Red Dawn is the 2012 remake of the 1984 Charlie Sheen/Patrick Swayze film of the same name. Instead of Soviet forces, the remake involves an invasion of the western United States by an East Asian enemy force. The film was filmed in late 2009, and was slated to hit theaters in November 2010, but due to financial troubles at MGM, the film was shelved. Shortly before its release, the invaders, which were depicted as originating from China, were subsequently altered to being from North Korea, mainly due to concern that a negative depiction of the PLA may result in the Chinese government banning any future MGM films, such as the then-upcoming Skyfall. The film was eventually released in November of 2012. The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Josh Peck, Josh Hutcherson, Adrianne Palicki, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. The movie may be a possible twin film to Tomorrow, When the War Began, since both feature a group of amateurish teenagers banding together to repel an invading army from their country.
The following weapons were used in the film Red Dawn (2012):
After the Eckert brothers and their friends escape the North Korean invasion to their father's cabin, Pete (Steve Lenz) finds a Browning Hi-Power from the old RV. He eagerly uses it, nearly blowing Jed Eckert's (Chris Hemsworth) head off, causing Jed to seize the Browning from him. Jed then uses the Browning during the training montage. Julie Goodyear (Alyssa Diaz) also briefly uses the Browning during a sabotage attack. Jed's brother Matt (Josh Peck) later takes the Browning Hi-Power during the escape from the high-rise building near the end of the film.
All of the North Korean officers carry Makarov PM pistols as their sidearms throughout the film, most notably Captain Cho (Will Yun Lee). Russian soldiers also carry Makarovs in leg holsters. Danny Jackson (Edwin Hodge) throws one away after the assassination attempt on Captain Cho (Will Yun Lee), to avoid capture. Jackson most likely seized the Makarov from a fallen Noth Korean soldier.
The Wolverines acquire several Intratec TEC-9 pistols converted to fire fully automatic from the townspeople during the training montage. Jed Eckert (Chris Hemsworth) test fires one of the TEC-9s, after Robert Kitner (Josh Hutcherson) admires them, showing how poor the accuracy is. Jed, Robert, and Daryl Jenkins (Connor Cruise) use the TEC-9s during and after an ambush.
Spokane Police Sergeant Tom Eckert (Brett Cullen) carries a Glock 17, which is visible when he leaves the house to patrol on blackout duty. Jed Eckert (Chris Hemsworth) takes and uses his father's Glock 17 pistol from a safebox, during the Wolverines' attack on the KPA's base inside the Spokane Police headquarters.
Sergeant Hodges (Matt Gerald) of the USMC, carries a customized M1911A1 with custom sand-grips, and Novak sights in a thigh holster. He uses the pistol during the Wolverines' attack on the KPA at the Spokane Police headquarters. The M1911A1 is most likely a lightly customized Kimber Custom TLE II. Sergeant Major Andrew Tanner (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) also carries one in a thigh holster.
Along with several TEC-9s, the Wolverines acquire a Cobray M11/9 submachine gun from the townspeople during the training montage. Matt Eckert (Josh Peck) uses the Cobray M11/9 during an ambush.
Matt Eckert (Josh Peck) finds a Remington 700 bolt-action rifle at their father's cabin. He gives it to his brother Jed Eckert (Chris Hemsworth), who carries it until the group acquires better weaponry. Toni Walsh (Adrianne Palicki) and Daryl Jenkins (Connor Cruise) also use the rifle during the training montage. Robert Kitner (Josh Hutcherson) later uses the rifle during a hunting trip with Jed and Matt.
Matt Eckert (Josh Peck) finds a Winchester Model 1894 rifle at their father's cabin and uses the rifle as his primary firearm until the Wolverines acquire better weaponry. Jed Eckert (Chris Hemsworth) also briefly handles this rifle at the cabin as well. Daryl Jenkins (Connor Cruise) briefly uses this weapon during the training montage.
Most North Korean soldiers carry AKM rifles, visually modified with the addition of plastic furniture and AK-74-style muzzle brakes to resemble the AK-103s, as their primary firearms in the film. Russian soldiers are also equipped with similar AKMs, but with additional full-length railed handguards. Toni Walsh (Adrianne Palicki) carries a modified AKM after previously using an AKMSU after the first ambush. Daryl Jenkins (Connor Cruise) uses a scoped AKM during an attempted assassination during a North Korean ceremony. After the Wolverines' ambush on North Korean soldiers to secure better weaponry, Matt Eckert (Josh Peck), Daryl Jenkins, and Danny Jackson (Edwin Hodge) all use stockless AKMs with black plastic furniture for the first half of the film. Matt gives up his AKM to a civilian in order to avoid capture, and Danny ditches his AKM after the same battle for similar reasons. Daryl, Robert Kitner (Josh Hutcherson), Matt Eckert, and Danny Jackson then carry plain AKM mock-ups for most of the film. Corporal Smith (Kenneth Choi) also briefly uses AKM to distract some North Korean soldiers. Captain Cho (Will Yun Lee) fires an AKM during the assault on the KPA base.
Some of the North Korean soldiers use AKMSU carbines modified with KCI quad rail systems. Jed Eckert (Chris Hemsworth) uses an AKMSU carbine as his weapon of choice after capturing in an ambush. Toni Walsh (Adrianne Palicki) also uses an AKMSU after the first ambush, but later switches to one of the AKM/AK-103 mock-ups. Greg (Julian Alcaraz) and Julie Goodyear (Alyssa Diaz) use AKMSU carbines as well.
Some North Korean soldiers carry Norinco Type 56 assault rifles, distinguishable by their hooded sights, with black plastic furniture. Robert Kitner (Josh Hutcherson) also uses one, but with the stock removed, for the first half of the film before replacing it with an M249 SAW machine gun.
USMC Sergeant Major Andrew Tanner (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and his subordinates Sergeant Hodges (Matt Gerald) and Corporal Smith (Kenneth Choi) all carry M4A1 carbines as their primary firearms. SgtMaj. Tanner and Cpl. Smith have ACOG scopes with attached Docter red dot sights, tactical flashlights, and foregrips on their M4A1 carbines. Sgt. Hodges has an EOTech sight, and a SureFire M900 weaponlight/foregrip combo on his carbine. They all mount suppresors on their M4A1s during the assault on the KPA base .
Several Browning M2HB Heavy Machine Guns are mounted on KPA (North Korean) Humvees and tanks. Robert Kitner (Josh Hutcherson) hijacks an M2HB during the assault on the KPA base. Toni Walsh (Adrianne Palicki) also mans an M2HB during the assault at the end of the film.
Robert Kitner (Josh Hutcherson) uses an M249 SAW with a 100-round cloth magazine for the second half of the film and uses it during the assault on the Wolverine's hideout. Matt Eckert (Josh Peck) hands the SAW to Toni Walsh (Adrianne Palicki) during the preparation for the assault on the KPA base. Near the end of the film, Robert gives the M249 to Daryl Jenkins (Connor Cruise).
A GE M134 Minigun is seen mounted on a UH-1 helicopter. Another Minigun is later seen on Erica's (Isabel Lucas) Ford Mustang, manned by Robert (Josh Hutcherson). These are original M134s upgraded by Garwood Industries.
A North Korean soldier fires a PKS Machine Gun when the Wolverines attack the KPA base inside the Spokane Police headquarters.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingPKS on Samojenkov tripod - 7.62x54mmR. Note the lack of a hinged shoulder strap on the stock and the fluted barrel; these differentiate the PK from the later PKM. This example is also seen with an earlier tripod without the modern tripod's belt box mount.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe soldier fires the PKS.
RPK Light Machine Gun
KPA soldiers use an RPK light machine gun to return fire after the Wolverines attack the North Korean ceremony.
A North Korean KPA soldier fires a Type 69 RPG early in the film. Toni (Adrianne Palicki) and Erica (Isabel Lucas) also use the Type 69 RPG during the assault on the KPA base at the Spokane Police headquarters. The RPG's are all fitted with PGO-7 scopes.
During the preparation for the assault on the KPA base, Robert booby traps their hideout with an M18A1 Claymore. He probably got it from one of the Marines.
