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Heartbreak Ridge

Play trailer Poster for Heartbreak Ridge R 1986 2h 9m War Comedy Drama Action Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
62% 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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Heartbreak Ridge

Heartbreak Ridge

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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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Critics Reviews

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David Stratton Sydney Morning Herald May 27, 2021
Eastwood serves us up with a hoary old story about a platoon of malcontents whipped into fighting shape by a tough veteran sergeant. Go to Full Review Mike Daly The Age (Australia) Dec 15, 2020
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. Go to Full Review Pat Graham Chicago Reader Aug 6, 2020
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. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Feb 13, 2026
2/4
...the far-from-enthralling feel is compounded by an almost total lack of interesting, three-dimensional periphery figures... Go to Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Jul 24, 2025
2/5
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. Go to Full Review Alan Jones Radio Times Aug 6, 2020
3/5
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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Joseph P @Bigjoe331 Jul 20, 2026 It's a great movie just now there is a lot of bad language See more Dirk D @DirkD Feb 1, 2026 One of my favorite movies! One of the reasons I joined the military. I have now owned this movie on VHS, DVD and now Streaming. Still use many quotes from this movie. See more Jerod S @jeroduptown Jan 31, 2026 Eastwood is the crusty veteran that has one more duty to fulfill before retiring. He gets a bunch of young marine studs that he's gotta whip into shape. See more CodyZamboni Z @CodyZamboni Jan 21, 2026 Watchable genre film as grizzled old school soldier, Eastwood, who is hired to train Marine misfits, who love to usurp authority, And then team is tested in live battle in Grenada, Mostly sympathetic characters, Lots of funny creative cussing and insults, Decent war action. However, Marsha Mason romance subplot is boring and unnecssary, See more Deepika V @deepikav12 Nov 20, 2025 My favorite movie! A mix of drama and comedy, the star cast made this movie shine. Love the interactions between Mario and Clint Eastwood's character. Entertaining movie. See more Garry H @RT93522185 Nov 13, 2025 Just a n Eastwood vehicle where nothing happens , made on his day off? See more Read all reviews
Heartbreak Ridge

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Cast & Crew

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Clint Eastwood

Director

Clint Eastwood

Sergeant Thomas Highway

Marsha Mason

Aggie

Everett McGill

Major Malcolm A. Powers

Moses Gunn

Staff Sergeant Webster

Eileen Heckart

Little Marry Jackson

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Heartbreak Ridge

Heartbreak Ridge (1986) Heartbreak Ridge (1986) Heartbreak Ridge (1986) Heartbreak Ridge (1986) Heartbreak Ridge (1986) View more photos

Movie Info

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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