Top 12 Full Metal Jacket Movie Facts

Following is our collection of Full Metal Jacket facts. Handpicked and verified, these little-known details can be obscure enough most people will miss. These behind the scene easter eggs and hidden messages will give you another view of Full Metal Jacket film message.

You can see that PVT Pyle has been collecting ammo since the beginning of the rifle range after he dumps his "spent" magazine. (Reupload)

One of the soldiers tells Rafterman that it's obvious Joker hasn't truly experienced the war because he lacks the "thousand yard stare". Later in the film, immediately after Joker kills the sniper, he responds to Rafterman's comment by giving him a thousand yard stare.
One of the soldiers tells Rafterman that it's obvious Joker hasn't truly experienced the war because he lacks the "thousand yard stare". Later in the film, immediately after Joker kills the sniper, he responds to Rafterman's comment by giving him a thousand yard stare.

Full Metal Jacket Easter Eggs

Hidden objects, characters, easter eggs, and their meanings are wonderful ways to discover the filmmaker's perspectives of any given movie.

  • Private Pyle does not cock the weapon after reloading, suggesting some bullets were left in the magazine. That might be how he snuck live rounds into the camp.

Full Metal Jacket Hidden Details

1 - In the movie Full Metal Jacket (1987) the ones holding the rifle on the right shoulder end up dying.
In the movie Full Metal Jacket (1987) the ones holding the rifle on the right shoulder end up dying.

Sgt. Hartman ironically only ever compliments Private Pyle on his ability to shoot a rifle.

The actor, Lee Ermey, served as a U.S. Marine drill instructor during the Vietnam War and used this experience to ad lib much of his dialogue in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket (1987).

After Private Pyle shoots Gny. Sgt. Hartman, the camera cuts to Pyle holding his rifle and with his "gun" also at attention. Yeah, killing makes him hard.

Gun. Sgt. Hartman makes Joker the squad leader after being steadfast on his disbelief in the Virgin Mary. As Hartman is dissmising recruits, all recruits take a step back facing him, while Joker waits and never takes a step back, showing his dislike/distrust of Hartman.

1 - The palm trees in Full Metal Jacket (1987) were imported from Spain and the film's Vietnam battle scenes were shot in London, UK. The abandoned Beckton Gas Works in London became the ruined city of Hue.
The palm trees in Full Metal Jacket (1987) were imported from Spain and the film's Vietnam battle scenes were shot in London, UK. The abandoned Beckton Gas Works in London became the ruined city of Hue.

Private Pyle doesn't cock his weapon after firing. This shows his weapon isn't empty, hence how he might have snuck bullets into camp.

1 - Private Pyle says "I am in a world of shit" in the boot camp's bathrooms
Private Pyle says "I am in a world of shit" in the boot camp's bathrooms
Full Metal Jacket poster
Full Metal Jacket poster

Full Metal Jacket Plot

A pragmatic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects the Vietnam War has on his fellow recruits from their brutal boot camp training to the bloody street fighting in Hue.

Cast and Details

Here are the full cast and crew of Full Metal Jacket. The goofs, crazy credits, and trivia they have performed may have not taken your attention. Some are hidden for a reason, while others randomly forgotten.

Genre Drama, War
Director Stanley Kubrick
Stars Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D'Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey
IMDB score 8.3

Related movies