Private Benjamin

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Private Benjamin

R

1980

1h 49m

Comedy

War

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

37 Reviews

60%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

A Jewish-American princess, Judy Benjamin (Goldie Hawn), is devastated when her husband (Albert Brooks) drops dead on their wedding night. While she grieves a duplicitous recruiter for the Women's Army Corps convinces her to enlist. Judy thinks her enlistment is like a vacation but Captain Lewis (Eileen Brennan) quickly dashes her hopes of an easy time. As Judy goes through basic training like any other grunt, she becomes a good soldier and develops a sense of self-esteem.

Critics Consensus

Private Benjamin proves a potent showcase for its Oscar-nominated star, with Hawn making the most of a story that rests almost completely on her daffily irresistible charm.

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John M. McGuire

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

07/12/2022

Whether the collaboration of three screen writers gave this sometimes delightful, sometimes interminable motion picture an identity crisis, is anyone's guess.

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Gary Arnold

Washington Post

05/08/2017

"Private Benjamin" seems coarse, sluggish and interminable as a comedy scenario, but the profoundly depressing aspect of it is that Goldie Hawn appears to be receding as a comedienne and emerging as a boss lady.

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William Thomas

Empire Magazine

05/08/2017

3/5

This is arguably although unfortunately Goldie Hawn's most memorable role.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

May 18

3/4

Bob Hope joined the army; so did Danny Kaye, Andy Griffith, and the teams of Laurel & Hardy, Abbott & Costello, and Martin & Lewis. Stepping into this tried and true tradition of military comedies, Goldie Hawn enlisted and found her signature role.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Apr 28

4/5

Private Benjamin remains a sharp fish-out-of-water comedy that still holds up as both a star vehicle for Goldie Hawn and a snapshot of early 1980s studio comedy.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Mar 18

3/5

‘…a comedy light on laughs, but heavy with insight into the problems of being a woman…’

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Melissa M

@Lisey May 25

This film got mixed reviews. It's a comedy it's supposed to be funny & satirical. It's nice to see female protagonists. It's like the film Stripes but with strong female leads. Some men seem to be intimidated by strong women. Judy starts out as a Spoiled Brat. As the movie progresses she becomes an Army Brat. Then an on the Fence Feminist. Because by the end of the movie she decides she doesn't need a man to fulfill her life. She's going to stand on her own two feet even crazy red hair and all. Things were not politically correct back then. Thank goodness. People are so uptight now. This movie has earned its right to be a cult classic. Even during the movies montages it shows Judy is getting stronger not only as a woman but as a person. That even a girly girl can become a take charge woman. Think by the end of the movie Judy becomes an inspiration for any woman who is unsure of themselves. And they think they need validation. Whether you agree or not this is a girl power movie.

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thiago S

@Thiagostone May 17

Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são mais ou menos, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Cork B

@RT87142816 Feb 27

There is a decent coming of age - or at least maturity - story in here somewhere. The bootcamp part was pretty good, but then the 2nd half of the movie just wanders off to France. Huh?

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Francisco S

@FranciscoSerrano73 04/19/2025

How I miss the 80´s fun....

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Adam K

@Adamkapl 02/11/2025

an underrated movie for sure. can rewatch this always

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Ross B

@RT81646721 12/30/2024

Have not seen this for 44 years. Little recollection from first viewing but this time it was pretty lame. Simply a vehicle for Goldie Hawn, who is adorable. But everything else is hack!

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Howard Zieff

Director

Goldie Hawn

Pvt. Judy Benjamin

Eileen Brennan

Capt. Doreen Lewis

Armand Assante

Henri Alan Tremont

Robert Webber

Col. Clay Thornbush

Sam Wanamaker

Teddy Benjamin

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Synopsis

A Jewish-American princess, Judy Benjamin (Goldie Hawn), is devastated when her husband (Albert Brooks) drops dead on their wedding night. While she grieves a duplicitous recruiter for the Women's Army Corps convinces her to enlist. Judy thinks her enlistment is like a vacation but Captain Lewis (Eileen Brennan) quickly dashes her hopes of an easy time. As Judy goes through basic training like any other grunt, she becomes a good soldier and develops a sense of self-esteem.

Director: Howard Zieff
Producer: Nancy Meyers, Charles Shyer, Harvey Miller
Screenwriter: Nancy Meyers, Charles Shyer, Harvey Miller
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 10, 1980, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2010
Runtime: 1h 49m