# The Patriot (2000 film)
**The Patriot** is a 2000 American historical war film directed by [Roland Emmerich](https://www.edgepedia.org/roland-emmerich) and written by Robert Rodat, in which [Mel Gibson](https://www.edgepedia.org/mel-gibson) plays Benjamin Martin, a widowed [South Carolina](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-carolina) farmer and veteran of the French and Indian War who takes up arms in the American Revolutionary War after his family is drawn into the conflict.[1](https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thepatriot) The film opened in theaters on June 28, 2000, in time for the July Fourth holiday.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1098149-patriot) • [3](https://origins.osu.edu/history-news/hollywood-s-american-revolution)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | June 28, 2000, wide theatrical release; Los Angeles and New York openings the week of June 28[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1098149-patriot) • [4](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/61795-THE-PATRIOT) |
| Director / writer | Roland Emmerich; screenplay by Robert Rodat[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1098149-patriot) |
| Lead cast | Mel Gibson (Benjamin Martin), Heath Ledger (Gabriel Martin), Jason Isaacs (Col. William Tavington), Tom Wilkinson (Gen. Cornwallis), Chris Cooper (Col. Harry Burwell), Joely Richardson (Charlotte Selton)[4](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/61795-THE-PATRIOT) • [5](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-patriot/) |
| Runtime / rating | 2 hours 45 minutes; rated R for strong violence (AFI lists 158 minutes)[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1098149-patriot) • [4](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/61795-THE-PATRIOT) |
| Box office | $113.3 million in the United States; $215,294,342 worldwide[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1098149-patriot) • [6](https://thecritics.uk/film/the-patriot) |
| Reception | 61% on the Tomatometer from 140 reviews; 81% on the Popcornmeter from more than 250,000 ratings; Metascore 63 from 35 critic reviews[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1098149-patriot) • [5](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-patriot/) |
| Awards | 3 Academy Award nominations; 2 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards wins among 5 nominations; 3 Taurus World Stunt Awards nominations[5](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-patriot/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and characters
Set in 1776 South Carolina, the film follows Martin, a widower and legendary war hero who watches his family torn apart by British forces and recruits a band of reluctant volunteers, including his idealistic son Gabriel, to fight the Redcoats.[1](https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thepatriot) Roger Ebert, the longtime [Chicago Sun-Times](https://www.edgepedia.org/chicago-sun-times) critic, described the film as "a fable arguing the futility of pacifism" and noted that Martin counsels a treaty with King George before being drawn into the war; when asked about his principles by an old comrade in arms, he answers, "I'm a parent."[7](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-patriot-2000)
The antagonist, Colonel William Tavington, is played by [Jason Isaacs](https://www.edgepedia.org/jason-isaacs) as a cold-blooded British officer whose actions push Martin into a personal battle for independence.[5](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-patriot/) Gregory L. Kaster, a historian writing in *Origins*, notes that Tavington is modeled on the notorious Colonel Banastre Tarleton, and that [Tom Wilkinson](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-wilkinson)'s General Cornwallis watches his regulars routed by Continental soldiers and South Carolina militiamen in the climactic battle.[3](https://origins.osu.edu/history-news/hollywood-s-american-revolution)
## Production
In 1996, screenwriter Robert Rodat and producer [Mark Gordon](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-gordon), who had already worked together in those capacities on *Saving Private Ryan* (1998), launched the project out of a mutual fascination with the [American Revolution](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-revolution), and [Columbia Pictures](https://www.edgepedia.org/columbia-pictures) bought the script.[8](https://www.cinema.com/articles/204/patriot-the-production-notes.phtml) Dean Devlin, Mark Gordon, and Gary Levinsohn produced, with Caleb Deschanel as cinematographer and John Williams composing the score.[4](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/61795-THE-PATRIOT) • [9](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1098149-patriot/cast-and-crew) The film was produced by Mutual Film Company and Centropolis Entertainment, among other companies, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing; AFI lists its countries as Germany and the United States.[4](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/61795-THE-PATRIOT)
**Historical consultation.** Director Roland Emmerich enlisted experts from the Smithsonian to advise on uniforms, weapons, battle formations, weather at particular battles, and the furnishings of 18th-century American houses, and consultations produced numerous script revisions, including a [Gullah](https://www.edgepedia.org/gullah) maroon (runaway slave) village recommended by Smithsonian adviser Rex Ellis as a place where Martin's family could hide from British soldiers.[10](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/capturing-americas-fight-for-freedom-65510953/) Emmerich acknowledged that at times he had to choose between historical accuracy and dramatic impact.[10](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/capturing-americas-fight-for-freedom-65510953/) More than six hundred extras were coached by war reenactment groups.[11](https://www.americanhumane.org/production/patriot-the/)
## Historical accuracy and controversy
The film is loosely based on the exploits of several real historical figures, and Digital History notes that although no church-burning of civilians occurred during the Revolution, a similar event took place in World War II, when a German unit burned the French village of Oradour-sur-Glane on June 10, 1944.[12](https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/active_learning/explorations/revolution/revolution_patriot.cfm) Ebert judged that the British appear as "gentlemanly fops or sadistic monsters" and that the film has little to do with the historical reality of the Revolutionary War.[7](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-patriot-2000)
The film generated extensive debate in both the United States and Britain. Mark Glancy, Senior Lecturer in History at Queen Mary, University of London, analyzed its reception in the *Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television*, finding that it initially enjoyed success with critics and audiences but became engulfed in acrimonious debates ostensibly about historical accuracy, and that the War of Independence remained a divisive subject for audiences in both countries.[13](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01439680500262892) British press coverage included pieces in *The Independent*, *The Daily Telegraph*, and *The Guardian*.[13](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01439680500262892) In a 2025 interview, Jason Isaacs joked that "Harry Potter is slightly more historically accurate than The Patriot" and said, "It's an amazing movie, and it moves a lot of people. But no one should be thinking it's history."[14](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/jason-isaacs-name-drops-harry-potter-poking-fun-the-patriot)
## Reception
Critical response was mixed to favorable. The film scored 61% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer, with the site's critics consensus stating that it "can be entertaining to watch, but it relies too much on formula and melodrama."[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1098149-patriot) Metacritic recorded a Metascore of 63 from 35 critic reviews, with 23 positive, 11 mixed, and 1 negative; Peter Travers of *Rolling Stone* called it "a thunderous spectacle" and Richard Schickel of *Time* praised its "sweep, scope, wild reversals of fortune and plenty of bold, basic emotions."[5](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-patriot/) • [15](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-patriot/critic-reviews/) Audiences responded more warmly: the Popcornmeter stood at 81 percent from more than 250,000 ratings, and the film earned an A CinemaScore on opening night.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1098149-patriot) • [16](https://movie.guru/the-patriot-movie-review) It received three Academy Award nominations.[5](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-patriot/)
## References
1. [The Patriot, Sony Pictures Entertainment](https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thepatriot)
2. [The Patriot, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1098149-patriot)
3. [Hollywood's American Revolution, Gregory L. Kaster, Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective, Ohio State University](https://origins.osu.edu/history-news/hollywood-s-american-revolution)
4. [The Patriot (2000), AFI Catalog](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/61795-THE-PATRIOT)
5. [The Patriot, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-patriot/)
6. [The Patriot (2000): 3 reviews, The Critics](https://thecritics.uk/film/the-patriot)
7. [The Patriot movie review & film summary, Roger Ebert, June 28, 2000](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-patriot-2000)
8. [Patriot, The: Production Notes, Cinema.com](https://www.cinema.com/articles/204/patriot-the-production-notes.phtml)
9. [The Patriot: Full Cast & Crew, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1098149-patriot/cast-and-crew)
10. [Capturing America's Fight for Freedom, Smithsonian Magazine, June 30, 2000](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/capturing-americas-fight-for-freedom-65510953/)
11. [Patriot, The, American Humane](https://www.americanhumane.org/production/patriot-the/)
12. [Mel Gibson's The Patriot as History, Digital History](https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/active_learning/explorations/revolution/revolution_patriot.cfm)
13. [The war of independence in feature films: The Patriot (2000) and the 'special relationship' between Hollywood and Britain, Mark Glancy, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol. 25, No. 4](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01439680500262892)
14. [Jason Isaacs Name Drops Harry Potter While Poking Fun At The Patriot, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/jason-isaacs-name-drops-harry-potter-poking-fun-the-patriot)
15. [The Patriot critic reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-patriot/critic-reviews/)
16. [The Patriot (2000), movie.guru](https://movie.guru/the-patriot-movie-review)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › War and historical films (individual works) › War action and adventure › War action films released since 2000 › Released 2000 to 2016*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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