Basic (2003): cast, story & where to watch
2003 · Film · ★ 6.5
Released in 2003, Basic is an action, thriller, drama and crime film directed by John McTiernan, running about 98 minutes. “Deception is their most deadly weapon.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A DEA agent investigates the disappearance of a legendary Army ranger drill sergeant and several of his cadets during a training exercise gone severely awry.
Who’s in it. Basic stars John Travolta as DEA Agent Tom Hardy, Connie Nielsen as Capt. Julia Osborne, Samuel L. Jackson as Sgt. Nathan West and Giovanni Ribisi as Levi Kendall, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.5/10, Basic has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $42.8M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Basic page.
If you liked it. Fans of Basic tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Basic (2003)?
- In US, Basic is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Basic worth watching?
- Basic holds an audience score of 6.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, thriller, drama and crime. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Basic?
- Basic stars John Travolta, Connie Nielsen, Samuel L. Jackson, Giovanni Ribisi and Brian Van Holt.
- When was Basic released?
- Basic was released in 2003, with a runtime of about 98 minutes.