Hacksaw Ridge

Hacksaw Ridge has built a devoted audience in Australia on Stan, and in the US on Netflix and Paramount Plus Premium among viewers who want their drama to earn its emotional beats. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it for Andrew Garfield — one of the stronger performances out there right now. Available now on Stan — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Hacksaw Ridge is worth clearing space for. Character-driven storytelling at its most effective — Hacksaw Ridge earns every emotional beat it goes for. WWII American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first Conscientious Objector in American history to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. The performances from Andrew Garfield and Sam Worthington give it more weight than the premise alone would suggest. It hit screens in 2016. Hacksaw Ridge resists tidy resolutions in a way that respects how messy real consequences actually are. The consistency throughout is what elevates it — not every moment is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

Hacksaw Ridge is what you recommend to people who say they do not really watch much. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Andrew Garfield anchors a cast that never overplays its hand. The kind of drama that stays with you well after the finale.