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Breakthrough

1979Movie1 h 33 min

DramaHistory
54
MediocreGoodWatch score
IMDb5.0

A brutally violent, relentlessly bleak drama movie about history and war, with standout world-building and sound design.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

Skip it if you want something to laugh at · you need an uplifting mood · graphic violence bothers you · you want something quiet and calm

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Not for warmth, laughs or comfort.

Movies with

Story

Burton...Mitchum...Steiger...Enemies...Yet Allies In Combat With Destiny!

Starting in late May 1944, during the German retreat on the Eastern Front, Captain Stransky (Helmut Griem) orders Sergeant Steiner (Richard Burton) to blow up a railway tunnel to prevent Russian forces from using it. Steiner's platoon fails in its mission by coming up against a Russian tank. Steiner then takes a furlough to Paris just as the Allies launch their invasion of Normandy.

Feels like

  • WWII Drama
  • Eastern Front Conflict
  • Gritty War Film
  • Military Action
  • Survival Thriller
  • Historical Realism
  • Intense Performances
  • Bleak & Unflinching
  • Anti-War Commentary

Cast

17 of 17

Crew

Directed by
Andrew V. McLaglen
Written by
Peter Berneis, Tony Williamson
Produced by
Wolf C. Hartwig, Hubert Lukowski
Music by
Peter Thomas

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

March 1, 1979 · 1 h 33 min · Violence, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery

Released
March 1, 1979
Runtime
1 h 33 min
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Drama, History, War
Original language
German
Also spoken
English, French, Russian
Made in
Germany
Available in
110 countries

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Breakthrough?"

Questions about Breakthrough

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Breakthrough?

Cultpix

In the United States, Breakthrough streams on Cultpix. It also streams in 108 other countries.

Is Breakthrough worth watching?

54
MediocreGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 54 (IMDb 5).

Is Breakthrough a sequel?

  1. Cross of Iron (1977)
  2. Breakthrough (1979)

Yes: it's movie 2 of 2 in its series, after Cross of Iron (1977).

Will I feel good after watching Breakthrough?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for bleakness and 6 for melancholy, against 1 for hopefulness.

Is Breakthrough in English?

GermanEnglishFrenchRussian

No, it was made in German, with some English, French, and Russian.