An inspiring true-story war drama with a powerful central performance and a genuinely extraordinary life story, but the film is often criticized for flattening that material into a heavy, repetitive, and overly broad inspirational package.
46% ★★☆☆☆ (383,580)
Unbroken
Where to watch: Netflix
Movie · Drama · War · PG-13
2014 · 2h 17m · ★ 46% (383.6K)
Survival Resilience Redemption
Director: Angelina Jolie
Starring: Jack O'Connell, Alex Russell, Domhnall Gleeson
Overview
A chronicle of the life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner who was taken prisoner by Japanese forces during World War II.
Director
Angelina Jolie
Production
Legendary Pictures, Jolie Pas, 3 Arts Entertainment
Cast
Jack O'Connell, Alex Russell, Domhnall Gleeson, Garrett Hedlund, MIYAVI, Finn Wittrock, Jai Courtney, Maddalena Ischiale, Vincenzo Amato, Sophie Dalah, Morgan Griffin, Savannah Lamble, Luke Treadaway, John Magaro, Louis McIntosh, Ross Anderson, C.J. Valleroy, John D'Leo, Jordan Patrick Smith, Spencer Rocco Lofranco
Where to watch
Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
An inspiring true-story war drama with a powerful central performance and a genuinely extraordinary life story, but the film is often criticized for flattening that material into a heavy, repetitive, and overly broad inspirational package.
Best for
Viewers who like true-life survival stories
Fans of WWII dramas with endurance and captivity themes
Audiences looking for a straightforward, inspirational prestige drama
People who respond to physical transformation and performance-driven storytelling
Skip if
You want a nuanced or formally adventurous war film
You are sensitive to prolonged suffering and punishment-on-repeat storytelling
You prefer lean, emotionally varied biographical dramas
You want a film that fully matches the complexity of its real-life subject
Overview
Unbroken has the kind of life story that can carry a movie on its own: Olympic promise, wartime survival, captivity, and the long shadow of trauma. The film’s appeal is obvious, and Jack O’Connell gives it a raw, committed center that keeps the ordeal watchable even when the script turns schematic.
Worth noting
What holds it back is the feeling that the movie is trying to honor every chapter of Zamperini’s life without finding a single, distinctive dramatic shape. The result is earnest but blunt, with a relentless tone that can make the experience feel more punishing than illuminating.
Bottom line
If you want a sturdy, conventional war biopic about resilience and faith under pressure, it delivers enough to recommend. If you’re hoping for something more layered, surprising, or emotionally textured, this is more admirable than essential.
Top Letterboxd reviews
russman (2★) · 915 likes
I want to see Louis Zamperini and Forrest Gump race
matt lynch (3★) · 820 likes
Seriously, dude totally doesn't break.
isagatt (3★) · 800 likes
the bird was soooo gay for louise cmon now
carolina (3.5★) · 685 likes
the title is kind of a spoiler cuz the dude went through so much shit you might think "that's it, they'll break the dude" but then you remember the title
lauraud (3★) · 607 likes
Although the movie itself isn't really anything special (which is a shame considering the story itself is). Having said that... Jack O'Connell. is. a. superstar.