Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- bleak
- grim
- historical war film night
- classic cinema viewing
What critics said
Critics saw an ambitious wartime betrayal drama weakened by erratic performances, an uneven script, and disappointing execution despite its strong cast and large-scale premise.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Steiner resists abusive officers while being drawn into General Hofmann's plan to end the war through surrender and an attempt to remove Hitler.
Steiner is forced to serve under Major Von Stransky, his longstanding enemy, during the Normandy crisis.
The failed assassination conspiracy and threatened surrender place the characters inside Germany's final wartime breakdown.
The Russian Front and Normandy settings frame the story with troops, military operations, and wartime spectacle.
Films like Breakthrough, and why
Cross of Iron
shared world war ii setting, military drama, and conflict between a battle-hardened sergeant and rigid command authority
The Eagle Has Landed
shared wartime betrayal, anti-Nazi conspiracy, and tense negotiations amid collapsing German military power
The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel
shared historical war drama, German military protagonists, and moral conflict within a doomed regime
Movie Details
- Director
- Andrew V. McLaglen
- Release Date
- 1979-03-01
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (37)
Cast
- Richard Burton
- Rod Steiger
- Robert Mitchum
- Véronique Vendell
- Werner Pochath
- Klaus Löwitsch
- Michael Parks
- Helmut Griem
- Curd Jürgens
- Horst Janson
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Cultpix
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Breakthrough about?
- A battle-weary German sergeant is trapped between a hated commander and a desperate conspiracy to surrender as the Nazi war machine collapses in 1944.
- What is Breakthrough like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Breakthrough as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Breakthrough violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Breakthrough as moderate.
- What did critics think of Breakthrough?
- Critics saw an ambitious wartime betrayal drama weakened by erratic performances, an uneven script, and disappointing execution despite its strong cast and large-scale premise.
- Which films are like Breakthrough?
- Films with a similar feel include Cross of Iron, The Eagle Has Landed, and The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel.
- How long is Breakthrough?
- Breakthrough runs 93 minutes.
- Where can I watch Breakthrough?
- In United States, Breakthrough streams on Cultpix.
