Prime Video will restore the artwork for Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket after Matthew Modine called out the streaming service for altering the image.
Modine took to X/Twitter to draw attention to the image on the landing page for Full Metal Jacket on Prime Video. The iconic artwork by Philip Castle (also featured on the film's poster) depicts a military helmet with a peace symbol and text that reads "Born to Kill" on it. However, this phrase was absent from the streamer's image.
"Who decided to remove 'BORN TO KILL?'" Modine quizzed, showing the edited art. "Not only did they alter a piece of iconic art by Philip Castle, but they completely misunderstood the point of it being there. Pvt. Joker wears the helmet with 'BORN TO KILL' and the peace button as a statement about 'the duality of man.'"
Who decided to remove “BORN TO KILL?” Not only did they alter a piece of iconic art by Philip Castle, but they completely misunderstood the point of it being there. Pvt. Joker wears the helmet with “BORN TO KILL” and the peace ☮️ button as a statement about “the duality of man.” pic.twitter.com/9XQwINJj4l
— Matthew Modine (@MatthewModine) June 18, 2024
Prime Video seemingly responded to the backlash from fans brought on by Modine's post and promptly switched out the censored poster artwork for a still from the movie. According to Deadline's sources, Warner Bros. has also requested that the "detail page" get updated to reflect the original "Born to Kill" helmet illustration.
Modine's character, James T. "Joker" Davis, wears the helmet in the movie and is specifically asked about the slogan scrawled on his headgear. Someone on X/Twitter shared the exchange that follows after the Colonel confronts him, "You write 'Born to Kill' on your helmet, and you wear a peace button. What's that supposed to be, some kind of sick joke?" he asks, adding, "What is it supposed to mean?"
Joker replies, "The duality of man. The Jungian thing, sir."
Private Joker : The duality of man. The Jungian thing, sir.
— Geekin' with James Hancock (@gknout) June 18, 2024
Pogue Colonel : Whose side are you on, son?
Private Joker : Our side, sir.
Pogue Colonel : Don't you love your country?
Private Joker : Yes, sir.
Pogue Colonel : Then how about getting with the program? Why don't you…
The Full Metal Jacket fiasco isn't the first time Amazon has come under fire for modifying images on its streaming services. People noticed earlier this month that Freevee had what appeared to be an AI-generated poster for 12 Angry Men, the 1957 courtroom drama from legendary filmmaker Sidney Lumet, on its interface.
According to AV Club, Amazon used a different image on Freevee due to a licensing rights issue. Freevee apparently "licenses 12 Angry Men from a third-party, which is responsible for the images." It doesn't seem like Prime Video had the same problem with Full Metal Jacket as the original artwork shows up on the movie's title cards.
Cover image credit: Poster illustration by Philip Castle.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X/Twitter here.
