Jarhead (2005)
Marines deploy to a bleak desert, where boredom and isolation fuel an intimate, melancholy descent into madness.
Jarhead is a film about a US Marine Anthony Swofford’s experience in the Gulf War. After putting up with an arduous boot camp, Swofford and his unit are sent to the Persian Gulf where they are eager to fight, but are forced to stay back from the action. Swofford struggles with the possibility of his girlfriend cheating on him, and as his mental state deteriorates, his desire to kill increases.
How intense is Jarhead?
Jarhead has light gore and strong violence. Emotionally it is devastating. The pace is measured, and it is a full-attention watch. Rated R.
What Jarhead feels like
- Tone
- grittybleakintimatemelancholy
- Pace
- Measured
- Best for
- Full attention
Where to stream Jarhead
US availability via TMDB, last checked Sep 14, 2026. The app filters picks to the services you actually have.
Is Jarhead for you?
Is Jarhead scary?
No. Jarhead is not a scary watch (scare level 0 of 3).
Is Jarhead gory or violent?
Light gore (1 of 3) and strong violence (2 of 3).
Is Jarhead sad or heavy?
Yes. Emotional weight 3 of 3. It hits hard; do not plan anything light after.
Is Jarhead OK for kids?
It is rated R, so it is made for adults. Intensity: scare 0, gore 1, violence 2, each out of 3.
How long is Jarhead?
Jarhead runs 2h 3m.
Where can I stream Jarhead?
Jarhead is streaming on Netflix and Starz.
Does Jarhead have a happy ending? spoiler-safe answer
Bittersweet. It earns its ending, but not everyone gets what they want.
Cast and crew
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