Controversial actor Mel Gibson leads a controversial historical war epic in 2000’s The Patriot, and it’s now available to stream for free. Following Gibson as a war veteran and widower who finds himself swept into the American Revolutionary War when the conflict lands at his doorstep, the movie was met with mixed reviews upon release and was met with much controversy due to its fictionalized depiction of real events and an abundance of anti-British sentiment. But, hey, if you’re not looking for a documentary and are instead looking for a brutal and bloody war epic, then The Patriot may just be for you.
Directed by Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow’s Roland Emmerich, and written by Robert Rodat, The Patriot stars the late, great Oscar winner Heath Ledger alongside Gibson, with the rest of the cast comprised of Joely Richardson, Jason Isaacs, Chris Cooper, and Tom Wilkinson. The Patriot is now available to stream on Tubi, and recently made its way into the top ten on Prime Video, and you can check out the official synopsis below.
“Mel Gibson portrays Benjamin Martin, an unassuming man who is forced to join the American Revolution when the British threaten to take his farm away from him. Together with his patriotic son, Gabriel, the pair faces the vicious Redcoats with a heroism that reflects the stubborn pride of a young country’s most dedicated supporters.”
Mel Gibson Made the Patriot Director ‘Really, Really Nervous’
Mel Gibson, now a controversial figure in Hollywood, is also seemingly quite an angry one, as revealed by The Patriot director Roland Emmerich. Speaking to Collider at this San Diego Comic Con 2024, the filmmaker said that working with Gibson made him “really, really nervous” as the actor is “a very angry guy deep down.”
“[Mel Gibson was] a very angry guy deep down. So I was really, really nervous to shoot The Patriot because I said, “Oh, Mel Gibson is an Oscar-nominated actor.” The first problem I had was that I wanted Heath Ledger instead of another actor. I naturally had to call [Mel] and say, “I kind of like the other guy.” Then he said, “Well, you’re the director.” And hangs up on me. True story. I said, “Okay.” And Heath said yes. This was a yes for me. [Laughs] Only my sister was with me, and everybody else wanted to have the other guy. After three days, he actually told me, “You were right because this guy will be a major star.”
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After being pushed aside by Hollywood during the mid-2000s following issues with alcohol and a series of controversies, including well-publicized antisemitic tirades, homophobic comments, and a domestic violence-related restraining order, Mel Gibson is now slowly making a (controversial) comeback. The Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker is due to helm a sequel to his 2004 biblical epic The Passion of the Christ and another installment in the beloved Lethal Weapon franchise. He will next helm the action thriller Flight Risk starring Mark Wahlberg, which is set for release on January 24, 2025.
It is 1776 in colonial South Carolina. Benjamin Martin, a French-Indian war hero who is haunted by his past, now wants nothing more than to live peacefully on his small plantation, and wants no part of a war with the most powerful nation in the world, Great Britain. Meanwhile, his two eldest sons, Gabriel and Thomas, can’t wait to enlist in the newly formed “Continental Army.” When South Carolina decides to join the rebellion against England, Gabriel immediately signs up to fight…without his father’s permission. But when Colonel William Tavington, British dragoon, infamous for his brutal tactics, comes and burns the Martin Plantation to the ground, tragedy strikes. Benjamin quickly finds himself torn between protecting his family, and seeking revenge along with being a part of the birth of a new, young, and ambitious nation.
- Release Date
- June 28, 2000
- Runtime
- 165 Minutes
- Studio
- Columbia Pictures, Centropolis Entertainment, Mutual Film Company
- Tagline
- What would you do if they destroyed your home, threatened your family. Where would you draw the line?