Details

Release year: 2000

Storyline

Peaceful farmer Benjamin Martin is driven to lead the Colonial Militia during the American Revolution when a sadistic British officer murders his son.

Top credits

Directors

Roland Emmerich

Writers

Robert Rodat

Cast

Mel Gibson — Benjamin Martin
Heath Ledger — Gabriel Martin
Joely Richardson — Charlotte Selton
Jason Isaacs — Col. William Tavington

See all 155 credits →

Awards

0 wins & 3 nominations

See all awards →

Did you know

• Heath Ledger didn't work for a year because he only got offers for teen heartthrob roles. He was about to quit acting, and return to Australia, when he was cast in the film.

• When teaching Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger how to shoot a muzzle-loading rifle, technical advisor Mark Baker gave them the advice to "aim small, miss small," meaning that if you aim at a man and miss, you miss the man, while if you aim at a button (for instance) and miss, you still hit the man. Gibson liked this bit of advice so much, he incorporated it into the movie, just prior to the ambush scene.

• The historical accuracy of the costumes and settings were overseen by the Smithsonian Institution. It's the first time the Institution ever worked directly on the production of a movie.