It’s been more than three decades since the world first heard Jack Nicholson thunder, “You can’t handle the truth!” in A Few Good Men, but the story behind this iconic film is as layered—and mysterious—as the courtroom drama itself. As the film returns to British screens on Channel 4 on January 10, 2026, at 10:35 PM, audiences are once again invited to witness what many call a masterclass in acting, writing, and cinematic tension. Yet, few realize just how closely the movie’s plot hews to real-life events—events that would ultimately lead to tragedy and an enduring mystery that still haunts those involved.
According to CinemaBlend, the screenplay for A Few Good Men was penned by Aaron Sorkin, who drew direct inspiration from a true story relayed by his sister, Deborah Sorkin. Deborah served as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer in the 1980s, stationed at the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base. Her duties brought her face-to-face with a harrowing incident in July 1986: ten Marines, believing that Private First Class William Alvarado had reported them for firing weapons across the fence into Cuba, decided to mete out their own form of justice. Their act—known in Marine parlance as a “Code Red”—involved tying down Alvarado, stuffing a rag in his mouth, and shaving his head. Unlike the fictional victim in the film, Alvarado survived the ordeal, but the repercussions for the accused Marines would be life-changing.
Three of the Marines, including David Cox, opted to fight the charges at a court-martial. As reported by CinemaBlend, Cox was acquitted of the most serious allegations but convicted of simple assault. He served 30 days in the brig, released on time served, and completed his military service two years later. The real-life courtroom drama echoed the tension and moral ambiguity that would later grip moviegoers in theaters around the world.
Fast-forward to the winter of 1993. A Few Good Men had become a box office sensation, earning critical acclaim for its star-studded cast—Tom Cruise as Lt. Daniel Kaffee, Demi Moore as Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway, and Jack Nicholson as Col. Nathan R. Jessep. The film’s plot, centering on Kaffee’s defense of two Marines accused of murder at Guantánamo Bay, resonated deeply with David Cox and his girlfriend when they watched it together. According to the Baltimore Sun, Cox was visibly disturbed by the eerie similarities to his own experience. He immediately contacted his former defense attorney to discuss legal action.
By early 1994, five other Marines involved in the original incident had filed a lawsuit against Castle Rock Entertainment, the studio behind the film and owned by director Rob Reiner. They alleged that the movie’s story was lifted wholesale from their lives. However, their case ultimately failed, and no compensation was awarded. The legal defeat was only the beginning of further misfortune. In January 1994, Cox vanished without a trace. Three months later, a canoer discovered his body on the banks of the Charles River in Medfield, Massachusetts. Cox had been shot four times—once in the back of the neck, three times in the torso. Three shell casings were found nearby, and he was wearing a Scout Sniper hoodie and military-issued camouflage jacket, clothing his family insisted he never wore after leaving the Marines.
The circumstances of Cox’s murder have never been resolved. Family members believe it was a professional hit, but, as reported by the Baltimore Sun, prosecutors dismissed any connection to the lawsuit, gambling debts, or drugs. The mystery remains open, a chilling real-world coda to a story that began with a military hazing and ended with a Hollywood blockbuster.
Meanwhile, the filmmakers have consistently denied that any character in A Few Good Men was based directly on real people. Aaron Sorkin, whose next film The Social Reckoning is slated for release in October 2026, has maintained that while his sister’s account inspired the premise, the screenplay and its characters are works of fiction. As a spokesperson for Sorkin told The New York Times in 2011, “The character of Dan Kaffee in ‘A Few Good Men’ is entirely fictional and was not inspired by any particular individual.”
Regardless of its origins, A Few Good Men has cemented its place in cinematic history. The film’s taut script, adapted from Sorkin’s own Broadway play, and its powerhouse performances have earned it enduring praise. Fans and critics alike continue to laud the film as a “masterclass in acting,” with one reviewer on Rotten Tomatoes declaring, “What a film, absolutely a masterclass in acting, story. Just finished the movie for the first time, and let there be no doubt, it shall not be the last.” Another enthusiast wrote, “A Few Good Men is a solid courtroom drama with great performances, but the best part is the intense face-off between Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson—Nicholson gives the best performance of the film, and he and Cruise have great chemistry. When he yells, ‘You can’t handle the truth!’ it hits hard and totally owns the whole movie.”
Indeed, Nicholson’s portrayal of Col. Jessup—especially in the climactic courtroom scene—has become the stuff of legend. His performance earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, though he ultimately lost to Gene Hackman for his role in Unforgiven. The line “You can’t handle the truth!” remains one of the most quoted in movie history, instantly recognizable even to those who’ve never seen the film.
Over time, A Few Good Men has only grown in stature. As another fan put it, “One of the best movies from that era. Has improved over time. You can’t say that about very many films. Great cast. Great acting and direction. Great writing. Never gets old.” The film’s appeal is not just in its dramatic moments but in its exploration of loyalty, justice, and the moral cost of following orders—questions that feel as relevant today as they did in 1992.
As A Few Good Men airs again, it serves as a reminder of the complexities behind its creation and the unresolved questions that linger off-screen. The film’s legacy is not just in its unforgettable performances or quotable lines, but in the real-life events that inspired it—and the mysteries that remain unsolved to this day.