Heartbreak Ridge

Heartbreak Ridge follows Gunnery Sergeant Tom 'Gunny' Highway, a stubborn Marine with a reputation for hard rules and little patience for bureaucratic games. He is ordered to take command of a spoiled recon platoon known for swagger and attitude. Highway clashes with his superiors and even with his ex wife Aggie as he pushes the men to shed their arrogance and prove themselves. Through relentless drills, practical jokes, and tough love, he rips away their complacency and builds a unit that can function under pressure. The film tracks the toll of this method on Highway and his men, balancing humor with the grim realities of combat preparation.

Directed by Clint Eastwood, Heartbreak Ridge was written from an original screenplay by James Carabatsos, Joseph Stinson, and Dennis Hackin. The 1986 war drama casts Eastwood as Gunny Highway, a hard edged Marine commander shaping a troubled recon platoon.

Heartbreak Ridge had a budget of 15 million and grossed about 42.7 million worldwide, reflecting solid, mid range success for a mid 80s war drama. The film performed best in North American theaters before expanding internationally.

Critics have mixed-to-positive views, praising Eastwoods blunt leadership and the way the film balances humor with the harsh grind of training. The story probes duty, loyalty, and the cost of war on soldiers and veterans, while showing how discipline can both heal and strain relationships.