Breakthrough (1979): cast, story & where to watch
1979 · Film · ★ 6.2
Released in 1979, Breakthrough is a drama, war and history film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, running about 111 minutes. “Burton...Mitchum...Steiger...Enemies...Yet Allies In Combat With Destiny!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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.
Who’s in it. Breakthrough stars Richard Burton as Sergeant Steiner, Rod Steiger as General Webster, Helmut Griem as Major Stransky and Klaus Löwitsch as Krüger, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.2/10, Breakthrough has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Cultpix. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Breakthrough page.
If you liked it. Fans of Breakthrough tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Breakthrough (1979)?
- In US, Breakthrough is available to stream on Cultpix. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Breakthrough worth watching?
- Breakthrough holds an audience score of 6.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, war and history. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Breakthrough?
- Breakthrough stars Richard Burton, Rod Steiger, Helmut Griem, Klaus Löwitsch and Michael Parks.
- When was Breakthrough released?
- Breakthrough was released in 1979, with a runtime of about 111 minutes.