A decade after it first arrived in theaters, Mel Gibson’s powerful World War II drama Hacksaw Ridge is enjoying an impressive resurgence — proving that its remarkable story still resonates with audiences.
Gibson has built an impressive reputation behind the camera with films such as Braveheart and The Passion of the Christ. After winning the Academy Award for Best Director for Braveheart, he returned to the director’s chair in 2016 with Hacksaw Ridge, an emotionally intense and unflinching look at one man’s extraordinary experience during World War II.
Now, 10 years later, the nearly 139-minute war epic has become one of the most-watched movies on streaming.
Andrew Garfield Delivers a Career-Defining Performance
Hacksaw Ridge stars Andrew Garfield as Desmond Doss, a combat medic whose remarkable true story became the foundation for the film.
A Seventh-day Adventist, Doss enlisted in the U.S. Army but refused to carry or use a weapon because of his religious beliefs. His stance made him a conscientious objector and placed him at odds with the military establishment.
Doss’s refusal to carry a rifle eventually led to him facing a court-martial. However, he was ultimately permitted to serve as a combat medic without carrying a weapon.
His greatest test came during the Battle of Okinawa.
As Japanese forces launched a fierce counterattack, American troops were forced to retreat, leaving wounded soldiers behind on the battlefield. Doss refused to abandon his fellow servicemen.
Instead, he repeatedly returned to the battlefield under enemy fire, carrying wounded soldiers to safety in an extraordinary display of courage and determination.
Garfield brings both emotional depth and humanity to the role, portraying Doss as an idealistic young man whose faith and belief in nonviolence never wavered, even under unimaginable circumstances.
As the danger intensifies, Garfield captures his character’s fear, exhaustion and courage, delivering a performance that became one of the most memorable of his career.
His work earned him a nomination for Best Actor at the 2017 Academy Awards.
An Acclaimed Film With Award-Winning Success
Garfield was not the only member of the Hacksaw Ridge team recognized by the Academy.
The film also received nominations for Best Director and Best Picture. It ultimately won two Oscars: Best Film Editing and Best Sound Mixing.
Released in November 2016, Hacksaw Ridge was also a commercial success, earning more than $180 million worldwide against a production budget of $40 million.
The film received strong reactions from both critics and audiences. It holds an 84% critics score and a 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
While some viewers found its graphic depictions of war difficult to watch, Gibson’s direction — particularly during the film’s intense battle sequences — and Garfield’s performance helped make it a standout among modern war dramas.
A Streaming Resurgence 10 Years Later
A decade after its original release, Hacksaw Ridge is once again attracting a major audience.
The latest streaming charts show the war epic sitting at No. 2 on Peacock’s list of the 10 most-watched movies in the United States.
Its resurgence has placed it ahead of popular titles including The Grinch, The Secret Life of Pets, The Secret Life of Pets 2 and Madagascar.
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Ten years after telling the remarkable story of a man who went into one of history’s bloodiest battles without carrying a weapon, Hacksaw Ridge is proving that its emotional power and extraordinary true story have lost none of their impact.