1941 | Rotten Tomatoes

1941

PG

Released Dec 14, 1979

1h 58m

Comedy

Action

Adventure

List

39%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

48%

Audience Score

10,000+ Ratings

After Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, residents of California descend into a wild panic, afraid that they might be the next target. Among them are Wild Bill Kelso (John Belushi), a crazed National Guard pilot; Sgt. Frank Tree (Dan Aykroyd), a patriotic, straight-laced tank crew commander; Ward Douglas (Ned Beatty), a civilian willing to help with the American war effort at any cost; and Maj. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell (Robert Stack), who tries his hardest to maintain sanity amid the chaos.

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Critics Consensus

Steven Spielberg's attempt at screwball comedy collapses under a glut of ideas, confusing an unwieldy scope for a commensurate amount of guffaws.

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Tom Milne

Sight & Sound

1941 is perhaps one of those films that should be seen twice, so that disappointed expectations over the wayward behaviour of the slapstick no longer get in the way of pleasure over what goes on alongside it.

Jan 16, 2020

Full Review

Vincent Canby

New York Times

It may possibly be that Mr. Spielberg has chosen gigantic size and unlimited quantity as his comedy method in the awareness that he has no gift whatsoever for small-scale comic conceits.

Rated: 1.5/5

May 9, 2005

Full Review

Ian Freer

Empire Magazine

Unworkable farce, it maybe, but it is also blessed with the buzz of brilliance.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Jana Monji

Age of the Geek

This film erases both the worries and the activism of Asian Americans at an important time in Los Angeles history and totally ignores the existence of anti-Asian sentiments that was clearly reflected in legislation.

Rated: 1/5

May 1, 2024

Full Review

John Ferguson

Radio Times

Widely regarded as the one Steven Spielberg disaster, this sprawling comedy never deserved all the flak that was thrown at it.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 4, 2024

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

1941 is a cold cadaver that Spielberg insults with malign complacency. [Full review in Soanish]

Jan 16, 2024

Full Review

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Jacob B

One of Steven Spielberg's weaker movies, if not his weakest, 1941 isn't really that bad in my opinion. It arguably for me leans more towards the "least good" side of okay. I'd probably settle more towards bad by Spielberg standards but, when judged on its own merits, a passable WWII-set comedy. The film is rather hammy, most of the film felt like a never-ending climax and Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale's script satirising wartime paranoia feels like they were still trying to find their feet, which they eventually would once they got the chance to make Back to the Future. I agree with Spielberg's views on the film that the issues he had it stemmed less from outright hating it but feeling that it wasn't funny enough. Indeed, the Indiana Jones movies were arguably funnier than this pure comedy that sticks out like a sore thumb due to otherwise being in the midst of a winning streak after Jaws. But I didn't hate this film. The actors are all doing their best with some of them even seeming to be having fun, there are a couple of jokes that work, it has one of John Williams' more underrated scores, most of the characters are likeable and once the insanity begins, I can't deny that I was having fun. Seriously, the visual effects were insane and elevated by Spielberg's direction. I don't think a more hacky director could've helped bring the two Bobs' script to life as effectively as he did here. The Blues Brothers had more glorious property damage though, but this came out first so I'm willing to cut it some slack. Though the best scene in the film was a dance battle set just before the craziness begins thanks to genuinely solid choreography and comedic timing. Hey, the film can't be that bad if even detractors admit to liking this scene. 1941 is far from Spielberg's best, even if we're only taking his popcorn-friendly projects into account, but it's still far from boring and definitely a memorable film in its own right.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/19/24

Full Review

Jay H

An interesting failure from Steven Spielberg. It's well made technically, but it's just not funny.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/05/24

Full Review

Alec B

Excessively zany but it's fun to see Spielberg so unconstrained by convention, sentimentality, or good taste. The kind of wild movie that could only result from a kind of youthful hubris and complete artistic control.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/24

Full Review

Campolongo C

Every scene is slapstick. Which drugs did they have? I want some of them. I don't know what the budget was but I think it was about 30 millions or so. Great underrated movie.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/02/23

Full Review

Georgan G

Like other ensemble screwball movies, this one got in its way at times. But there is enough star power and actual funny bits that I enjoyed it.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/23/23

Full Review

Chris P

This movie is a masterpiece of comedy. So many quotable lines. Ridiculous situations. Every year at some point a say "and you're ruining Christmas!" I think this should be a holiday staple.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/12/22

Full Review

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Steven Spielberg

Director

John Belushi

Captain Wild Bill Kelso

Dan Aykroyd

Sgt. Frank Tree

Lorraine Gary

Joan Douglas

Ned Beatty

Ward Douglas

Treat Williams

Corporal Chuck "Stretch" Sitarski

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1941: Official Clip - Wood, Hollis P.

4:02

1941: Official Clip - Patriotic Duty

1:55

1941: Official Clip - Lost

1:32

1941: Official Clip - Japanese Christmas Trees

2:32

1941: Official Clip - Don't You Dare Fire That Gun

1:36

1941: Official Clip - The Ferris Wheel Rolls

2:38

1941: Official Clip - Something in the Water

1:30

1941: Official Clip - Mass Hysteria

1:29

1941: Official Clip - Dance Hall Brawl

1:29

1941: Official Clip - The Indomitable Capt. Kelso

1:44

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Synopsis

After Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, residents of California descend into a wild panic, afraid that they might be the next target. Among them are Wild Bill Kelso (John Belushi), a crazed National Guard pilot; Sgt. Frank Tree (Dan Aykroyd), a patriotic, straight-laced tank crew commander; Ward Douglas (Ned Beatty), a civilian willing to help with the American war effort at any cost; and Maj. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell (Robert Stack), who tries his hardest to maintain sanity amid the chaos.

Director: Steven Spielberg
Producer: Buzz Feitshans
Screenwriter: Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale, John Milius, Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale
Distributor: Universal Pictures, Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, A-Team, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Action, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 14, 1979, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2010
Runtime: 1h 58m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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