Hacksaw Ridge

Hacksaw Ridge
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMel Gibson
Screenplay by
Based onThe Conscientious Objector
by Terry Benedict
Produced by
Starring
CinematographySimon Duggan
Edited byJohn Gilbert
Music byRupert Gregson-Williams
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • September 4, 2016 (2016-09-04) (Venice)
  • November 3, 2016 (2016-11-03) (Australia)
  • November 4, 2016 (2016-11-04) (United States)
Running time
139 minutes
Countries
  • United States
  • Australia
LanguageEnglish
Budget$40 million
Box office$180.5 million

Hacksaw Ridge is a 2016 epic biographical war film directed by Mel Gibson and written by Andrew Knight and Robert Schenkkan, based on the 2004 documentary The Conscientious Objector directed by Terry Benedict. Set in World War II, Andrew Garfield stars as Desmond Doss, an American combat medic who, as a Seventh-day Adventist, refused to use a weapon of any kind. Doss became the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor, for his service during the Battle of Okinawa. The supporting cast includes Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths, and Vince Vaughn. Filming took place in Australia from September to December 2015.

Following its premiere at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2016, Hacksaw Ridge was released in the United States on November 4. It grossed $180.5 million worldwide, and received critical acclaim, with Gibson's direction and Garfield's performance earning particular praise. It was widely viewed as a return to form for Gibson, whose career had been in decline following several controversies. Hacksaw Ridge was chosen by the National Board of Review and American Film Institute as one of their top ten films of 2016 respectively, and received numerous awards and nominations. At the 89th Academy Awards, the film received six nominations, including Best Picture, winning for Best Sound Mixing and Best Film Editing. It also received three Golden Globe nominations and twelve nominations at the Australian Academy Awards, winning nine of them including Best Film.