Fury (2014), directed by David Ayer, is a gritty, unflinching look at the final days of World War II through the eyes of a battle-hardened tank crew. The film dives into the physical and emotional brutality of war, and what it does to the men who fight it. It stands out not only for its intense battle scenes but also for its character-driven storytelling and strong performances—especially from Brad Pitt.
Detailed Summary
Setting the Stage: Germany, April 1945
The film is set in the waning days of World War II. Nazi Germany is collapsing, but resistance is still fierce. American forces are pushing deeper into German territory, encountering both desperation and fanaticism. The story revolves around a Sherman tank named Fury and its five-man crew who’ve been fighting together since North Africa.
Meet the Crew
- Don “Wardaddy” Collier (Brad Pitt): The tough, stoic tank commander who’s seen it all.
- Boyd “Bible” Swan (Shia LaBeouf): The spiritual one, often quoting scripture.
- Trini “Gordo” Garcia (Michael Peña): The sarcastic driver.
- Grady “Coon-Ass” Travis (Jon Bernthal): The violent, unpredictable loader.
- Norman Ellison (Logan Lerman): The new guy—a typist forced into combat.
Norman is the audience’s eyes, thrown into the brutal reality of war. His innocence—and the loss of it—forms a key arc in the film.
Baptism by Fire
Norman’s first mission is harrowing. He fails to kill a Nazi hiding in a barn, resulting in the death of another soldier. Wardaddy forces him to execute a German prisoner, a disturbing moment meant to break his naïveté. The psychological toll of war is front and center, not just with Norman but with the whole crew.
The Battle at the Town
The crew is ordered to help take a German town. After fierce fighting, they capture it. Here we see a brief reprieve from the violence as Norman and Wardaddy interact with two German women. It’s a strangely tender sequence, but it’s soon shattered by more loss when an artillery strike kills one of the women.
The Final Mission
The tank unit is then tasked with holding a crossroads vital to preventing Nazi reinforcements. During the journey, the Fury crew loses all the tanks in their platoon during a confrontation with a German Tiger tank, leaving them alone for the mission. Their final stand becomes the film’s climax.
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Movie Ending
When Fury reaches the crossroads, it hits a landmine and is immobilized. They soon discover that a massive SS battalion—about 300 men—is approaching. The crew has the option to flee, but they choose to make a last stand inside the crippled tank.
The battle is intense, claustrophobic, and brutal. One by one, the crew is killed: Gordo is burned alive; Coon-Ass is shot by a panzerfaust; Bible is fatally wounded but continues fighting. Wardaddy is gravely injured by a grenade dropped through the tank hatch. He continues fighting with Norman until only Norman remains.
Wardaddy urges Norman to escape through the bottom hatch of the tank. Norman hides under the tank as German soldiers swarm the area. One SS soldier spots him but, moved perhaps by compassion or futility, chooses to leave him alone. The next morning, Norman is rescued by American forces. As he’s carried away, medics call him a hero. He looks back at the smoking wreck of Fury, where he has just lived through one of the most harrowing battles of the war.
It’s a bleak, emotional ending that underscores the cost of war and the transformation of a young man who never wanted to be a soldier.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, Fury does not have any post-credits scenes. Once the credits roll, the story is complete. There’s no Marvel-style tease or additional footage—fitting for a film that deals so starkly with reality and finality.
Type of Movie
Fury is a war drama with heavy elements of psychological thriller and action. It combines visceral tank battles with deep character study and moral ambiguity. It’s not a glorification of war; rather, it’s a study of how war damages souls.
Cast
- Brad Pitt as Don “Wardaddy” Collier
- Shia LaBeouf as Boyd “Bible” Swan
- Logan Lerman as Norman Ellison
- Michael Peña as Trini “Gordo” Garcia
- Jon Bernthal as Grady “Coon-Ass” Travis
- Jason Isaacs as Captain Waggoner
- Scott Eastwood as Sergeant Miles
- Anamaria Marinca and Alicia von Rittberg in key supporting roles
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Steven Price, who also scored Gravity. The music in Fury is somber, haunting, and perfectly in tune with the film’s heavy emotional tone. It enhances the tension without ever overpowering the storytelling.
Filming Locations
Fury was filmed primarily in England, including locations such as:
- Oxfordshire: For open countryside battle scenes.
- Bovingdon Airfield, Hertfordshire: Converted into a war-ravaged German town.
- Bovington Tank Museum: Provided many of the tanks used, including a real functioning Tiger I tank, the only operational one in the world, on loan from the museum.
The authenticity of the tanks and the decision to shoot on muddy, practical sets contribute to the film’s gritty realism.
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Awards and Nominations
Though Fury wasn’t a major player at the Oscars, it did receive recognition:
- Nominated for multiple Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, including Best Action Movie.
- Won Best Action Film at the National Board of Review.
- Won various accolades for its ensemble cast and sound editing.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Shia LaBeouf reportedly went full method—refusing to shower, pulling out a tooth, and cutting his own face to stay in character.
- Brad Pitt and the cast went through a real tank boot camp to bond and prepare.
- The interior tank scenes were filmed inside a full-scale replica with working mechanics.
- Director David Ayer wanted the cast to live together and bond like real tank crewmen. They even got into real physical fights to simulate stress and camaraderie.
Inspirations and References
- The film isn’t based on a single true story but draws inspiration from real WWII tank crews, especially those in the 2nd Armored Division.
- The character of “Wardaddy” was partly inspired by Staff Sergeant Lafayette G. Pool, one of the most famous American tank commanders.
- Real wartime diaries and veteran interviews influenced the script.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
No confirmed alternate ending exists, but several deleted and extended scenes are included in home releases. One shows more background on Norman’s early days and struggles. Another offers longer versions of the town sequence, but nothing that changes the story’s core trajectory.
Book Adaptations and Differences
While not adapted from a book, Fury shares thematic similarities with war literature such as:
- The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
- With the Old Breed by Eugene Sledge
It also echoes tank-centric WWII novels like Panzer Commander and Death Traps.
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Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The ambush of the German column.
- The showdown with the German Tiger tank.
- The quiet dinner in the German town—an unnerving interlude.
- The final stand at the crossroads.
Iconic Quotes
- Wardaddy: “Ideals are peaceful. History is violent.”
- Bible: “Here’s a Bible verse I think about sometimes. Many times. It goes: ‘And I heard the voice of the Lord saying: Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? And I said: Here am I. Send me.’”
- Wardaddy: “This is the best job I ever had.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The Fury tank is modeled after an actual M4A2 Sherman with the same name.
- The real Tiger tank used in the film is Tiger 131, captured by the British in 1943.
- The term “Coon-Ass,” used for Jon Bernthal’s character, is authentic WWII slang for a Cajun soldier.
- Director David Ayer is a military veteran himself, which influenced his approach to realism.
Trivia
- Logan Lerman had never fired a gun before shooting the film.
- Brad Pitt insisted on strict historical accuracy, even in the way they loaded the tank’s shells.
- The script had been in development for years; Ayer began writing it after finishing End of Watch.
- The production went through over 20,000 rounds of blanks during shooting.
Why Watch?
Fury is more than a war movie. It’s an intense character study that forces viewers to confront the psychological cost of violence. If you want a film that doesn’t sugarcoat war and offers both action and emotional depth, Fury delivers. It’s a rare combination of visceral combat realism and philosophical reflection, anchored by powerful performances.
Director’s Other Movies
- End of Watch (2012)
- Training Day (2001) – writer
- Sabotage (2014)
- Suicide Squad (2016)
- The Tax Collector (2020)