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A “forgotten” film about the Vietnam War is hailed as more realistic than Full Metal Jacket and Platoon. Hamburger Hill (1987) is set during the battle of the same name, and follows a May 1969 assault by the US Army’s 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry, 101st Airborne.
The fighting focuses on Hill 937, a ridge of the Dong Ap Bia mountain in central Vietnam, which was at the centre of a brutal 10-day battle between American forces and the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN). The film was directed by John Irvin and stars Michael Boatman, Dylan McDermott, Courtney B. Vance, Steven Weber and Tim Quill.
It was features an early breakout role for future Hollywood superstar Don Cheadle.
One fan who reviewed the film on Letterboxd said they “always saw Hamburger Hill as a bit of a forgotten Vietnam film”, but it’s “easily one of the strongest” movies about the conflict, and “one that distinguishes itself with its uncompromising approach from a director who would rarely come close to bettering it”.
Fans took to Rotten Tomatoes to shower the movie with praise, with one saying: “Loved it, fantastic, can’t believe I’d never seen it before,” adding that it is “better than Platoon (1986) which is widely regarded as one of the best war films ever.
A second said it’s “highly recommended” but warned “you need a strong stomach to see it”.
A third said: “Dang. Perfect 100. I think this is a lesser-known one in the genre, but a worthy watch.”
A fourth said: “Sure-handed director John Irvin skillfully balances the mile-a-minute action with the deep-rooted dialogue amongst its complex characters, who by the way are wonderfully rendered by their actors…almost on par with ‘Apocalypse Now.'”
The film has a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes’s Tomatometer, which reflects the percentage of approved critics who have given it a positive scores, albeit from just 12 reviews. It also has a 73% score among general audiences.
A fan on IMDb, where it has a 6.7/10 score said its “often overlooked amongst the more well known Vietnam films to be released in the late eighties”, like Platoon and Full Metal Jacket.
“This is a shame as it is an excellent film and seemed the most realistic of the three films,” they added.
The film is rated 18 and features contains strong bloody violence and horror, so it may not be for everyone.
Hamburger Hill is available is streaming free on Plex with ads. You can also watch it on Amazon Prime with a Lionsgate+ subscription. It can also be rented or bought on Amazon Prime, as well as Apple TV, and Sky Store.
