Taps (1981): cast, story & where to watch
1981 · Film · ★ 6.8
Released in 1981, Taps is a drama and war film directed by Harold Becker, running about 126 minutes. “This school is our home, we think it's worth defending.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Military cadets take extreme measures to ensure the future of their academy when its existence is threatened by local condo developers.
Who’s in it. Taps stars George C. Scott as General Harlan Bache, Timothy Hutton as Cadet Major Brian Moreland, Ronny Cox as Colonel Kerby and Sean Penn as Cadet Captain Alex Dwyer, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, Taps has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $35.9M 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 Taps page.
If you liked it. Fans of Taps tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Taps (1981)?
- In US, Taps 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 Taps worth watching?
- Taps holds an audience score of 6.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and war. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Taps?
- Taps stars George C. Scott, Timothy Hutton, Ronny Cox, Sean Penn and Tom Cruise.
- When was Taps released?
- Taps was released in 1981, with a runtime of about 126 minutes.