Breathable and microporous thin thermoplastic film

A method of making a thermoplastic film product is provided, comprising

• extruding a molten web comprising a thermoplastic polymer from an extruder onto a first chill roller, said first chill roller operating at a peripheral velocity V1 and at a temperature T1, wherein the temperature T1 is from about 80° C. to about 160° C., which is below the melting point of the thermoplastic polymer and which cools said molten web to form a film;
• advancing the film to a first stretching roller which operates at a peripheral velocity V2 which is greater than the peripheral velocity V1, and at a temperature T2;
• advancing the film to a first machine direction orientation section comprising at least one heated roller having a temperature T3 and a second stretching roller;
• and
• stretching the film in the first machine direction orientation section in the machine direction to produce a film having limited machine direction orientation and a ratio of the MD load at break to a CD load at break of less than about 10,
• wherein the first chill roller and the first stretching roller are separated by a distance, wherein the distance is at least about 7.5 cm.