Synopsis

After a rescue mission at the U.S. embassy in Yemen ends with civilians dead, Marine Colonel Terry Childers is charged with violating the rules of engagement. He turns to Colonel Hays Hodges, a former comrade who owes him his life, to lead his defense. As the court-martial unfolds, their shared history and conflicting evidence challenge the official account of the operation.

Factoids & Trivia

• The story originated with James Webb, a former U.S. Marine and later Secretary of the Navy. Stephen Gaghan developed the screenplay from Webb's story.

• The production received assistance from the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Marine Corps, giving the filmmakers access to military equipment and personnel.

• William Friedkin described the film as a pro-military work centered on the moral burden of command, rather than a straightforward action movie.

• The film generated substantial controversy for its depiction of Yemen and Arab civilians. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee criticized it as racist, while Yemeni officials called for a boycott. Friedkin rejected those accusations and said the film was intended as an anti-terrorism story.

• Military authenticity was a recurring issue during production. BFI reported tensions between Webb and military technical adviser Dale Dye, although the dispute was resolved before it affected the completed film.

• The supplied IMDb ID, tt0790772, identifies the television series Rules of Engagement (2007-2013). The 2000 film's IMDb ID is tt0160797.