Apocalypse now which version?

that’s a solid collection you got there! the 2h46 version is probably a cut that some theaters used or a specific screening, but it’s definitely not one of the main ones. best bet is to just label it as "shortened theatrical" or something, since it doesn’t match the others directly.

Amazing how many people won't even read the post (except the headline) before answering.

Final Cut is basically Redux with a significantly shorter French plantation sequence. I’d say Redux is worth watching at least once, especially if you don’t know the backstory to the Vietnam War, which has its roots (as so many do) in colonialism. That said, it’s a scene that just drags, and it’s one of those recuts of a movie that’s not better; just longer. Otherwise, some people prefer Theatrical, but I prefer Final. Out of all of them, I prefer Hearts of Darkness, because I think the documentary about shooting the film is better than the film itself. I’ve never seen the work print, and I don’t think it’s ever been officially issued on anything. It takes a ton of work to make a work print watchable, because the cuts are janky, the audio is even worse, and it’s more to see if the story moves like it should, and then you start ripping out whole sequences that don’t need to be there. Again, not better; just longer. The Blade Runner workprint isn’t a mess, but it’s definitely not done, and the Alien 3 workprint from the Alien Quadrilogy DVD set is the same way. They cleaned up Alien 3 for the Blu-ray release, though, but it cost a decent chunk of money. Now, what you might have found is something from a two-night film event, from back when TV networks would license a movie, but they need a reason for people to tune in, since they’ve already seen the movie. This was bigger in the early 80s, when VCRs were in a small number of homes and films got re-released in theaters. I distinctly remember seeing Close Encounters, with the extended ending, on CBS or some such thing. Anyway, Coppola was more than happy to oblige whatever the networks wanted, including a cut of Godfather 1 and 2, where everything is chopped into chronological order. By that point, One From the Heart had crashed and burned, and so had Cotton Club, and American Zoetrope found out being a studio is really hard, and a couple of losses will wipe you out, and you’re paying investors back for the next twenty years, which is how Coppola spent most of that time as a director for hire, unable to wield the kind of control he had over Godfather 3 that he had over Godfather 2. So, if the network wants a chronological cut, and they’re willing to pay a few million to do it, that’s what they get. So, that might be what it is, but without taking a dive into the history of if or when Apocalypse Now got a two-night event showing, I can’t say for sure.

Theatrical version is best.

[removed]

Redux is my favorite.

To me, the real difference (and why theatrical cut is the only cut that makes the cut) is the scene where Killgore's surf board is stolen (in Redux and Final Cut). The act/prank is a group effort, and makes Willard one of the boys, bonding with his crew. It's a pretty big change of character, and it doesn't fit the general portrayal of Willard as the alienated-kind-of-cold-leader. And also, as numerous people have said, the French plantation scene is a drag and the educational intention is super dull. (I know OP asked a different question, but the discussion quickly changed lol)