‘Braveheart’: Mel Gibson’s Groundbreaking War Movie Turns 30

Is ‘Braveheart’ historically accurate? Gibson’s focus was on valor, integrity, and freedom, but 30 years ago his groundbreaking ‘Braveheart’ made history.

(L–R) Hamish (Brendan Gleeson), William Wallace (Mel Gibson), and Stephen the Irishman (David O’Hara), in "Braveheart." Paramount Pictures

R | 2h 58m| Biopic, Drama, History | 1995

Prior to his 2006 run-in with the cops and subsequent Hollywood fall from grace that saw him blacklisted, Mel Gibson had transitioned, à la Clint Eastwood and Robert Redford before him, from hunky, mega-movie star to a now-you-really-really-have-to-take-him-seriously, iconic filmmaker. The zenith of that trajectory (with Gibson doing triple-threat duty as producer-director-star) was the epic, almost-three-hour-long “Braveheart.” Thirty years ago on May 19, it hit theaters with true blockbuster impact.

And So It Begins...