Lone Survivor is a 2013 American biographical military action film based on the 2007 non-fiction book of the same name by Marcus Luttrell with Patrick Robinson. The film recounts the failed mission Operation Red Wings, during which a team of four United States Navy SEALs were tasked with the mission to gather intelligence about a Taliban leader in Afghanistan.
The team of four SEALs includes Marcus Luttrell (played by Mark Wahlberg), Michael Murphy (played by Taylor Kitsch), Danny Dietz (played by Emile Hirsch), and Matthew "Axe" Axelson (played by Ben Foster). After being dropped off in the mountains, the team encounters a group of goatherders. Following a heated debate, the SEALs choose to release the goatherders, unaware that they will soon alert the Taliban to their presence.
As the SEALs move toward their target, they are ambushed by a large Taliban force. The team is badly outnumbered and outgunned, and they take heavy casualties as they fight their way out of the ambush. Eventually, only Luttrell survives and is rescued by a group of local villagers who risk their lives to save him.
The film explores themes of brotherhood, sacrifice, and the impact of war on soldiers. It received critical acclaim for its gritty and realistic portrayal of combat, as well as for its emotional performances by the cast. Director Peter Berg also consulted with active duty Navy SEALs to ensure accuracy in the film's depiction of military operations.