Top 70 Best War Movies To Watch

Set against the backdrop of World War II, Casablanca is a classic romantic drama adapted from the stage play Everybody Comes to Rick's. The screenplay was crafted by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison, bringing their gripping narrative to life on screen.

The story revolves around a poignant love triangle. Rick, an American club owner, finds himself torn between his deep affection for Ilsa Lund—an idealistic woman—and her husband Laszlo, a dedicated member of the Czech resistance movement.

Set in Vichy-controlled Casablanca, the film delivers some of cinema’s most memorable lines, including "Round up the usual suspects" and "Here's looking at you, kid." These dialogues have become legendary in film history.

Casablanca achieved remarkable success upon its release, ultimately winning the Academy Award for Best Picture and remaining a beloved classic for generations of movie lovers.

Schindler’s List stands as one of the most powerful and moving films set in Nazi Germany during World War II.

Based on Thomas Keneally’s 1982 historical novel Schindler's Ark, the movie tells the remarkable true story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman.

Initially driven by profit, Schindler runs a factory during wartime but undergoes a profound transformation after witnessing the suffering of the Jews.

Risking everything, he employs and secretly saves as many Jews from concentration camps as possible.

The film was honored with twelve Academy Award nominations and won seven, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score.

Oskar Schindler holds the unique distinction of being the only German buried on Mount Zion in Israel, a lasting tribute to his courage and humanity.

"Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" is a masterful black comedy that satirizes the intense Cold War rivalry between the USA and the USSR.

The film captures the ever-present fear and tension of the era, highlighting the dangers of two superpowers armed with nuclear weapons, always on the brink of devastation.

Notably, Peter Sellers delivers an extraordinary performance, portraying three distinct characters: RAF exchange officer Mandrake, US President Muffley, and the eccentric ex-Nazi nuclear expert, Dr. Strangelove.

Praised for its sharp wit and incisive humor, the film is celebrated as a brilliant satire of Cold War anxieties that remains as impactful today as when it premiered in 1964.

Recognized for its cultural and historical significance, "Dr. Strangelove" was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

Lawrence of Arabia is a sweeping historical war epic set during World War I. The film follows British officer T.E. Lawrence, who is dispatched to Arabia to serve as a liaison between the British Empire and the Arab tribes in their struggle against the Ottoman Turks.

Utilizing his deep understanding of Bedouin culture and with the support of his ally, Sheikh Ali, Lawrence orchestrates a daring revolt against the Turkish stronghold.

Inspired by T.E. Lawrence's autobiographical work, "Seven Pillars of Wisdom," this cinematic masterpiece received critical acclaim, earning 10 Academy Award nominations and winning 7, including Best Picture.

The film also triumphed at the Golden Globes and BAFTA Awards, further cementing its status as a classic.

Additionally, Lawrence of Arabia has been honored with induction into the National Film Registry, recognizing its enduring cultural significance.

"Army of Shadows" is based on the 1943 novel by Joseph Kessel, capturing the tense, perilous world of the French Resistance during World War II.

The film closely follows a group of resistance members as they help the Allied forces, eliminate informers, and risk their lives to deliver messages—all while evading arrest and execution at every turn.

Distinguished by its stark and realistic portrayal, "Army of Shadows" rejects any romanticized heroism, instead presenting the grueling reality faced by the resistance fighters.

Upon its initial release, the film struggled to find an audience and was largely overlooked.

Controversy surrounded the movie following the events of May 1968, as critics claimed it glorified Charles de Gaulle; this led to boycotts and even bans in the United States and other countries.

However, decades later, "Army of Shadows" was reappraised—most notably by the French publication Cahiers du Cinéma—which praised its detailed and authentic depiction of the inner workings of the resistance.

The film's initial lack of recognition stemmed from the politically charged atmosphere, in which both De Gaulle and his wartime efforts were widely criticized, impacting its box office performance.

"Apocalypse Now" is a highly acclaimed Vietnam War film, written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Famed for its bold storytelling and immersive visuals, the movie stands as one of the defining portrayals of war in cinema.

Loosely inspired by Joseph Conrad's novel "Heart of Darkness," the film delves into psychological drama as Marlon Brando delivers a haunting performance as a renegade U.S. Army Special Forces officer gone rogue in the shadowy jungles of Vietnam.

His character commands his own militia, instilling fear in both the U.S. Army and the Viet Cong alike. The movie also features Laurence Fishburne as an energetic rookie recruit, who was just 14 years old during filming, having lied about his age to land the role.

In a famous scene, Martin Sheen impassionedly smashes a mirror during a drunken episode, cutting his hand. This intense, unscripted moment was kept in the film at Sheen's insistence, further contributing to the raw realism of "Apocalypse Now."

"Ran" is a Japanese epic war drama directed by the legendary Akira Kurosawa and inspired by Shakespeare’s "King Lear." This cinematic masterpiece is renowned for its breathtaking visuals and powerful storytelling.

The story follows Hidetora Ichimonji, an aging warlord who abdicates his throne and divides his kingdom among his three sons. The characters are modeled on historical figures, particularly daimyo Mori Motonari, adding a layer of authenticity to the narrative.

Upon its initial release, "Ran" achieved moderate commercial success, earning approximately 2.2 million yen across Japan and France.

The following year, it found an audience in the United States, where it grossed an additional $2 to $3 million.

With multiple re-releases over the years, the film has accumulated worldwide earnings of up to $19.32 million, solidifying its legacy as a pivotal work in international cinema.

The Best Years Of Our Lives is a renowned American war film that follows the emotional journeys of three soldiers as they return home after World War II.

Each serviceman struggles to readjust to civilian life and reconnect with family and society, highlighting the often unseen challenges veterans face after conflict. This deeply moving story resonated with audiences and critics alike, becoming a major critical and commercial success.

The film won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor, as well as honors for film editing and more.

It was the most successful release since Gone With The Wind, and in the UK, it set records with over 20 million tickets sold, making it the country’s most-watched film at the time.

"Saving Private Ryan" is a critically acclaimed World War II drama that follows the gripping story of a mother who loses three of her sons in quick succession to the war effort. The heartbreak of her loss reaches the U.S. government, prompting a compassionate mission to save her last surviving son.

The film centers on Captain John H. Miller and a courageous team of eight soldiers entrusted with locating Private James Ryan, who recently fought in the Battle of Normandy, and bringing him home safely to his grieving family.

To add realism to the film, director Steven Spielberg was determined to cast an unknown actor as Private Ryan. Ironically, Matt Damon, who ultimately got the role, won an Academy Award for "Good Will Hunting" the very same year the film was released.

"All Quiet on the Western Front" was the first film ever to win Academy Awards for both Outstanding Production and Best Director, setting a new standard for cinematic excellence.

It also holds the distinction of being the first Best Picture winner adapted from a novel, specifically the acclaimed work by Erich Maria Remarque.

Set against the backdrop of World War I, this powerful anti-war film delivers a poignant message about the futility and devastation of conflict.

The film faced significant opposition in Germany, where Joseph Goebbels and his brownshirts attempted to disrupt screenings, leading to its condemnation by Hitler and the Nazi party.

Despite the controversy, "All Quiet on the Western Front" received widespread critical acclaim. Variety magazine famously stated, "The League of Nations could make no better investment than to buy up the master print, reproduce it in every language, to be shown in all the nations until the word 'war' is taken out of the dictionaries."

"Paths of Glory" is an adaptation of Humphrey Cobb's acclaimed novel of the same name. The film is renowned for its powerful anti-war message and its exploration of the moral challenges faced during times of conflict.

The story follows French Commanding Officer Dax, who hesitates to lead his regiment on a dangerous, seemingly pointless mission during World War I. Despite his objections, Dax is ultimately compelled to send his men into a deadly attack.

When the mission fails, several soldiers are unjustly court-martialed for cowardice. The film exposes the destructive consequences of pride and ambition among military leaders, showing how their decisions cost the lives of innocent soldiers.

Due to its critical perspective, the film was banned in several countries, including France, Switzerland, Spain, and Germany. Even the US military chose not to screen it at some of its bases.

"Waltz With Bashir" is a groundbreaking animated war film that follows a soldier struggling with amnesia. After reuniting with fellow veterans, he begins to unravel the fragments of his lost memories, seeking to make sense of his past experiences.

Set during the 1982 Lebanese War, the story delves into the protagonist’s youth as a teenage soldier in the IDF. The traumatic events he witnessed lead to deep guilt, causing him to repress painful memories and suffer amnesia.

Critically acclaimed for its originality and innovative animation, "Waltz With Bashir" is widely regarded as an essential history lesson. It skillfully delivers powerful insights about the Middle East in a haunting and visually hypnotic manner.

The Hurt Locker is a gripping war drama that centers on an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team stationed in Iraq. The film immerses viewers in the tense and dangerous world of soldiers tasked with disarming bombs on the frontlines of conflict.

Each day, the team faces the life-threatening challenge of disabling IEDs, suicide bombs, and other explosive devices. The relentless danger and unpredictable environment keep them in a state of constant alert.

The immense stress and ever-present risk begin to affect the team's relationships and mental well-being. Despite these hardships, the soldiers are pushed to perform at their best under intense pressure.

The Hurt Locker received universal acclaim for its intense direction, Jeremy Renner’s standout performance, and superior filmmaking. It was nominated for nine Academy Awards and won six, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.

Notably, The Hurt Locker made history as the first film directed by a woman, Kathryn Bigelow, to win the Oscar for Best Picture.

Das Boot is a powerful German war film, aptly titled "The Boat" in English. Adapted from Lothar-Günther Buchheim's acclaimed novel, the film authentically captures the harrowing experiences of a German U-boat crew during World War II.

The narrative centers on the crew of U-96 as they navigate treacherous waters in the Atlantic Ocean during the intense Battle of the Atlantic. The story immerses viewers in the relentless tension, close calls, and the everyday challenges faced by submariners.

Renowned for its gripping suspense, "Das Boot" masterfully balances moments of danger with the monotony of life aboard a submarine. The film expertly portrays both the excitement and anxiety of underwater warfare.

Produced with a hefty budget of 32 million Deutsche Mark, it became the most expensive German film of its time. Its riveting storytelling led to massive commercial and critical success, fully recouping its investment.

"Das Boot" received six Academy Award nominations, including a win for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for Wolfgang Petersen, cementing its place among the greatest war films ever made.

"The Pianist" is a moving biographical film that recounts the incredible true story of Polish-Jewish pianist and composer Władysław Szpilman. During World War II, Szpilman endures unimaginable hardships as he survives the Holocaust and later documents his journey in a powerful memoir.

The film earned wide acclaim both critically and commercially, receiving numerous top honors. It won Academy Awards for Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay, cementing its reputation as a modern classic.

Although nominated for Best Picture, "The Pianist" ultimately lost to "Chicago." Notably, Adrian Brody's portrayal of Szpilman made him the youngest recipient of the Best Actor Oscar at just 29 years old.

Brody also became only the second American to ever win the prestigious César Award for his performance in this film, underscoring its international impact.

Set during World War II, "Dunkirk" focuses on the dramatic evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk, where troops from Belgium, France, and the British Empire are surrounded by German forces and must fight for survival as they await rescue.

The intensity and realism of the battle scenes are heightened by the film's immersive storytelling. Notably, actual veterans of Dunkirk attended the premiere and commended the movie for its authentic and respectful depiction of their harrowing experience.

Critics universally praised the film, highlighting its gripping screenplay, masterful direction, evocative musical score, powerful sound design, and striking cinematography.

"Dunkirk" earned eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. It ultimately secured three Oscars for Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Film Editing.

Inspired by Pierre Boulle's 1952 novel, "The Bridge on the River Kwai" is a monumental war drama set against the backdrop of a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp during World War II.

The story follows Allied POWs who are forced to construct a strategic bridge over the River Kwai to support the Burma railway, a task that tests their resilience and spirit.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, it became the highest-grossing movie of its release year and garnered critical acclaim for its storytelling and performances.

The film earned a remarkable 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and has been inducted into the National Film Registry for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.

An intriguing detail is that the film's screenwriters were blacklisted by Hollywood at the time, preventing them from receiving official credit for their work.

Despite winning the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, the true writers could not be publicly acknowledged, adding a layer of history to this cinematic classic.

Set during World War II, "The Great Escape" unfolds in the notorious Stalag Luft III prisoner of war camp, where a large group of Allied soldiers are held captive.

Despite their diverse nationalities and military backgrounds, these prisoners unite with a single purpose—to plot a daring mass escape from the camp.

The film is adapted from Paul Brickhill's novel of the same name, drawing inspiration from real-life events and personal accounts.

Featuring an impressive ensemble cast, the movie stars legends like Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, James Donald, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence, and James Coburn.

While the film achieved tremendous box office success and became an enduring classic, it surprisingly received few awards or nominations upon its release.

"Platoon," part of Oliver Stone's renowned Vietnam War trilogy, was both written and directed by Stone, drawing heavily from his own firsthand experiences in Vietnam.

The film centers on a platoon sergeant, his squad leaders, and the intense moral and psychological conflicts they endure regarding the necessity and impact of war.

Praised for its powerful direction, gripping screenplay, authentic cinematography, exceptional acting, and realistic battle sequences, "Platoon" earned widespread critical acclaim.

It received eight Academy Award nominations, ultimately winning four: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Sound, and Best Film Editing.

Stone intentionally cast Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe in roles that challenged their typical screen personas, adding depth to the film's emotional impact.

Interestingly, Stone originally wished to cast Jim Morrison, the lead singer of The Doors, as Chris—the role eventually portrayed by Charlie Sheen.

"Son of Saul" marks the powerful directorial debut of Hungarian filmmaker László Nemes. The film follows a Jewish-Hungarian man assigned the harrowing task of disposing of bodies from the gas chambers at Auschwitz during the Holocaust.

This story delivers an unflinching look at life in the concentration camp, capturing the horrors and emotional toll endured by prisoners. Daily mass executions and brutal experiments—such as those on children and twins by Josef Mengele—underscore the grim reality of Auschwitz.

Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, "Son of Saul" earned the prestigious Grand Prix. Its critical acclaim continued at the Toronto Film Festival, where it was awarded Best Foreign Language Film of the year.

Zero Dark Thirty is a fictionalized account of the infamous manhunt for Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden.

The decade-long search for the dreaded terrorist Osama Bin Laden has ended, and CIA operatives have to plan out a strike team to take him down.

The film follows the Navy SEAL team 6 that carries out the strike and comes out victorious.

One must remember that this is a fictional account of the strike. The film was met with overwhelming critical applause and box office success.

The film was nominated for 5 Academy Awards and took home one. It also won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama for Jessica Chastain.

Letters from Iwo Jima is a 2006 Japanese-language American war film directed and co-produced by Clint Eastwood. The film portrays the Battle of Iwo Jima from the perspective of the Japanese soldiers and is a companion piece to Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers, which depicts the same battle from the American viewpoint.

The film follows General Tadamichi Kuribayashi, the commander of the Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, as he prepares for the inevitable American invasion. Kuribayashi is a brilliant and compassionate leader who is determined to defend his island to the last man. 

He knows that the Japanese are outnumbered and outgunned, but he believes that they can win a moral victory by inflicting heavy casualties on the Americans. 

Letters from Iwo Jima is a powerful and moving film that humanizes the Japanese soldiers who fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima. It is a must-see for anyone interested in the history of World War II or the human cost of war.
 

Last Days In Vietnam is a documentary film on the last few weeks spent by the US troops in Vietnam.

It consists of interviews and personal accounts from diplomats, armed forces personnel, and senators who served during that time.

As the North Vietnamese army advances over to South Vietnam, there is a mad rush by the US diplomats and embassy officials to vacate the country.

As per government orders, they are to evacuate only US citizens, but they are stuck in a moral dilemma to leave the South Vietnamese at the mercy of the enemy.

The film was critically praised and received a nomination for Best Documentary from Academy Awards and Writer's Guild Association.

The film marks the directorial debut of Kenneth Brannagh. He acted, directed, and wrote the screenplay for Henry V.

It is an adaptation of the famous Shakespearean novel Henry V. The film garnered universal critical acclaim for Brannagh and the original score by Patrick Doyle.

The film won an Oscar for Best Costume Design and was nominated for Best Actor and Best Director.

Henry V is listed as the greatest adaptation of Shakespeare's works, beating Ran by Akira Kurosawa.

The film grossed over $ 10 million in the US markets and made an additional 652 pounds in the UK markets.

Restrepo is an American war documentary that gives us a glimpse into the daily work and life of the soldiers during the Afghanistan war.

The directors, Junger and Hetherington, were attached to an army platoon and traveled on the mission with the platoon recording their day.

The film was named Restrepo after the Army medic attached to this platoon, by the name of Juan Sebastien Restrepo.

He died during the mission, and the movie is a homage to him. Sadly, one of the directors, Hetherington, also died while covering another conflict zone after making this movie.

The film was nominated for Best Documentary at the Academy Awards. It won the Grand Jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival of that year.

The film is about the Bosnia-Herzegovina conflict. This Bosnian film tells about two soldiers from the Bosnian army, and the Serbian army gets separated from their camp and ends up in no man’s land along with a third person.

This film brings the reality of today's humanitarian collaboration which is nothing more than to keep the public calm, beautifully portrayed by this movie.

It won the Best Foreign Film category at the Academy Awards. Apart from the Academy Award, the film won other accolades at the Golden Globe, Cannes Film festival, American Film Institute Award, Cesar Awards, and more.

Patton depicts the life of the famous US army general George S Patton who headed the Tank division throughout World War II.

The film gives a complete account of his heroics and shortcomings that formed roadblocks in his career growth.

The film won seven Academy Awards, including best picture, best director, best screenplay, best actor, and more.

The movie was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. The ivory-handled revolvers George C. Scott wears in the opening speech were George S. Patton's real-life revolvers.

Stalag 17 is a tale of a prison escape during World War II. In a prisoner of war camp in the Nazi territory along the Danube.

The prison holds Poles, Czechs, Russian women, and American soldiers. Anyone who tries to escape the camp is immediately killed by the Germans.

So the prisoners realize that there is a snitch among them. They all automatically suspect one American who keeps wheeling and dealing with the Germans.

Who turns out to be the actual snitch and how they manage to flush him out make up the plot of the film.

One of the reviews for the films said, Thanks to the brilliant handling of the subject matter by producer-director Billy Wilder, and to the fine acting of the entire cast, the picture has been fashioned into a first-rate entertainment

City of Life and Death (2009) is a Chinese historical drama film directed by Lu Chuan. It depicts the Nanjing Massacre, a war crime committed by the Imperial Japanese Army against Chinese civilians and prisoners of war during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

The film tells the story of two parallel narratives: the first follows a group of Chinese civilians who take refuge in a safety zone established by Western missionaries, while the second follows a group of Japanese soldiers who are tasked with carrying out the massacre.

The film is notable for its unflinching and graphic depiction of the atrocities committed by the Japanese army. It also explores the complex human dynamics of war, showing how ordinary people on both sides of the conflict are capable of both great good and great evil.
 

The Downfall is a dark war movie about the final days of the Third Reich.

It is a German historical movie based on the accounts of Traudl Junge and Joachim Fest.

It explores the dark times when Hitler is bunkered in Berlin and oscillates between optimistic and suicidal thoughts.

His chief generals like Himmler and Goring have deserted him. Goebbels and his family staunchly stand by him, along with Eva Braun.

The film was nominated for Best Foreign Language film at the Academy Awards and has inspired numerous internet memes.

The most famous rant of Hitler in his war room in the bunker is one of them.

The Deer Hunter is a hard-hitting story about the impact of the Vietnam war on not just the soldiers who returned but also their families and communities.

The film follows the experiences of 3 close friends, Mike, Nick, and Steven, as they fight and struggle to return to normalcy.

The film was highly praised and brought critical acclaim to the cast. It was nominated for 9 Academy Awards and won 5 awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Sound, and Best Film editing.

The film also sported controversy for its depiction of Russian Roulette as one of the torture techniques.

In one scene, Walken was convinced by the director to spit on De Niro. When the actor went through with the scene, it upset De Niro, who walked off the set.

Glory is a historical war drama about the American Civil War. The union army creates its first all-black regiment and Col.

Shaw has been placed in charge of this regiment. He volunteers for this role and faces backlash from his officer peers and the enemy alike.

The movie offers heavyweight performances from big names like Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Matthew Broderick, and more.

The movie is inspired by Lay This Laurel by Lincoln Kirstein and One Gallant Rush by Peter Burchard.

The film won 3 Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for Denzel Washington. In the same year, it also won at the BAFTAs and the Golden Globe function.

Full Metal Jacket derives its name from the full metal jacket bullet used by military men in Vietnam.

The film is based on a Marine Corps platoon from their days in boot camp to their journey through the war and returns to the US.

The platoon is sent to Da Nang and Hue in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive.

The team faces trials and horrors and comes out alive, for which they are very grateful.

The film earned an Academy Award for Stanley Kubrick for Best Adapted Screenplay along with Michael Herr and Gustav Hasford.

In 2001, the American Film Institute placed this movie at 95 on the list of AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills.

‘71 is a thriller war drama set during the Belfast riots. The peak of Britain's war against Northern Ireland becomes the backdrop for this thriller.

A British soldier gets separated from his unit at the height of the Troubles. The film received much praise for the acting of Jack O'Connell and the direction by Yann Demange.

The film won the best director award at the British Independent Film Awards. The critics at Rotten Tomatoes reviewed that the film was powerfully directed and acted. '71 stays true to its fact-based origins while remaining as gripping as any solidly crafted action thriller.

Zulu is a British war film about the Battle of Rorke Drift in South Africa.

The film depicts the war between the British army and the Zulu tribe in the Anglo-Zulu war in 1879.

During this war, 150 British soldiers, including the sick and wounded patients, successfully held off a force of 4,000 Zulu warriors.

The film was praised for depicting the Zulu as a disciplined army of warriors and not any disorganized tribal group.

In the film, the Zulus did not sing a song saluting fellow warriors and departed at the approach of the British relief column.

This was also seen as showing the Zulu in a positive light along with the British army.

From Here to Eternity is a film set in the US base at Pearl Harbour.

It follows the life of 3 army men during their stationing. The film is inspired by the novel of the same name, written by James Jones.

The film has a power-packed cast of Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Frank Sinatra, Ernest Borgnine, and more.

The film was a critical success and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

The film earned 13 Academy Award nominations and won 8 awards for top categories like best picture, best director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress.

"1917" is a 2019 British war film directed and produced by Sam Mendes. Set during World War I, the movie follows two British soldiers, Will Schofield and Tom Blake, on a mission to deliver a crucial message to call off an impending attack.

The film received critical acclaim and was a box office success, grossing $384.9 million worldwide. It won three Academy Awards and received numerous other accolades.

The story takes place on April 6, 1917, as the soldiers navigate enemy territory, encounter dangers, and face the harsh realities of war. Schofield's determination drives him to complete the mission despite personal sacrifices, and he ultimately delivers the message, saving lives and fulfilling his duty.

The Wind Rises is an animated film that portrays the life of Jiro Horikoshi, who was the inventor of the Japanese fighter planes used in WWII.

The Wind Rises is a fictionalized biography adapted from Miyazaki’s manga work of the same name.

The film was hugely successful in Japan and won many accolades. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film.

The film is a sad yet uplifting tale of Horikoshi realizing his dream. Yet, he loses his wife, whom he loves, and the war, in which he fought.

The Killing Fields is a film about the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia from the experience of New York Times journalist Sydney Schanberg and his photojournalist friend and interpreter, Dith Pran.

This is a true story about the award-winning journalist who escaped Cambodia with the help of Pran, who was stuck in Cambodia himself.

The film ends on a happy note when Pran is rescued at the Red Cross center on its border with Thailand.

Although it was his first time acting, the actor, Dr. Haing Ngor won an Academy Award for his portrayal.

The film won other Oscars for best film editing and best cinematography.

The Last Of The Mohicans is based on the novel, The Last Of The Mohicans: A Narrative Of 1757, by James Fenimore Cooper.

It depicts the French-Native American war fought in 1757. A native American tribe of Mohicans is living peacefully along with the British colony.

When the daughter of the colonel is kidnapped, the Indian chief and his half-white son set out to rescue them and fight the French at the cost of their tribe.

The film won an Academy Award for Best Sound and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis).

For this movie, Day-Lewis lived in the wilderness hunting and fishing in preparation for the role.

The film is set during the first Lebanese War in 1982. A platoon of Paratroopers with a single tank is sent out to take over a hostile town.

The film chronicles the horrors and mayhem that ensue. The crew members of the tank are stuck in a difficult position and only have themselves to fight against a formidable foe.

Their survival instincts kick in, and things start to get very messy very soon. The critics appreciated the film, but the audience found it disappointing.

Some of the reviews called the film a one-dimensional, disappointing film that had potential but was wasted.

In France, during World War II, a band of American Jewish soldiers decided to carry out their own mission to assassinate Nazi Generals.

They meet a theatre company owner who has similar plans and shares their hatred for Nazis.

The movie was nominated for 8 Academy Awards and took home one award for Best Supporting Actor for Christoph Waltz.

At the time of auditions, Tarantino almost quit the film because he could not find the best actor to play the role of Colonel Hans Landa.

Brad Pitt was so impressed by the role and the director, Quentin Tarantino, that he made a compromise and worked under Harvey Weinstein’s company Miramax.

That was the only time the two men worked together.

Eye In the Sky is a tense thriller about the use of drone warfare to neutralize hostile targets in a friendly nation.

The film takes a look at an international espionage mission into a terrorist organization. The director gives us a glimpse into the costs of war, the chain of command, risk assessment, and personal guilt that a team has to go through to successfully complete a mission.

The film is the last live-action movie of Alan Rickman before he died. It was critically acclaimed for exceptional acting in this cerebral wartime movie and political thriller.

The Imitation Game is the biographical account of the work of legendary code-breaker Alan Turing and his team.

It is a nail-biting race to break the code and get ahead in the war.

For those unaware, Alan Turing and his team cracked the Enigma code used to send cryptic messages during World War 2.

Breaking this Enigma code was essential to know German plans beforehand and saving countless casualties.

Ahead of the US release of The Imitation Game, the New York Times ran the original crossword puzzle that the code-breakers needed to solve to qualify for Bletchley Park.

The winners won a ticket to London to visit the Bletchley Park facility.

Rescue Dawn is a prisoner of war film that takes place during the Vietnam war.

It is the true story of the German-American fighter pilot Dieter Dengler. His plane is shot down in Laos while on a secret mission.

Dengler has to survive torture at the hands of the Viet Cong and the Vietnamese peasants until his rescue.

As tough as the captors were, surviving the jungle and the lack of food proved to be a bigger prison for the POWs.

The film won critical acclaim, but it was a box office failure. To show his solidarity with the team, the director Herzog lost 30 pounds along with the cast for the film's sake.

"Da 5 Bloods" is a 2020 war drama film directed and co-written by Spike Lee. The story follows four aging Vietnam War veterans, known as the "Bloods," as they return to Vietnam to find the remains of their fallen squad leader and retrieve buried gold.

The film explores themes of war, guilt, and the lasting impact of the Vietnam War on the characters. Along the way, they encounter old acquaintances and face challenges that test their loyalty and resolve.

The film received critical acclaim for its direction, performances, and themes, particularly the standout performances of Delroy Lindo and Chadwick Boseman. It was praised as one of Spike Lee's best works and received multiple award nominations.

Based on the Alistair MacLean novel of the same name, Guns Of Navarone is a World War II espionage movie.

It involves a team of allied saboteurs working undercover to enter the high-security camp on Navarone to disarm the enormous field guns.

The team must disarm the guns on the impregnable island fortress in order to rescue the 2000 British troops held captive there.

The film was the second highest-grossing film of 1961. The film received mostly positive reviews.

New York Times described the movie as one of those muscle-loaded pictures in the thundering tradition of DeMille, which means melodrama is given more emphasis than character or credibility.

The Longest Day is an epic war film that depicts the events of the D-Day landing in Normandy and the events that turned the tide for the allied forces in WWII.

It is based on the non-fiction novel by Cornelius Ryan. This movie is truly epic in the scale of production, the cast, and the story it tells.

It was shot from the point of view of both the Allied forces and the German troops.

Different directors shot the film from the perspective of the various parties involved. The film employed actual participants of the Normandy landing to re-enact the events from all regiments involved.

The film was nominated for 5 Academy Awards, and it won 2 of them.

The Big Red One is a World War II movie that follows a company of an army sergeant and his core team of 4 privates.

The film starts when the company is sent on its first mission in Africa and then to Sicily, D-Day, Ardenne forests, and the end of the war.

The story is about survival through the war and its horrors. We see the hardened sergeant begin with a full company, lose most of them, then get a new company with each mission and continue to lose soldiers to the war.

The audience and the critics rightly appreciated the film for simply highlighting the fact that surviving war is heroic enough.

There is no need for long-drawn messages, speeches, and dramatics to be a hero.

M*A*S*H is set in one of the military hospitals and medical camps during the Korean War.

The film gives us a glimpse into the life of the army doctors, surgeons, and nurses who deal with the horrors of war with comedy, fun, and games.

The movie was a smash hit with the general consensus that this “bold, timely, subversive and above all funny” movie was the high point of Altman’s career.

The story makes fun of the daily struggles and psychological toll of war. The movie’s success prompted a TV series in 1972 that ran for many years and was as successful as the movie.

To make the film more fun, the director cast many actors from improvisational clubs, which is why the dialogue was impromptu for the most part.

Hacksaw Ridge is a biographical movie about the life of Desmond Doss. He won the Medal Of Honor for incredible bravery during the Battle of Okinawa and for saving the lives of 75 fellow soldiers.

What makes this story special is the fact that Doss was a follower of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

So he achieved this honour without firing a bullet or picking up a firearm. Hacksaw Ridge is the story of a pacifist soldier who managed to earn the highest honors despite his belief.

The film was a comeback, of sorts, for Mel Gibson. It won great praise from critics for its portrayal of violence and faith in such a beautiful way.

Andrew Garfield, who plays Doss, also won critical acclaim. The film was nominated for multiple Academy Awards too.

Salvador is the true story of a photojournalist who worked in Salvador to cover the volatile guerilla situation.

Richard Boyle, on whom the story is based, co-wrote the script along with Stone. The film was nominated at the Academy Awards for Best Screenplay.

The story follows the struggle of Boyle, who is covering the Salvadoran Civil War. He gets unintentionally caught up between the guerillas and the right-wing army, both of whom use him for their purpose.

The film was nominated for 2 Oscars but lost both. However, the story and acting were met with great praise and appreciation from Salvadoran refugees in the USA.

"Sisu" is a 2022 historical action film set in Finnish Lapland during World War II. It follows Aatami Korpi, a gold prospector, as he tries to recover his stolen gold and fend off a German death squad led by a ruthless SS officer.

Aatami, a retired commando, lives alone in the wilderness with his horse and dog. Along his journey, he encounters German soldiers who discover his gold and attempt to kill him. Aatami fights back, and a cat-and-mouse chase ensues.

Despite being wounded and pursued relentlessly, Aatami uses his survival skills and cunning to outsmart the Germans and reclaim his gold. The film culminates in a final showdown where Aatami seeks revenge and justice. Ultimately, he emerges battered but victorious, redeeming himself and finding a sense of closure.

The plot is set before the D-Day invasion. The allied generals plan to render a blow to the Germans by eliminating the top brass while they relax at a vacation home in France.

To carry out this dangerous assassination attempt, they put together a suicide squad of convicted military convicts.

The cast is packed with big stars and upcoming stars from music and films. You can watch Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Telly Savalas, Charles Bronson, John Cassavetes, Donald Sutherland, and more play dirty to give an advantage to the allied forces on D-Day.

The film was a commercial hit, and the audience loved it. However, many big stars turned down the film on moral and ethical grounds.

People like John Wayne and Jack Palance refused roles in this movie.

Born On The Fourth Of July is another biographical tale of Ron Kovic. Kovic is a US Marine who was paralyzed during the Vietnam War.

Once he returns from the war, he feels let down by his government and becomes disillusioned about the glory and honor of war.

The story tracks Ron Kovic from his recruitment to the war, his injury, and his struggles.

He becomes an outspoken anti-war activist. The film is part of the Oliver Stone trilogy on the Vietnam war, with Platoon and Heaven and Earth.

The film was nominated for 8 Academy Awards and won 2 awards for Best Director and Best Film Editing.

Gallipoli is a film about the campaign of Gallipoli by the ANZAC army. The film is set during World War I.

Australian army recruits are shipped to the peninsula of Gallipoli, a part of the Ottoman empire.

As the war progresses, the regiment is slowly demoralized, and they start to realize the futility of the war.

The film is directed by the famous Australian director, Peter Weir. He is known for movies such as Master And Commander: The Far Side of The Sea, The Truman Show, Dead Poets Society, and more.

The film was a success in Australia and made moderate profits in the US markets too.

The film was hailed by critics, although some were not happy with the historical inconsistencies in the story.

This is another true story of a radio disc jockey at the US Armed Services Radio station.

The film is a comedy war drama. It is set in Saigon, where DJ Cronauer hosts the daily morning radio broadcast.

He is well-loved and appreciated by the troops but always manages to ruffle the feathers of his superiors.

After a bombing at the bar that kills 2 American soldiers, Cronauer gets an honorable discharge for broadcasting the news against orders.

The film was well-received by the audience and critics alike. Many critics gave the film an outstanding review, calling it the best war comedy since M*A*S*H.

It also got multiple nominations at all major awards functions.

"Black Hawk Down" is a 2001 war film directed by Ridley Scott, based on journalist Mark Bowden's book about the U.S. military's 1993 raid in Mogadishu.

The movie depicts the events surrounding a downed Black Hawk helicopter in enemy territory. The ensemble cast includes Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Eric Bana, and Tom Hardy in his film debut. The film performed well at the box office, grossing $172 million worldwide and winning two Academy Awards.

In the story, U.S. forces are deployed to Mogadishu to capture warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. The mission encounters heavy resistance, resulting in casualties and a prolonged battle to rescue the stranded soldiers. Eventually, relief arrives, and survivors are evacuated.

Major Dundee is a western directed by Sam Peckinpah. It is set during the time of the American Civil war.

Major Dundee has to lead a cavalry of union soldiers, native American scouts, and army regulars on a mission into Apache territory.

In Mexico, a band of Apache warriors are running incursions into American states and causing trouble, so Major Dundee goes to war with them along with his army and all the Confederate prisoners.

The film received generally negative reviews, yet the director Peckinpah was praised for a fresh new approach towards westerns and for the panoramic shots and excellent cinematography.

Where Eagles Dare is an adaptation of an Alistair MacLean novel of the same name.

It is about a secret intelligence mission to rescue an American Brigadier General captured by the Nazis.

The Allied forces put together a SWAT team of British and American servicemen to infiltrate the Nazi safehouse holding the POW.

Halfway through the mission, the American Lieutenant gets suspicious that there might be another hidden motive to this rescue mission.

The film boasts of a powerhouse cast and crew that went on to become Oscar winners.

It stars Clint Eastwood, Richard Burton, Yakima Canutt, Ron Goodwin, Arthur Ibbetson, and more. The film was a commercial success and earned a hefty profit.

The movie is still considered one of the best war movies of all time, years after its release.

"The Covenant" is a 2023 action thriller film directed by Guy Ritchie. It follows John Kinley, a former U.S. Army sergeant and Afghanistan War veteran, as he returns to Afghanistan to rescue his interpreter from the Taliban.

The film received positive reviews and grossed $16 million. After a lorry bomb attack kills his previous interpreter, Kinley teams up with Ahmed Abdullah, a former Taliban member turned defector. They face multiple ambushes and dangers while trying to reach safety.

With the help of sympathetic Afghans and a private military contractor, Kinley manages to save Ahmed and his family. The film highlights the bravery and sacrifices of Afghan interpreters and sheds light on the dangers they face in a post-Taliban Afghanistan.

"War Horse" is a 2011 war film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo. Set during World War I, the story revolves around Joey, a horse raised by British teenager Albert.

Joey is sold to the British Army and embarks on a journey through Europe, encountering various people amidst the war's tragedies. The film highlights the bond between Joey and Albert, their separation, and their eventual reunion.

"War Horse" received positive reviews and was a box-office success, earning numerous award nominations, including Academy Awards. It portrays the emotional journey of both the horse and the people impacted by the war, emphasizing themes of resilience, friendship, and sacrifice.

A Man Escaped is a French World War II movie by the name Un condamné à mort s'est échappé.

It is based on the experience of Andre Devigny who was in the French Resistance.

The director of the film Robert Bresson himself was part of the French Resistance and was arrested by the Gestapo.

The film tells the escape tale of an inmate by the name of Fontaine. He is imprisoned in the notorious Montluc Prison by the Gestapo and is set for execution.

The film tells about his careful planning, psyche, and final act of escape. The film is a master class in filmmaking as the director wanted to retain the purity of the character, so he employed non-professionals to act in the film.

There is no information on the actual release and audience reviews. However, critics consider the film a masterpiece in itself.

Come and See is an anti-war psychological horror about the suffering of the people in Eastern European countries during WWII.

It is based on the 1978 book I Am from the Fiery Village which was co-authored by Ales Adamovitch.

A young Belarussian boy witnesses the horrors of the Nazi German occupation of his hometown and the destruction of his family and community.

The film takes a realistic, sometimes surreal look at the events against philosophical and political themes.

The film earned only $71909 in the United States however, its earnings across the globe crossed $ 20 million.

Ivan’s Childhood is a Soviet war film set during World War II. It follows the life of Ivan, a child whose life has been scarred by the war.

His family is killed by the invading Nazi Germans and he can think of nothing but revenge.

The film, through a series of flashbacks and dream-like sequences, shows us the lost childhood of Ivan and finally his death in Germany.

The film condemns war and highlights the human costs of war. The director Tarkovsky chose this story, written by Vladamir Bogomolov, as childhood innocence is the extreme opposite of the ravages of war.

The film was successful in Soviet Russia and sold over 16.7 million tickets however, there is no record of its total earnings.

La Grande Illusion is a French war film based on a book by British journalist Norman Angell, called The Great Illusion.

The book is about the futility of war between friendly European nations. The film highlights the class concerns among the prisoners of war.

In the enemy camp, a group of officers plans an escape during World War I, and their class and status come into prominence.

The film was a big hit in France. It was so impactful that Joseph Goebbels declared the film as cinematic public enemy no.1 and had it banned in all Nazi territories.

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp has no relation to the cartoon strip called Colonel Blimp.

This film is a romantic war movie that revolves around two friends Major-General Candy from the British Home Guard and Theo from the German army.

The film has been praised for its sophistication and directorial brilliance. Critics appreciated the well-written script, excellent performances by the cast, and pioneering technicolor cinematography.

The film also faced a lot of backlash for portraying a sympathetic German. Although Theo is anti-Nazi, some right-wing groups felt that the director and producers were anti-national and German leaning.

Twelve O’Clock High follows the exploits of an American army’s Eighth Air Force. They conduct regular daylight bombing over Nazi Germany and occupied France.

The film also tries to recreate the Black Thursday strike. The film was based on the book of the same name, written by Bartlett and Lay.

Bosley Crowther of the New York Times noted that the film focused more on the human element than the aircraft or machinery of war.

However, it was well-received by audiences and critics. It was nominated for 4 Academy Awards and won two awards for Best supporting actor and best Sound recording.

The film is a documentary-style movie about the freedom struggle of Algerians from the French colonial government.

The Algerian war took place between 1954 to 62 and the film documents the progress of the guerilla rebel movement during this period.

The film was shot in a Rosellini-style newsreel film. The editing was also done in documentary style to add to the effect.

Most of the actors were real-life participants in the battle of Algiers. This Italian film was banned in France, however, it won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film festival and 3 Academy Awards.

It won Best foreign film in 1967 and Best director and best screenplay in 1969.

Grave Of The FireFlies is an animated war tragedy that was animated by Studio Ghibli.

The film is based on the semi-autobiographical short story by Akiyuki Nosaka. It is set during the 1945 Kobe bombing as part of World War II.

It is the story of 2 siblings who lose their father who is a soldier in the Japanese Imperial army.

Their mother also dies due to a long struggle with Tuberculosis. After they are orphaned, the siblings move from place to place for money and food.

In the end, they slowly die of malnutrition. Grave of the Fireflies received well-deserved praise for its excellent Japanese animation work.

Despite being an animation, it is one of the greatest war films about WWII. It highlights the human cost of war and the futility thereby. )

It highlights the human cost of war and the futility thereby.