['< sod >\'\'\'\'\'red dawn\'\'\'\'\'is a [ [ nineteen eighty - four | 1984 ] ] american [ [ russophobia | rusophobic ] ] [ [ cold war ] ] right - wing [ [ propaganda ] ] [ [ war film ] ] directed by [ [ john milius ] ], filmed in [ [ metrocolor ] ] and [ [ panavision ] ], and co - written by milius and [ [ kevin reynolds ( director ) | kevin reynolds ] ]. it stars [ [ patrick swayze ] ], [ [ c. thomas howell ] ], [ [ lea thompson ] ], [ [ charlie sheen ] ], and [ [ jennifer grey ] ]. it is notable for being the first film to be released in the us with a [ [ motion picture association of america ] ] [ [ pg - 13 ] ] rating. < ref name = " thr45 " > { { cite news | title =\'red dawn\'redo lands director, scribe ; mgm will remake the 1984 action drama | first = jay a. | last = fernandez | author2 = borys kit | url = http : / / www. hollywoodreporter. com / hr / content _ display / film / news / e3i28e0d4f7991010721fa8d721c07ce0eb? imw = y | date = july 9, 2008 | work = the hollywood reporter } } < / ref > < eod > < sod >\'\'\'\'\'red dawn\'\'\'\'\'is a 1984 american [ [ war film ] ] directed by [ [ john milius ] ], filmed in [ [ metrocolor ] ] and [ [ panavision ] ], and co - written by milius and [ [ kevin reynolds ( director ) | kevin reynolds ] ]. it stars [ [ patrick swayze ] ], [ [ c. thomas howell ] ], [ [ lea thompson ] ], [ [ charlie sheen ] ], and [ [ jennifer grey ] ]. it is notable for being the first film to be released in the us with a [ [ motion picture association of america ] ] [ [ pg - 13 ] ] rating. < ref name = " thr45 " > { { cite news | title =\'red dawn\'redo lands director, scribe ; mgm animation will remake the 1984 action drama | first = jay a. | last = fernandez | author2 = borys kit | url = http : / / www. hollywoodreporter. com / hr / content _ display / film / news / e3i28e0d4f7991010721fa8d721c07ce0eb? imw = y | date = july 9, 2008 | work = the hollywood reporter } } < / ref > < eod >']