🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: William Eubank
- Genre: Action, Thriller
- Release year: 2024
- Runtime (length): 1h 53min
- IMDb rating: 6.6/10 (49k votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 65%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A newbie Air Force guy gets dropped into a jungle with a bunch of tough guys and has to rely on a grumpy drone operator who’s also dealing with a very pregnant wife; chaos ensues, and everyone learns a valuable lesson about teamwork and paying attention to the phone.
🍿 Land of Bad: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Delta Force Mission in the Philippines
A Delta Force team is deployed to the Philippines to rescue a CIA asset gathering intel on a Russian arms dealer, Alexander Petrov, and Abu Sayyaf leader, Saeed Hashimi. Air support is provided by Captain Eddie ‘Reaper’ Grimm, a drone pilot, and Staff Sergeant Nia Branson from Palawan Air Base. The team includes Master Sergeant John ‘Sugar’ Sweet, Sergeant Bishop, Sergeant Abell, and Sergeant JJ Kinney, a young Air Force JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller).

Mission Gone Wrong
The mission quickly deteriorates when the drone’s visual connection is disrupted. The team proceeds, encountering Petrov and Hashimi, witnessing Hashimi murder Petrov’s wife. An ensuing firefight leaves Kinney as the apparent sole survivor. Guided by Reaper’s drone support, Kinney attempts to reach the extraction point.

Captured and Rescued
Kinney is intercepted and captured by Abu Sayyaf. Master Sergeant Sweet, surprisingly alive, rescues Kinney. Sweet reveals Sergeant Bishop’s capture at the Abu Sayyaf base. Kinney contacts Grimm, who schedules bombings on the base. Ultimately Sweet is executed as the first bomb hits.

Race Against Time
Kinney is captured and tortured, but survives the bombings. Using a captured satellite phone, he attempts to call off the final, most devastating bombing. Distracted by a basketball game, the base crew redirects his call. Grimm, grocery shopping with his pregnant wife, receives Kinney’s voicemail.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- AF Sgt. JJ Kinney (Liam Hemsworth): A young Air Force JTAC, callsign ‘Playboy’, who finds himself the sole survivor of a Delta Force team, relying on remote air support to survive.
- AF Capt. Eddie Grimm ‘Reaper’ (Russell Crowe): A seasoned US Air Force drone pilot who provides crucial air support and guidance to Kinney, battling bureaucracy and personal distractions.
- Sgt. Bishop (Ricky Whittle): A member of the Delta Force team who is captured and later rescued by Kinney.
- Master Sgt. John ‘Sugar’ Sweet (Milo Ventimiglia): A member of the Delta Force team who initially rescues Kinney, demonstrating camaraderie and sacrifice.
- Saeed Hashimi (Robert Rabiah): The ruthless leader of Abu Sayyaf, who serves as the primary antagonist, capturing and torturing Kinney.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- AF Capt. Eddie Grimm ‘Reaper’: “Ya think about it, a wedding is probably the greatest social ritual humanity has. You know? The most important day of your life. You might as well get it right. You’re only gonna do it once.” – Reaper shares his thoughts on the importance of weddings during a conversation with Staff Sgt. Nia Branson.
- AF Capt. Eddie Grimm ‘Reaper’: “I’m a romantic.” – Reaper defends his four marriages after Staff Sgt. Nia Branson reminds him of his marital history.
💰Box Office
- Budget: A$25,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $4,620,045
- Worldwide Gross: $7,021,101
💥 Land of Bad Reviews
Personal Review
I was really hoping for something special with this movie, and while it wasn’t a complete disappointment, it didn’t blow me away either. Russell Crowe was definitely the best part, I loved his character. The action scenes were pretty intense. I just wish the story had been a bit more original. The whole distracted-base-crew thing felt a bit overdone, but overall, it kept me entertained for a couple of hours.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of military action thrillers”
- “Viewers interested in modern warfare themes”
- “Those who enjoy movies with strong performances by Liam Hemsworth and Russell Crowe”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Intense violence and action sequences”
- “War themes”
- “Strong language”
- “Brief depiction of beheading”
Professional Reviews
- Action Movie Buffs: “Land of Bad delivers solid action sequences and suspense. While the plot is familiar, Crowe’s performance as the sardonic Reaper elevates the film. Hemsworth holds his own as the rookie JTAC. If you’re looking for a straightforward military action flick, this will satisfy.
- Indie Film Review: “This film offers a glimpse into modern warfare with drone technology at its core. The script is sharp, however, the tone can be uneven. The film succeeds best when highlighting the psychological toll of remote warfare.
- War Movie Central: “The movie is a mixed bag. Some exciting action scenes and decent performances, but the plot is riddled with clichés and the military inaccuracies are distracting. Russell Crowe is great, but the script lets him down. Fans of the genre will still be able to enjoy it.
Audience Reactions
Russell Crowe’s performance steals the show as the cynical drone operator.: Most viewers appreciated the intense action sequences and the modern warfare aspect.
The dynamic between Crowe and Hemsworth creates compelling tension.: The movie highlights the disconnect between remote warfare and the soldiers on the ground.
Overall Consensus: Land of Bad is a decent action film with some solid performances, particularly from Russell Crowe, but it suffers from a predictable plot and some military inaccuracies. It’s worth a watch if you’re a fan of the genre but don’t expect anything groundbreaking.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “The film was shot on location in Queensland, Australia, doubling for the Philippines.”
- “Russell Crowe’s character, Reaper, finds out he and Kinney (Liam Hemsworth) are both from Ohio. He asks Kinney if he’s ever been to Mama Santa’s on Mayfield. Mama Santa’s is a real award winning Italian eatery located in Cleveland, Ohio’s Little Italy neighborhood and still operates today. It is considered one of Cleveland’s best pizzerias.”
🖥️ How to Watch Land of Bad?
Land of Bad is currently available for digital purchase or rental on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your preferred streaming service for availability. As of now, there are no announcements regarding streaming on subscription services like Netflix or Hulu, but check back as this may change.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Land of Bad, you might like these similar films:
- Lone Survivor (2013): A team of Navy SEALs on a covert mission is ambushed, forcing them to fight for survival against overwhelming odds.
- 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016): A security team in Benghazi fights to protect the American diplomatic compound when it comes under attack.
- Tears of the Sun (2003): A Navy SEAL team is tasked with rescuing a doctor from a conflict zone in Nigeria and must decide whether to follow orders or protect innocent civilians.
🛒 Land of Bad Related Products
- Military Action Figure Set – Delta Force Team: A highly detailed action figure set featuring the Delta Force team members from Land of Bad. Each figure comes with authentic gear and weapons.
- Land of Bad: Official Movie Poster (Limited Edition): A high-quality, limited edition print of the official movie poster. Ideal for framing and displaying your love for the film.
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III: Engage in realistic combat scenarios as seen in Land of Bad. Play as the most iconic characters and gear up with the latest weapons.
- Drone Warfare: The High-Tech Battlefield: A comprehensive book that explores the use of drones in modern warfare. Learn about the technology, tactics, and ethical considerations behind drone operations.
🎧 Soundtrack
Land of Bad features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
Land of Bad follows a Delta Force team’s mission to rescue a CIA asset in the Philippines, which goes awry, leaving a young Air Force JTAC, Sergeant Kinney, to fight for survival with the support of a drone pilot, Captain Grimm.
Land of Bad was filmed in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
The main actors in Land of Bad are Liam Hemsworth, Russell Crowe, Luke Hemsworth, and Milo Ventimiglia.
While not directly based on a single, specific true event, Land of Bad draws inspiration from the realities of modern military operations, particularly the use of drone warfare and special operations tactics in Southeast Asia.
🔥 Bonus Content
Opening Rescue Scene | LAND OF BAD (2024) Russell Crowe, Movie CLIP HD
Want to jump right into the action? This opening rescue scene from ‘Land of Bad’ is intense! Russell Crowe is awesome, and it really sets the stage for the whole movie.
Abort Strike Scene | LAND OF BAD (2024) Russell Crowe, Movie CLIP HD
Ever wonder what it’s like to make split-second decisions in a high-stakes situation? Check out this ‘Abort Strike’ scene from ‘Land of Bad’ – the tension is palpable, and it’ll keep you on the edge of your seat.
Land of Bad Movie(2024)
Not sure what ‘Land of Bad’ is all about? This video gives you a quick rundown of the plot. It really highlights the ‘lone drone operator saves the day’ vibe, which I’m a sucker for!
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