In Country
Synopsis
Samantha Hughes, a teenaged Kentucky girl, never knew her father, who died in Vietnam before her birth. Samantha lives with her uncle Emmett, who also served in Vietnam. Emmett hangs around with Tom, Earl, and Pete, three other Vietnam vets who, like Emmett, all have problems of one kind or another that relate to their war experiences. Samantha becomes obsessed with finding out about her father.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Vietnam War DiaryOfficial
Type: Clip • Published 2025-12-02
Top Cast
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Bruce Willis
Emmett Smith
Emily Lloyd
Samantha Hughes
Joan Allen
Irene
Kevin Anderson
Lonnie
John Terry
Tom
Peggy Rea
Mamaw
Judith Ivey
Anita
Richard Hamilton
Grampaw
Stephen Tobolowsky
Pete
Jim Beaver
Earl Smith
Daniel H. Jenkins
Dwayne Hughes
Patricia Richardson
Cindy
Charlie Lamb
Veteran at dance
Heidi Swedberg
Dawn
Ken Jenkins
Jim Holly
Jonathan Hogan
Larry
Kimberly Faith Jones
Donna
Don Young
Speaker
Release History & Theatrical Window
Toronto International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
September 15, 1989
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$18M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$3.5M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.2x
-$14.5M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Norman Jewison
- Screenplay & Story
- Frank Pierson, Cynthia Cidre
- Original Score
- James Horner
- Original Title
- In Country
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 0m
- Production Budget
- $18M
- Worldwide Gross
- $3.5M
- Production Studios
- Warner Bros. Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Norman Jewison
Frank Pierson, Cynthia Cidre, Bobbie Ann Mason
James Horner
Russell Boyd
Lou Lombardo, Antony Gibbs
Richard N. Roth, Charles Mulvehill, Norman Jewison
Department Leadership Roster
Frank Pierson
Screenplay
Norman Jewison
Director
James Horner
Original Music Composer
Russell Boyd
Director of Photography
Jackson De Govia
Production Design
Cynthia Cidre
Screenplay
Richard N. Roth
Producer
Lou Lombardo
Editor
Antony Gibbs
Editor
Aggie Guerard Rodgers
Costume Design
Norman Jewison
Producer
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
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for In Country.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Mid Hunting List
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War: Vietnam War
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Frequently Asked Questions About In Country
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is In Country about?
Samantha Hughes, a teenaged Kentucky girl, never knew her father, who died in Vietnam before her birth. Samantha lives with her uncle Emmett, who also served in Vietnam. Emmett hangs around with Tom, Earl, and Pete, three other Vietnam vets who, like Emmett, all have problems of one kind or another that relate to their war experiences. Samantha becomes obsessed with finding out about her father.
Who directed In Country?
In Country was directed by Norman Jewison.
Who stars in In Country?
The principal cast of In Country includes Bruce Willis, Emily Lloyd, Joan Allen, Kevin Anderson, John Terry.
When was In Country released and how long is it?
In Country was released in 1989 with a total runtime of 2h 0m.
What was the box office and production budget of In Country?
In Country had a reported production budget of $18M and grossed $3.5M at the worldwide box office (0.2 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for In Country?
The original motion picture soundtrack for In Country was composed by James Horner.
Is In Country based on a book or true story?
In Country is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Bobbie Ann Mason".
What is the age rating and content advisory for In Country?
In Country holds official age classifications: US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).