Methods of enhancing one or more physical properties of a thermoplastic film include incrementally stretching thermoplastic films in the machine direction and/or transverse direction. In one or more implementations, methods of incrementally stretching thermoplastic films include reducing the gauge of the films while maintaining or increasing a ratio of the machine direction to transverse direction resistance to tear. The methods can involve cold stretching the films and imparting rib patterns into the film. The linear ribs can have alternating thick and thin gauges.