One of the best war movies of the century, which is based on a true story, is about to explode onto Netflix. World War II is one of the most popular historical settings for movies, as the real-life tragedy plus the grand scale of the conflict makes for incredibly emotional and action-packed movies. The film in question has both elements in spades, while telling a very true story in the process. The likes of Saving Private Ryan, Enemy at the Gates, Fury, Inglourious Basterds, and Dunkirk tell the stories of those fighting during the Second World War. But, one of the best WWII movies ever made follows one man who dedicated himself to saving lives during the conflict, and it’s about to stream on Netflix.
We’re, of course, talking about Hacksaw Ridge. The Andrew Garfield-led film follows Desmond Doss, a soldier in the American army who has vowed to never touch a weapon. As a result, he becomes a combat medic, and saves dozens of lives during the war. Hacksaw Ridge will stream on Netflix on October 1. Released in 2016, the film was directed by Mel Gibson, and is based on the novel Redemption at Hacksaw Ridge, by Booton Herndon, a biographical account of Doss’ time in the military. The official synopsis reads:
“The true story of Pfc. Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield), who won the Congressional Medal of Honor despite refusing to bear arms during WWII on religious grounds. Doss was drafted and ostracized by fellow soldiers for his pacifist stance but went on to earn respect and adoration for his bravery, selflessness and compassion after he risked his life — without firing a shot — to save 75 men in the Battle of Okinawa.”
Gibson’s World War 2 epic features an all-star cast that includes Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Vince Vaughn, Rachel Griffiths, Hugo Weaving, and Teresa Palmer. The entire film is a great look at the reality of World War II. But, the dramatic final scene at Hacksaw Ridge is absolutely the best part of the movie, as Garfield and Gibson bring Doss’ heroic acts to life on screen (albeit, with a bit of dramatic Hollywood flair).
‘Hacksaw Ridge’ Is a Fan-Favorite War Movie
Hacksaw Ridge was adored by audiences and critics when it opened in theaters in 2016. The film is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a strong 84% rating. But, audiences enjoyed the film even more as it boasts an impressive 92% audience rating from over 50,000 user reviews. Within those reviews, audiences have called Hacksaw Ridge, “moving,” “one of Garfield’s best performances,” and “the best war movie of the century.”
If that wasn’t enough, it is also the 190th greatest movie of all-time according to IMDb users. The film also proved how much of a box office draw the Second World War is. Hacksaw Ridge was made on a budget of around $40 million, but grossed over $180 million worldwide. To top it all off, it was also nominated for Best Picture at the 2017 Oscars, with Garfield also being nominated for Best Actor.
- Release Date
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October 7, 2016
- Runtime
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139 minutes
- Writers
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Andrew Knight
- Producers
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Bill Mechanic, Brian Oliver, Bruce Davey, David Permut, David S. Greathouse, James M. Vernon, Lauren Selig, Lawrence Bender, Paul Currie, Stuart Ford, Suzanne Warren, Terry Benedict, Christopher Woodrow, Rick Nicita, Michael Bassick, Tyler Thompson, Len Blavatnik, William D. Johnson, Buddy Patrick, Mark C. Manuel, Ted O’Neal, Leo Shi Young, Eric Greenfeld, Lenny Kornberg
