Tomorrow When The War Began

February 2011

(217)

Synopsis

Tomorrow When the War Began is a new film about seven college bound friends who return from a weekend camping trip to discover that a foreign army has invaded their Australian homeland. With their friends and families taken prisoner, they must band together and find a way to fight for their freedom and survival. TWTWB is based on the best-selling book series and is written and directed by Stuart Beattie, whose writing credits include "Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl," "Collateral" and "G.I. Joe," and produced by Andrew Mason ("The Matrix" Trilogy; "Dark City").

Reviews

3.8

217 total

5 119

4 22

3 23

2 12

1 41

Jeff Shannon

You know the drill: A small group of unsuspecting adventurers wanders into danger, and not all of them will get out alive.

Bill Goodykoontz

Just fast-moving fun, enough so to gloss over its shortcomings.

Trevor Johnston

There's a vein of thoughtfulness running beneath the brazenly explosive action highlights and fist-pumping soundtrack, though the suspense does fall prey to some debilitating credibility issues.

Megan Lehmann

Australia may finally have a homegrown blockbuster on its hands with the terrifically engaging Tomorrow, When the War Began, an action-packed war film for and about teenagers.

Kevin Reid

Not at all red dawn, and to say it is-shows you have the attention span of a 3 year old. And you dont read. There are 7 books in this series. The books in my opinion are at "must read" range. To those of you out there that like to write reviews on movies and compare every movie to another one, I think you should watch the same 10 movies forever, and stop writing reviews...Not every car is the same just because they both have a motor. Also this movie came out before they remade Red Dawn. And the books were out long before that.... So who is stealing from who? Read the books!! Then watch the movie...5 stars!!!

A Google User

Not exactly Red Dawn While there are certainly the obvious parallels of a group of teens uniting together to perform guerilla warfare against an enemy occupation force in a country nobody ever thought could/would be invaded, that is where it ends. As for content, this would be a light version of Red Dawn as it shifted the focus some, though not entirely, from the characters to the action. Someone definitely put some money into special effects, though not a lot. It basically covers an initial character/personality introduction section with obvious foreshadowing. Then discovery of the situation. Determining flight or fight amongst the group, then taking out a bridge central to the enemy maintaining occupation of the area and using the Harbor to bring in resources. Where as Red Dawn carried it though to the pseudo present. The ending being left open for a sequel, though I doubt there will be one let alone a feature film sequel, was however more positive than Red Dawn, but less fulfilling. This is not a movie I would have gone to see in the theaters, so I am glad to catch it here as I would have just waited till it came out on Netflix/Hulu/Amazon months from now. Good filler movie though.

Critic reviews

Jeff Shannon

You know the drill: A small group of unsuspecting adventurers wanders into danger, and not all of them will get out alive.

Full Review

Bill Goodykoontz

Just fast-moving fun, enough so to gloss over its shortcomings.

Full Review

Trevor Johnston

There's a vein of thoughtfulness running beneath the brazenly explosive action highlights and fist-pumping soundtrack, though the suspense does fall prey to some debilitating credibility issues.

Full Review

Megan Lehmann

Australia may finally have a homegrown blockbuster on its hands with the terrifically engaging Tomorrow, When the War Began, an action-packed war film for and about teenagers.

Full Review

User reviews

Kevin Reid August 4, 2014

A Google User March 7, 2012

A Google User February 29, 2012

Great movie! This movie was a pretty good action flick. It's based off a teen series of novels, but don't equate it to the likes of similar novels like Twilight. It's more like an Australian version of Red Dawn. Would it win Oscars (or the down under equivalent)? No. But it's definitely better than 3/4 of the direct to DVD action movies you see in Redbox and is most definitely worth a watch.

A Google User June 24, 2012

Watch it. You can watch it on YouTube for free. Very action packed movie. Acting was great! Always made me wonder what would happen next! Much better than red dawn IMO. But can't wait for the next one to come out!

A Google User March 2, 2012

Amazing This was a brilliant movie. One of a kind. Really captured the meaning of what its like to be inside of a war

A Google User March 4, 2012

Sucked Totally unbelievable. Turned it off after 12 guys with rifles hidden in buildings couldnt hit 1 teen walking down the middle of a road with pistol. Who of course killed them all. BS!

A Google User March 9, 2012

Caras Creo Ke las películas de estreno son muy caras, el red box las da a $1.20 + tax

A Google User March 2, 2012

Great Aussie Film This is a great Australian film... It does have the same premise as Red Dawn but I found it much more enjoyable than Red Dawn.

Dante Charlton April 22, 2013

Excellent Great Movie The movie was absolutely amazing, breathtaking in every way possible. It was like Hunger Games meet Rambo. I suggest you get it. It's also on Netflix. And p.s. Marvin Armstrong, I'm not sure in what world or country did Tomorrow When The War Began became a ripoff of Red Dawn.

A Google User March 2, 2012

Pretty good. Saw in theaters last year. Thought it was good

A Google User March 2, 2012

Modern day red dawn Aussie version of red dawn I wonder who is invading? prolly china

A Google User March 10, 2012

War Can't watch license error

A Google User March 7, 2012

Lame Not worth the time...better off watching red dawn again

A Google User March 4, 2012

movies like this... are why people pirate. if you are on last $3, buy gas or food instead

A Google User March 2, 2012

Stuff Looks great - but I don't understand rating without watching it... which is what I'm doing.

A Google User March 4, 2012

Nothing new under the sun Just because it's a repeted plot( like every other movie made since 1998) doesn't mean its bad. So get over it and write a real review people...I bet 70% don't even know what red dawn is. Anyways, overall good movie.

A Google User March 4, 2012

Shut up allerady! Wth is going on?! it is what it is. If u dont wana watch it then dont! n stop whit the bull freken little kids..

A Google User March 6, 2012

Not working Movie might be good but I won't know until I watch it. Unfortunately this movie does not seem to be working

A Google User March 9, 2012

Tomorrow when the war began Don't waste the time red dawn wanna-b but not as good

A Google User March 3, 2012

DO NOT RENT THIS! WILL NOT FETCH LICENSE This is a crock, I want my money back!!!!

Cast and credits

Actors	Caitlin Stasey, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Lincoln Lewis, Phoebe Tonkin, Chris Pang, Ashleigh Cummings
Producers	Michael Boughen, Peter D. Graves, Christopher Mapp, Andrew Mason, Matthew Street, David Whealy
Director	Stuart Beattie

Additional information

Rotten tomatoes® score

64%

Audio language

English (Stereo)

Subtitles

English

Rental period

Start within 30 days, finish within 48 hours.

Run time

103 minutes

Rating

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