Vacuum‐deposited thin films of B, C, Mg, Al, Si, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, Zr, Mo, Ag, In, Sn, Sb, Pt, Au, Pb, and Bi in several thicknesses, confined between glass substrates, were irradiated by a uniformQ‐switched ruby laser beam. The laser pulse was 15 ns in duration, with a maximum energy of 5 J in an area 6.35 mm in diameter. The stress waves were studied using the piezoelectric response of X‐cut quartz‐crystal disks of the same diameter. The peak stresses are presented as a function of the energy fluence, with possible interpretations of the phenomenon.