Private Benjamin
“The Army was no laughing matter until Judy Benjamin joined it.”
Synopsis
A sheltered young high society woman joins the US Army on a whim and finds herself in a more difficult situation than she ever expected.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Nancy Meyers Reflects On the Making of PRIVATE BENJAMINOfficial
Type: Featurette • Published 2025-10-10
Top Cast
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Goldie Hawn
Judy Benjamin
Eileen Brennan
Capt. Doreen Lewis
Armand Assante
Henrí Trémont
Robert Webber
Col. Clay Thornbush
Sam Wanamaker
Teddy Benjamin
Barbara Barrie
Harriet Benjamin
Mary Kay Place
Pvt. Mary Lou Glass
Harry Dean Stanton
Sgt. Jim Ballard
Albert Brooks
Yale Goodman
Alan Oppenheimer
Rabbi
Estelle Marlov
Vocalist at Wedding
Everett Covin
Bandleader
Robert Hanley
Arnie
Lee Wallace
Mr. Waxman
James Dybas
Photographer
Gretchen Wyler
Aunt Kissy
Maxine Stuart
Aunt Betty
Lillian Adams
Mrs. Goodman
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 6, 1980
Wide Cinema Exhibition
October 15, 1999
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$15M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$69.8M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
4.65x
+$54.8M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Howard Zieff
- Screenplay & Story
- Nancy Meyers, Charles Shyer, Harvey Miller
- Original Score
- Bill Conti
- Original Title
- Private Benjamin
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 50m
- Production Budget
- $15M
- Worldwide Gross
- $69.8M
- Production Studios
- Warner Bros. Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Howard Zieff
Nancy Meyers, Charles Shyer, Harvey Miller
Bill Conti
David M. Walsh
Sheldon Kahn
Goldie Hawn, Nancy Meyers, Harvey Miller, Charles Shyer
Department Leadership Roster
Howard Zieff
Director
Nancy Meyers
Producer
Harvey Miller
Producer
Charles Shyer
Producer
Bill Conti
Original Music Composer
David M. Walsh
Director of Photography
Sheldon Kahn
Editor
Nancy Meyers
Writer
Charles Shyer
Writer
Harvey Miller
Writer
Robert F. Boyle
Production Design
Jeffrey Howard
Production Design
Betsy Cox
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Private Benjamin.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Private Benjamin.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Private Benjamin
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Private Benjamin about?
A sheltered young high society woman joins the US Army on a whim and finds herself in a more difficult situation than she ever expected.
Who directed Private Benjamin?
Private Benjamin was directed by Howard Zieff.
Who stars in Private Benjamin?
The principal cast of Private Benjamin includes Goldie Hawn, Eileen Brennan, Armand Assante, Robert Webber, Sam Wanamaker.
When was Private Benjamin released and how long is it?
Private Benjamin was released in 1980 with a total runtime of 1h 50m.
What was the box office and production budget of Private Benjamin?
Private Benjamin had a reported production budget of $15M and grossed $69.8M at the worldwide box office (4.65 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Private Benjamin?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Private Benjamin was composed by Bill Conti.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Private Benjamin?
Private Benjamin holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).