Basic
“Deception is their most dangerous weapon.”
Synopsis
When a hurricane hits a US Army base on the edge of the Panama Canal, an elite covert operations team of US Army Rangers recruits are on a routine jungle training exercise that goes horribly awry. Only two recruits are rescued, one of which is badly injured, but both have different accounts regarding the fate of their leader, legendary and ruthless Army Ranger Drill Sergeant Nathan West, and the rest of their platoon. Tom Hardy, an ex-army Ranger turned maverick DEA agent is brought in to solve the mystery and uncover what really happened out there.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Basic Trailer - 2003 HQ
Type: Trailer • Published 2010-04-22
Top Cast
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John Travolta
DEA Agent Tom Hardy
Connie Nielsen
CPT Julie Osborne
Samuel L. Jackson
Drill Sgt. SFC Nathan West
Tim Daly
COL Bill Styles
Giovanni Ribisi
2LT Levi Kendall
Brian Van Holt
SGT Ray Dunbar
Taye Diggs
Pike
Dash Mihok
SGT Mueller
Cristián de la Fuente
Castro
Roselyn Sánchez
Nuñez
Harry Connick Jr.
Dr. Pete Vilmer
Margaret Travolta
Nurse #1
Dena Johnston
Nurse #2
Nick Loren
Helicopter Pilot
Cliff Fleming
Helicopter Pilot
Steven Maye
CID Officer
Jonathan Rau
G.I. on the Tarmac
Tait Ruppert
Jeep Driver
Release History & Theatrical Window
April 18, 2003
Wide Cinema Exhibition
February 3, 2004
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$50M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$42.8M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.86x
-$7.2M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John McTiernan
- Screenplay & Story
- James Vanderbilt
- Original Score
- Klaus Badelt
- Original Title
- Basic
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom, United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 38m
- Production Budget
- $50M
- Worldwide Gross
- $42.8M
- Production Studios
- Phoenix Pictures, Intermedia Films, Columbia Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John McTiernan
James Vanderbilt
Klaus Badelt
Steve Mason
George Folsey Jr.
Mike Medavoy, James Vanderbilt, Michael Tadross, Nigel Sinclair, Jonathan D. Krane
Department Leadership Roster
John McTiernan
Director
George Folsey Jr.
Editor
Steve Mason
Director of Photography
Klaus Badelt
Original Music Composer
Mike Medavoy
Producer
Dennis Bradford
Production Design
James Vanderbilt
Producer
Michael Tadross
Producer
Arnold Messer
Producer
Gary Davis
Stunt Coordinator
Ray McIntyre Jr.
Visual Effects Supervisor
James Vanderbilt
Writer
Robert Rossello
Visual Effects Supervisor
Marc Kolbe
Visual Effects Supervisor
Craig A. Mumma
Visual Effects Supervisor
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
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
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 Basic.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Basic.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Basic
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Basic about?
When a hurricane hits a US Army base on the edge of the Panama Canal, an elite covert operations team of US Army Rangers recruits are on a routine jungle training exercise that goes horribly awry. Only two recruits are rescued, one of which is badly injured, but both have different accounts regarding the fate of their leader, legendary and ruthless Army Ranger Drill Sergeant Nathan West, and the rest of their platoon. Tom Hardy, an ex-army Ranger turned maverick DEA agent is brought in to solve the mystery and uncover what really happened out there.
Who directed Basic?
Basic was directed by John McTiernan.
Who stars in Basic?
The principal cast of Basic includes John Travolta, Connie Nielsen, Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Daly, Giovanni Ribisi.
When was Basic released and how long is it?
Basic was released in 2003 with a total runtime of 1h 38m.
What was the box office and production budget of Basic?
Basic had a reported production budget of $50M and grossed $42.8M at the worldwide box office (0.86 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for Basic?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Basic was composed by Klaus Badelt.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Basic?
Basic holds official age classifications: AU: MA 15+; DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).