
as Official #1
Wayne Knight
as Official #2
Elizabeth Hoffman
as Passerby #1
Lucinda Jenney
as Passerby #2
Lorraine Morin Torre
as Passerby #3
Annie Mcenroe
as Passerby #4
Daniel Baldwin
as Vet #1
Real Andrews
as Vet #3
John Achorn
Chris Adamec
as Orderly
Ran Barker
as Bobby
Theresa Bell
as Democratic Conventioner
Geno Bolda
as Soldier
Greg Bransom
as Spectator
Lee Cogburn
as Democratic Delegate - Democratic Convention
Dean Denton
as Marine Recruiter
Jedidiah Esparza
as Parade Attendee
Luv Adele Gaerlan
as Girl Selling Barbecued Pork
Kim Gelvin
as Girl Musician on Float
Allan Hale
as Miami Convention Member
Hillary Hickam
as Prom Date
Alan Kazdoy
as Convention delegate
John F Kennedy
as John F. Kennedy
Ron Kovic
as Parade Veteran
Don Kruizinga
as Parade Veteran
Gary A Leland
as Secret Service Agent
Brian Lerch
as Parade Attendee
Dean Mauro
as Conventioneer
Maureen Mendoza
as Little girl
Mark Miller
as Soldier
Fred Moon
as DNC Delegate
Ice Mrozek
as Syracuse Friend
Nick Nicholson
as Soldier
Richard Nixon
as Richard Nixon
Steven Novak
as Secret Service Agent
Keith V Otto
as College Protestor
Lori Randolph
as Girl at the Parade
Bud Sabatino
as Father at Parade
Lee Shapiro
as High School Student
Delia Sheppard
as Protesting War Widow
Christopher Robin Smith
as FBI Agent - Republican National Convention
E Lee Smith
as Vietnam Veteran
Berto Spoor
as Soldier
Marvin Frank Stone Iii
as Parade Attendee
Henry Strzalkowski
Craig Taylor
as Protester
Steve Thomas
as Gazebo Speech Attendee
Alan Vafides
as Navy Corpsman
Mark Edward Walters
as Parade Attendee
Kevin Watkins
as Protestor
Claude Whitscell
as Prom Date
Directors
2Writers
6Producers
8A Kitman Ho
Producer
Arthur Manson
producer's representative
Clayton Townsend
associate producer
Joseph P Reidy
associate producer (as Joseph Reidy)
Lope V Juban Jr
producer: Phillipines
Oliver Stone
Producer
Oliver Stone Nm0000231
Producer
Rand Mcnally
the producers gratefully acknowledge the cooperation and assistance of
Other crew
304Judy L Ruskin
(as Judy Ruskin), as Judy Ruskin
Joe Alonsabe
accountant: Philippines
Henry Tirl
additional second assistant camera (uncredited)
Chris Hogan
additional sound
Kim Waugh
additional sound (uncredited)
Mark Lanza
additional sound
Lon Bender
additional sound (as Lon E. Bender)
Ian Jones
additional steadicam operator
Avram D Gold
adr editor
Gary Gegan
adr mixer
Joseph A Mayer
adr supervisor (as Joe Mayer)
Bill Neal
advisor: wrestling
Parents Guide
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Advisory Bot AI
I keep the family-safety picture honest — community advisories, AI-moderated, summarized without spin.
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