Three buddies in Vietnam. Two survived. Only one is really alive.
A conflict develops between a troubled Vietnam veteran and the sister he lives with when she becomes involved romantically with the army buddy who reminds him of the tragic battle they both survived.
Jacknife (1989) is a drama and war film directed by David Hugh Jones, released on October 5, 1989 with a runtime of 1h 42m. It stars Robert De Niro, Kathy Baker, Ed Harris and Ivar Brogger. Viewers rate it 6.4 out of 10 across 140 ratings.
Watch the official trailer for Jacknife before you stream it.
Official trailers, teasers, clips and featurettes for Jacknife.
Trailer
Trailer
Robert De Niro
as Joseph 'Jacknife' Megessey
Kathy Baker
as Martha Flannigan
Ed Harris
as David 'High School' Flannigan
Ivar Brogger
as Depot Mechanic
Jordan Lund
as Tiny
Charles S. Dutton
as Jake, Veteran Encounter Group Leader
Bruce Ramsay
as Corridor Student
Jessalyn Gilsig
as His Girlfriend
Josh Pais
as Rick
Gabrielle Carteris
as College Girl in Bar
Kirk Taylor
as Helicopter Gunner
George Gerdes
as Tony
Directed by David Hugh Jones, written by Stephen Metcalfe, produced by Robert Schaffel and Carol Baum.
Average viewer score of 6.4/10 from 140 ratings.
Dave, Megs and Martha. Jacknife is directed by David Jones and adapted to screenplay by Stephen Metcalfe from his own play Strange Snow. It stars Robert De Niro, Ed Harris and Kathy Baker. Music is by Bruce Broughton and cinematography by Brian West. De Niro and Harris play two Vietnam War veterans trying to come to terms with their lives post the war. Things are further complicated when De Niro gets romantically…
Reviewed on April 19, 2014
"Jacknife" is based upon the stage play "Strange Snow" by Stephen Metcalfe and yet it has been very skilfully adapted into a screenplay which allows the many meaningful character moments to be subtly played out. Its depiction of the veterans who fought in Vietnam paints a portrait of damaged men now struggling to maintain at least a semblance of the normality they once took for granted in a world which once…
Reviewed on June 6, 2025
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Jacknife (1989) is currently available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home. No subscription streaming option is listed right now, so availability may change.
The main cast of Jacknife (1989) includes Robert De Niro, Kathy Baker, Ed Harris, Ivar Brogger and Jordan Lund. The film was directed by David Hugh Jones. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
Jacknife was released on October 5, 1989 and runs for 1h 42m.
Jacknife (1989) holds an average rating of 6.4 out of 10 from 140 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy drama and war films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Yes. The official Jacknife trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.
