Hard-nosed, hard-living Marine Gunnery Sergeant Tom Highway clashes with his superiors and his ex-wife as he takes command of a spoiled recon platoon with a bad attitude.
Where to Watch Heartbreak Ridge
- flavo43January 2, 2026Heartbreak Ridge is a rugged, entertaining Clint Eastwood vehicle that blends military action with sharp, dark humour. Eastwood is perfectly cast as Gunnery Sergeant Tom Highway, a grizzled veteran of Korea and Vietnam whose tough‑as‑nails demeanour masks a weary sense of duty. His performance anchors the film, giving weight to a story that might otherwise lean too heavily on its colourful stereotypes. The supporting characters are broad but effective, fitting the film’s tone and adding levity to the barracks‑room chaos. What makes Heartbreak Ridge particularly interesting is its setting. Unlike many ’80s military films—which focused on pure action, Vietnam‑era revenge fantasies, or historical retellings—this one tackles a contemporary conflict: the U.S. invasion of Grenada. That near‑real‑time framing gives the movie a distinctive place in the decade’s cinematic landscape. While not without its rough edges, Heartbreak Ridge remains a spirited, character‑driven action film with a memorable lead performance.
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Heartbreak Ridge was released on December 5, 1986.
Heartbreak Ridge was directed by Clint Eastwood.
Heartbreak Ridge has a runtime of 2h 10m.
Heartbreak Ridge was produced by Clint Eastwood.
Hard-nosed, hard-living Marine Gunnery Sergeant Tom Highway clashes with his superiors and his ex-wife as he takes command of a spoiled recon platoon with a bad attitude.
The key characters in Heartbreak Ridge are Gunnery Sgt. Tom 'Gunny' Highway (Clint Eastwood), Aggie (Marsha Mason), Major Malcolm A. Powers (Everett McGill).
Heartbreak Ridge is rated R.
Heartbreak Ridge is a War, Drama film.
Heartbreak Ridge has an audience rating of 7.4 out of 10.
Heartbreak Ridge had a budget of $15M.
Heartbreak Ridge has made $42.7M at the box office.