Special Forces
“Survival. Honor. Sacrifice.”
Afghanistan. War correspondent Elsa Casanova is taken hostage by the Taliban. Faced with her imminent execution, a Special Forces unit is dispatched to free her. In some of the world’s most breathtaking yet hostile landscapes, a relentless pursuit begins between her kidnappers who have no intention of letting their prey escape them and a group of soldiers who risk their lives in pursuit of their single aim – to bring her home alive. This strong, independent woman and these men of duty are thrown together and forced to confront situations of great danger that inextricably bind them – emotionally, violently and intimately.
Where to watch
Tubi TV
Free with ads
Amazon Video
Rent · Buy
Apple TV Store
Rent · Buy
Google Play Movies
Rent · Buy
YouTube
Rent · Buy
Your rating
Your review
Cast
34 people
Diane Kruger
Elsa Casanova
Known for
National Treasure
Inglourious Basterds
Djimon Hounsou
Commander Kovax
Known for
Blood Diamond
Captain Marvel
Benoît Magimel
Captain 'Tic-Tac '
Known for
Little White Lies
The Piano Teacher
Denis Ménochet
Captain Lucas
Known for
Inglourious Basterds
Assassin's Creed
Raphaël Personnaz
Elias, sniper
Known for
SK1
White Fang
Alain Figlarz
Victor
Known for
Taken 2
Braquo
Alain Alivon
Marius
Also in
Custody
Mehdi Nebbou
Amin, Elsa's guide
Known for
Baby
HIP - High Intellectual Potential
Raz Degan
Ahmed Zaief, leader of the hostage takers
Known for
Albakiara
Still Time
Tchéky Karyo
Admiral Guezennec
Known for
Bad Boys
Nikita
Morjana Alaoui
Maïna
Known for
Martyrs
Didier Flamand
Jacques Beauregard
Known for
The Crimson Rivers
The Corsican File
Stéphane Rybojad Director · Xavier Berthelot Composer David Jankowski Cinematographer
Worldwide gross $3.4M · Budget $10M · United States release October 12, 2012
Box office
Budget
$10,000,000
Worldwide gross
$3,424,648
Gross vs. budget
0.3×
Production
Sofica Manon
Production
Easy Company
Production
StudioCanal
Production · Studio
TPS Star
Production
A Plus Image 2
Production
Canal+
Production
France
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Forces spéciales
Original language
French
Spoken on screen
Arabic · English · French
Release dates
Switzerland · November 2, 2011
Theatrical
France · November 2, 2011
Theatrical
United States · October 12, 2012
Theatrical
Argentina
June 27, 2012 · Physical · DVD
Belgium
November 9, 2011 · Theatrical
Brazil
December 9, 2011 · Theatrical
Czechia
February 9, 2012 · Theatrical
Estonia
November 18, 2011 · Theatrical
Germany
November 20, 2011 · Theatrical
May 11, 2012 · Physical · DVD
Greece
August 9, 2012 · Theatrical
December 12, 2012 · Physical · DVD
India
September 14, 2012 · Theatrical
Italy
May 11, 2012 · Theatrical
Japan
July 15, 2012 · TV
Lithuania
November 25, 2011 · Theatrical
Malaysia
February 23, 2012 · Theatrical
Philippines
June 13, 2012 · Theatrical
Poland
March 9, 2012 · Theatrical
Portugal
July 11, 2013 · Theatrical
Russia
November 3, 2011 · Theatrical
Singapore
January 5, 2012 · Theatrical
Slovakia
February 9, 2012 · Theatrical · English
March 6, 2025 · Digital · Slovak · VOYO
South Korea
June 21, 2012 · Theatrical
Spain
September 25, 2013 · Physical · DVD
Sweden
June 27, 2012 · Physical · DVD
Taiwan
November 16, 2012 · Theatrical
Thailand
March 15, 2012 · Theatrical
Türkiye
November 11, 2011 · Theatrical
More from Stéphane Rybojad
Other films they directed, best known first.
If you liked Special Forces
Picks that share its genres, themes, cast and crew.
Some details come from TheTVDB.