Machine Gun Preacher

Play trailer

Machine Gun Preacher

R

2011

2h 7m

Biography

Crime

Drama

Action

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

28%

Tomatometer

109 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Sam Childers (Gerard Butler), a former biker, decides to go to East Africa to help repair homes destroyed by civil war. Transformed by the horrors he sees, Sam ignores the warnings of more experienced aide workers and breaks ground for an orphanage in the heart of territory controlled by a brutal renegade militia. But establishing a shelter is not enough; determined to save as many lives as possible, Sam leads armed missions into enemy territory to rescue kidnapped children.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

There's a complex man at the center of Machine Gun Preacher but the movie is too shapeless and emotionally vacant to bring his story to life.

Read Critics Reviews

Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

Jan 27, 2012

1.5/4

It is an overblown, histrionic, cluttered and a nowhere near well enough developed mess, the erstwhile humanitarian a one-note caricature I knew little more about at the end than I did at the beginning.

Go to Full Review

David Sexton

London Evening Standard

Nov 4, 2011

3/5

Gerard Butler is involving, even charismatic, always plausible as a man of contained and then uncontained violence...

Go to Full Review

Raphael Abraham

Financial Times

Nov 3, 2011

2/5

Despite the most worthy intentions, Childers cannot single-handedly save Sudan and Butler cannot save this movie.

Go to Full Review

Jack Fleischer

Battleship Pretension

Mar 24, 2021

There absolutely was a surface level enjoyment to this film, but it's ultimately just the tip of what appears to be a much more interesting iceberg.

Go to Full Review

Jason Best

Movie Talk

Dec 6, 2020

The sight of a Kalashnikov-wielding white man swooping to the rescue of black children is awkward to say the least... But Butler brings a blazing intensity to his role.

Go to Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Sep 15, 2020

2.5/4.0

A decent film based upon a compelling story, but you can't help but think it could have been so much more.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Robert P

@Superbad Oct 20, 2026

Machine Gun Preacher is a *3* star Movie!

See more

Frank D

@RT66414430 Oct 14, 2026

This is a 5 star movie . Just for bringing awareness to the situation. Who cares about the writing ,acting ect . If it does not impact you during and after watching you are heartless

See more

Christa M

@christamurawski Aug 21, 2026

Sooo good!!! HIGHLY recommend!! I can’t believe we have never heard of it

See more

Carmen D

@Carmstomatoe Jun 20, 2026

Me and my partner watched this and was so shocked it got rated 28% that I just made an account to rate this 5 stars. It was so absolutely gripping. With the story and journey of faith, which was so relatable with everyone’s own journey with faith. It’s based on real life. Not like any other movie. Not to mention it’s currently in the top 10 of most watched on Amazon prime for a reason. 10/10 would watch again and buy. Gerald butlers acting was faultless

See more

Jan 3, 2024

Absolutely makes no sense whether the reviewers would give us a low star. Real, humane, genuine. Best I've seen in a while.

See more

John H

@RT18864280 May 23, 2023

Tells the true story of Sam Childers, a common criminal who found God and went on to do amazing things. While liberties were taken for the movie (of course), it is extremely well done and really shows the impact one person can have. One of the (extremely) few movies that doesn't use the Hollywood template for Christians (evil and/or dumb). Very inspiring!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Marc Forster

Director

Gerard Butler

Sam Childers

Michelle Monaghan

Lynn Childers

Michael Shannon

Donnie

Kathy Baker

Daisy

Souléymane Sy Savané

Deng

View more videos

The Fighter

91%

89%

The Fighter

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Fighter

127 Hours

93%

85%

127 Hours

Watchlist

The Last King of Scotland

87%

89%

The Last King of Scotland

Watchlist

Bronson

76%

74%

Bronson

Watchlist

Conviction

67%

71%

Conviction

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Critics Consensus: Moneyball is Certified Fresh

View more photos

Synopsis

Sam Childers (Gerard Butler), a former biker, decides to go to East Africa to help repair homes destroyed by civil war. Transformed by the horrors he sees, Sam ignores the warnings of more experienced aide workers and breaks ground for an orphanage in the heart of territory controlled by a brutal renegade militia. But establishing a shelter is not enough; determined to save as many lives as possible, Sam leads armed missions into enemy territory to rescue kidnapped children.

Director: Marc Forster
Producer: Robbie Brenner, Gary Safady, Deborah Giarratana, Craig Chapman, Marc Forster
Screenwriter: Jason Keller
Distributor: Relativity Media
Production Co: GG Filmz, Relativity, Apparatus, Safady Entertainment
Rating: R (Disturbing Images|A Scene of Sexuality|Language|Some Drug Use|Violent Content)
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 23, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 5, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $537.6K
Runtime: 2h 7m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings