Lone Survivor is a 2013 American war film written and directed by Peter Berg, and starring Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster and Eric Bana. It is based on the 2007 nonfiction book of the same name by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson. Set during the War in Afghanistan, the film dramatizes the failed United States Navy SEALs mission Operation Red Wings, in which four SEAL teammates were tasked to capture or kill Taliban leader Ahmad Shah.

Berg first learned of the book in 2007 while filming Hancock (2008), and he later pursued the film rights by meeting with Luttrell to discuss a film adaptation. After bidding against Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks, Universal Studios won the film rights in August 2007, with Berg attached to write and direct. Berg drew much of his screenplay from Luttrell's book and US Navy documents, as well as autopsy and incident reports related to the mission. Production was put on hold as Berg could not get support or funding for the project until after directing Battleship (2012) for Universal. Principal photography for Lone Survivor began in October 2012, and concluded after 42 days; filming took place on location in New Mexico. In addition, the main actors had three weeks of military training beforehand to prepare for the physical demands of their roles.

Lone Survivor was screened at the AFI Film Festival on November 12, 2013. On December 3, 2013, the film held its red carpet premiere at the Ziegfeld Theatre, where it received a standing ovation. The film opened in limited release in the United States on December 27, 2013; it will have a general release in North America on January 10, 2014. Critics were generally positive about Berg's direction, as well as the acting, story, visuals and battle sequences, while other reviewers derided the film for focusing more on its action scenes than on characterization.

In my opinion the best scene was where the four soldiers are arguing about what to do with the men they captured.

It also tries to show that not all Afghan's are bad, but it's such a life threatening gesture that it makes no sense. I mean, his people will likely be wiped out for that one good deed.

Muslims capable of spectacular, expectation defying acts of human decency? No, sir!

i would never save a white man under any conditions

I couldn't get over this. If it was a civilian, maybe, and that would be very heroic. But to risk the lives of his neighbors for an American solider was way too farfetched and probably never happened. Shoots the whole "based on a true story" aspect in the foot.

That's actually exactly what happened in real life

It also tries to show that not all Afghan's are bad, but it's such a life threatening gesture that it makes no sense.

Do they explain why there wasn't an option 3 of just leaving them tied up? That's the one reason why I have no motivation to see it. And the fact that's it's supposedly true, just seems like a stupid plot point to me.

The previews make it seem like there are two options but this is due to editing. In the film, they present three choices: 1) Shoot them and continue the mission; 2) Free them and abort the mission; and 3) Keep them tied-up and continue the mission. They point out the third option would result in them potentially being eaten or that the prisoners freeze to death. One must remember that nights there would be cold as they are on a mountain around 9,000ft tall so it would be cold even in the warmer months.

It is also controversial that the options were even posed as they were apparently unanimous in picking number two.