Tom Hardy once revealed his favorite movie in an interview, which, interestingly, is a 39-year-old classic war movie that boasts a Rotten Tomatoes score of 89%. With a career spanning over two decades, Tom Hardy has played myriad roles on the big screen. While he may be more recognizable for his relatively more mainstream and recent roles in movies and shows like MobLand, Venom: The Last Dance, and Havoc, the actor has truly embraced his art by taking up parts in many challenging and unconventional films over the years.

Interestingly, Tom Hardy has also starred in quite a few acclaimed war movies and TV shows. He made his acting debut with the 1999 war movie, The Trench. A few years later, his television debut was in Band of Brothers, in which he appeared in two episodes. The actor then starred in Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down in 2001 before appearing in other war movies like Deserter and Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk. Considering how he has acted in so many war movies, it should not be surprising that even his favorite film is a war classic from 39 years ago.

Platoon Is Tom Hardy’s Favorite Movie

Hardy Called It A “Beautifully Put-Together Film”

When Tom Hardy was asked about his favorite film in an interview (via Far Out Magazine), he initially maintained he did not have a definitive list and discussed the works of several auteurs, like Gaspar Noé, Martin Scorsese, the Coen brothers, Stanley Kubrick, and Sidney Lumet. However, he also revealed that Oliver Stone’s Platoon is easily his all-time favorite because it was a “really beautifully put-together film” with a “really classy” ending. Tom Hardy is right on the money with his insights on Platoon because the movie is often touted as one of the best (if not the best) Vietnam War films.

Nominated for eight Oscars at the 59th Academy Awards, Platoon won in four categories: Best Picture, Best Director for Stone, Best Sound, and Best Film Editing. The film also claims the 86th rank in “AFI’s 100 Years … 100 Movies” poll, highlighting how it is universally considered a great war movie. Both viewers and critics still appreciate the film’s timeless and realistic exploration of the terrors of war and the horrifying physical and psychological toll it takes on those on the front lines.

Platoon’s Characters Are A “Study Book” For Tom Hardy

The Film’s Diverse Roster Has Many Lessons To Offer

In the same interview, Tom Hardy went on to add that almost every actor in Platoon “is dope.” According to him, the film seems to have “every actor and every character” he needs as an English guy. Hardy also called the movie a “study book” for him because of its ability to portray everything from diverse accents to classes, from creeds to religions. “It was something that had a taste across America [from] working class to upper class,” quoted the actor, recalling how Platoon captures the entire spectrum of American idenтιтy in its two-hour runtime instead of limiting itself to a few character tropes or two.

By calling it a “study book,” Tom Hardy seems to highlight how the film’s portrayal of diversity and realism has served as a blueprint for him to learn more about his craft. Hardy recognizes and seemingly draws inspiration from how Platoon captures American cultural dynamics and rises well above the conventions of most typical war films. At the same time, he also seems to call attention to the incredible performances in the movie from both primary and secondary cast members, like Willem Dafoe, Tom Berenger, Johnny Depp, and Kevin Dillon, among others.

What Makes Platoon A Quintessential War Movie

It Does Not Shy Away From Capturing Several Harsh Realities Of War

Instead of having overly patriotic themes and walking through feats of heroism, Platoon boldly prioritizes (as Tom Hardy implied) realism by showing the moral ambiguities and vulnerabilities of its central characters. The movie also dabbles with several hard-to-digest story beats surrounding death, war crimes, revenge, and other darker aspects of humanity that are often on display during times of extreme struggle and strife. While it would be unfair to call it the best movie ever made, it is certainly up there with many other quintessential war films, like Apocalypse Now, Deer Hunter, Saving Private Ryan, and Paths of Glory.