# A Few Good Men

> 1992 film directed by Rob Reiner

**Wikidata**: [Q108946](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q108946)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Few_Good_Men)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/a-few-good-men

## Summary
A Few Good Men is a 1992 American legal drama film directed by Rob Reiner, produced by Castle Rock Entertainment, and based on Aaron Sorkin’s 1989 play of the same name. It stars Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, and Demi Moore, and is renowned for its iconic courtroom scenes and the line “You can’t handle the truth!,” which became a cultural touchstone. The film grossed over $243 million worldwide and received critical acclaim, earning several award nominations.

## Key Facts
- **Directed by**: Rob Reiner  
- **Release dates**: December 2, 1992 (limited), December 11, 1992 (wide)  
- **Production company**: Castle Rock Entertainment  
- **Genres**: Legal drama, courtroom drama, thriller  
- **Based on**: Aaron Sorkin’s 1989 play *A Few Good Men*  
- **Starring**: Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon, Kevin Pollak, J.T. Walsh, Wolfgang Bodison  
- **Box office**: $243.2 million (worldwide)  
- **Awards**: Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson), MTV Movie Award for Best Movie (1993)  
- **Nominations**: National Board of Review’s Top Ten Films (1992)  
- **Wikipedia sitelinks**: 47 language editions  
- **Wikidata ID**: Q11424  
- **IMDb ID**: tt0104257  

## FAQs
**What awards and nominations did *A Few Good Men* receive?**  
The film won the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson) and the MTV Movie Award for Best Movie (1993). It was also named one of the National Board of Review’s Top Ten Films of 1992.  

**What genres is *A Few Good Men* associated with?**  
It is classified as a legal drama, courtroom drama, and thriller, blending elements of crime and military-themed storytelling.  

**How was the film received commercially and culturally?**  
*A Few Good Men* grossed over $243 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1992 (domestically). Its dialogue, particularly Jack Nicholson’s monologue, entered popular culture, and it is frequently cited in discussions of iconic courtroom dramas.  

**What real-life events inspired the story?**  
The screenplay was inspired by the 1986 Camp Lejeune hazing incident and the subsequent court-martial of Lance Corporal David Cox, USMC.  

## Why It Matters
*A Few Good Men* is significant for its gripping portrayal of military justice, moral ambiguity, and the psychological dynamics of power. It revitalized the courtroom drama genre in the 1990s and solidified Aaron Sorkin’s reputation as a master of rapid-fire dialogue. The film’s exploration of themes like honor, loyalty, and institutional corruption resonated with audiences, while its commercial success demonstrated the viability of serious, dialogue-driven films in mainstream cinema. Its influence extends to legal education, with the movie often used in law school courses to illustrate courtroom tactics and ethics.  

## Notable For
- **Cultural impact**: Ranked #29 on Bravo’s “30 Even More Reasons to Love 1990s” list (2008).  
- **Iconic dialogue**: Jack Nicholson’s “You can’t handle the truth!” monologue is ranked among the greatest film lines of all time.  
- **Box office success**: Highest-grossing film of 1992 in the U.S. and Canada.  
- **Awards and legacy**: Preserved in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress (2023).  
- **Adaptation history**: Adapted from a Broadway play that ran for 497 performances.  
- **Historical basis**: Loosely inspired by the real-life court-martial of David Cox.  

## Body

### Production and Release  
*A Few Good Men* was directed by Rob Reiner and produced by Castle Rock Entertainment. Filming took place in 1991–1992, with a screenplay by Aaron Sorkin adapted from his 1989 play. The film premiered in Washington, D.C., on December 2, 1992, followed by a wide release on December 11. It later opened in international markets, including the UK (January 15, 1993), Germany (February 5, 1993), and Japan (April 16, 1993).  

### Awards and Recognition  
The film received widespread critical acclaim, earning Jack Nicholson a Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor. It won the MTV Movie Award for Best Movie in 1993 and was nominated for the National Board of Review’s Top Ten Films of 1992. In 2023, the Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry, deeming it “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”  

### Themes and Legacy  
The movie explores themes of military ethics, individual vs. institutional power, and the pursuit of truth. Its portrayal of the U.S. Marine Corps’ code of honor and the psychological effects of hazing sparked public debate about military culture. The film’s influence is evident in later legal dramas like *The Lincoln Lawyer* and *Suits*, and its dialogue has been parodied in *The Simpsons*, *Family Guy*, and *South Park*.  

### Cultural Impact  
The line “You can’t handle the truth!” became a meme and cultural reference point, symbolizing the tension between authority and accountability. The film’s success also boosted Aaron Sorkin’s career, paving the way for projects like *The West Wing* and *The Social Network*. In 2008, Bravo ranked *A Few Good Men* #29 on its list of “30 Even More Reasons to Love 1990s,” citing its enduring relevance and quotability.  

### Historical Context  
The story was inspired by the 1986 court-martial of Lance Corporal David Cox, who was prosecuted for assaulting a fellow Marine. Sorkin’s play and the subsequent film dramatized the incident, fictionalizing characters and events while retaining the core themes of loyalty and betrayal. The film’s release coincided with heightened public interest in military conduct during the Gulf War era.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Runtime**: 138 minutes (2h 18m)  
- **Budget**: $33 million  
- **Aspect ratio**: 2.39:1 (CinemaScope)  
- **Sound mix**: Dolby Surround  
- **Film stock**: 35 mm  
- **Color process**: Color (Technicolor)  

### Connected Entities  
- **Director**: Rob Reiner (*This Is Spinal Tap*, *When Harry Met Sally*)  
- **Screenplay**: Aaron Sorkin (*The West Wing*, *The Social Network*)  
- **Cast**: Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon  
- **Production company**: Castle Rock Entertainment (*Seinfeld*, *The Shawshank Redemption*)  
- **Awards**: Chicago Film Critics Association, MTV Movie Awards, National Board of Review  

### Trivia  
- The film’s script was initially rejected by several studios due to its lengthy dialogue scenes.  
- Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson filmed their iconic courtroom confrontation in a single take.  
- The character of Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee was inspired by Sorkin’s own experiences as a young lawyer.  
- The film’s title derives from the U.S. Marine Corps’ recruitment slogan “The Few. The Proud. The Marines.”

## References

1. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104257/)
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19. [Source](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104257/releaseinfo)
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