Heartbreak Ridge

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Heartbreak Ridge

R

Released Dec 5, 1986

2h 9m

War

Comedy

Drama

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

66%

Tomatometer

29 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Marine Sgt. Thomas Highway (Clint Eastwood) is a decorated veteran of two wars. On his last posting before retirement, he is surrounded by officers with no combat experience who view him as an odd, even dangerous, holdover. Highway is assigned to train a group of undisciplined recruits including Cpl. Stitch Jones (Mario Van Peebles), a slick hustler who has previously encountered Highway. As the old soldier prepares his men for a war they don't believe will come, the U.S. invades Grenada.

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Critics Consensus

With Heartbreak Ridge, director Clint Eastwood gets one of his best performances out of himself, even if the story struggles to engage.

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David Stratton

Sydney Morning Herald

Eastwood serves us up with a hoary old story about a platoon of malcontents whipped into fighting shape by a tough veteran sergeant.

May 27, 2021

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Mike Daly

The Age (Australia)

There are no surprises in films like Heartbreak Ridge, only catharsis. Like war and contact sport, they release the pent-up aggression of adolescent males. Never mind the cliches, feel the muscle.

Dec 15, 2020

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Pat Graham

Chicago Reader

The whole film seems ideologically forced and out of place, an attempt to resurrect the retentive virtues of Ford and Hawks without the cultural context that gave them expressive strength.

Aug 6, 2020

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Moderately manageable meatball cinema for about an hour. But the film quickly wears out its welcome with repetitive moments of tough love taught to sops and sissies. “The only thing we’re fighting is boredom,” one character quips. You said it, Corporal.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 24, 2025

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Alan Jones

Radio Times

There's a by-the-numbers feel to it all, but Eastwood is the main reason to watch, as he whips the troops into shape in readiness for the invasion of Grenada.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 6, 2020

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People Staff

People Magazine

Screenwriter Jim Carabatsos (yes, the very guy who wrote No Mercy) is a Vietnam vet. Yet he seems to have no idea of how men fight, get along or talk.

Aug 6, 2020

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Bill E

The men should have been provided with the proper shirts.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/17/25

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Tom S

I believe this movie to be iconic. I find this movie spectacular. It may be because I am a clint eastwood fan, many would find this movie cliche. But I find it a wonderful story about an aged out marine who finds absolution at the end of his career? And with the added bonus, a love story that just makes it a well rounded movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/05/25

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thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajudou a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/20/25

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Dane B. M

Absolute crap. The 'F' word got repeated ad nauseum. Clichés abounded. The smartass, the goody two boots and of course the big moose chest. Clint devours them all. In the storming of the hill he dies. But wait! Miraculously he comes to life and... yep, tells the guy to watch out in the shower room. Hokey and poorly acted. Clint can do and makes far better efforts than this sorry excuse for a movie.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/23/24

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Eye C

Mr. Eastwood is not an actor's director, so if the actor aren't good so the picture ain't good either. I think this is the closest of a comedy from the director's filmography, but it doesn't delivers.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/24

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Deborah S

I don't care what others say, I enjoy any movie with Clint Eastwood in it. I had to watch this two times before I could totally understand the movie. Clint Eastwood is Marine Gunnery Sergeant Tom Highway who is getting close to retirement. Marine life is all he has ever known after serving through 2 wars when he is assigned to whip his unruly troops into shape in readiness for the invasion of Grenada.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/12/23

Full Review

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Clint Eastwood

Sergeant Thomas Highway

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Synopsis

Marine Sgt. Thomas Highway (Clint Eastwood) is a decorated veteran of two wars. On his last posting before retirement, he is surrounded by officers with no combat experience who view him as an odd, even dangerous, holdover. Highway is assigned to train a group of undisciplined recruits including Cpl. Stitch Jones (Mario Van Peebles), a slick hustler who has previously encountered Highway. As the old soldier prepares his men for a war they don't believe will come, the U.S. invades Grenada.

Director: Clint Eastwood
Producer: Clint Eastwood
Screenwriter: James Carabatsos
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Malpaso Company, Jay Weston Productions
Rating: R
Genre: War, Comedy, Drama, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 5, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $41.0M
Runtime: 2h 9m
Sound Mix: Surround

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