War has been a dominating factor in human history since the beginning of time. It both fascinates and terrifies everyone. It’s filled with tales of heroics, courage, and perseverance as well as absolute brutality and carnage. It is the highest level of danger one could endure, leaving all else behind, but one’s humanity and their fight for survival.
Naturally. Hollywood is full of war films meant to both inspire and educate. Army movies can show the height of humanity’s goodness as people band together to fight against tyrannical rules and fight for a better tomorrow. But others – the best war movies – can expose the atrocities that war causes and show the true brutality man can commit against one another.
Updated on August 10, 2023 by Hannah Saab:
War movies continue to be a popular and relevant genre explored by directors today, with recent Oscar-winning war films like All Quiet on the Western Front elevating the niche. Shifting IMDb ratings speak volumes about the users and viewers that are interested in the best war movies ever made, as there are more voters rediscovering classic army movies and rating them on the platform.
20 ‘1917’ (2019)
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Set during World War I, 1917 centers on a dangerous mission assigned to two soldiers, Will Schofield (George MacKay) and Tom Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman). They must traverse enemy territory and reach another camp in time before a scheduled offensive attack. If they don’t let them know that the attack should be called off, 1600 soldiers could die, including Lance Cpl. Blake’s brother.
Directed by Sam Mendes, the renowned war film has been praised for its technical achievements that have brought the horrors of trench warfare to modern audiences. Its one-shot sequences and shockingly gorgeous landscapes perfectly complement its more jarring scenes that capture how truly terrible the soldiers’ plights were.
Watch on Showtime
19 ‘Ayla: The Daughter of War’ (2017)
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Based on the unbelievable true story of Kim Eun-ja and Süleyman Dilbirliği’s (played by Lee Kyung-jin and Çetin Tekindor) unexpected friendship, Ayla: The Daughter of War tells the story of an unlikely connection on a battlefield after Turkey sends a brigade to South Korea. Set during the Korean War, the film depicts Sergeant Süleyman’s actions after he discovers a young girl on a battlefield, who he soon protects and has to return back to her country.
Contrasting the surrounding violence with the innocent friendship that blossoms, the film highlights the best in people, especially when it comes to protecting the defenseless. The South Korean-Turkish drama is a must-see for fans looking for a different perspective that also portrays stories of war from other countries.
18 ‘Shershaah’ (2021)
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Director Vishnuvardhan’s Shershaah is based on the life of Vikram Batra (played by Sidharth Malhotra), an officer of the Indian Army who fought during the Kargil War. It follows the protagonist’s experiences before and during his enlistment, which opens his eyes to the challenges that come with the life of a soldier.
The film is as much a tribute to Batra as it is about the Kargil conflict. It portrays the soldier as an ideal example of a brave and heroic figure, but falls short when it comes to depicting the problematic aspects of war. That said, it’s still worth seeing for those who are curious about Batra and his actions during the war.
Watch on Prime Video
17 ‘Judgment at Nuremberg’ (1961)
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
To punish war crimes during the Holocaust, twelve Nuremberg Military Tribunals were held after World War II. One of these, the Judges’ Trial of 1947, is fictionalized in an epic courtroom film directed by Stanley Kramer. Judgment at Nuremberg is centered on the tribunal led by Chief Trial Judge Dan Haywood (Spencer Tracy), who hears evidence from the defendant Ernst Janning (Burt Lancaster), his attorney Hans Rolfe (Maximilian Schell), a Nazi general’s widow (Marlene Dietrich), a U.S. Army captain (William Shatner), and an unwilling witness Irene Wallner (Judy Garland).
A tense courtroom drama with fantastic performances from its A-list cast, the film is surprisingly emotional. It becomes especially hard-hitting when the judge begins to question his own biases, considering his personal friendships with Germans and conflicting beliefs.
Watch on Tubi
16 ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ (1962)
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Known as one of the best historical epics of all time, director David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia follows the titular character (played by Peter O’Toole) as he travels to Greater Syria during the First World War. There, he serves as a liaison between the British and the Arabs, but soon betrays his orders and embarks on a bold attack against a Turkish port.
The critically-acclaimed film won seven Oscars in 1963, including Best Picture and Best Director. Its massive set pieces and visually stunning frames shot on location are often contrasted with the use of CGI and green screens today. It was a high point in cinema that captured the peak of technical achievement during the ’60s, and a 3-hour-long epic still worth watching today.
15 ‘Incendies’ (2010)
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
An overlooked gem in director Denis Villeneuve’s filmography, Incendies tells a heavy story centered on Canadian twins, who embark on the hardest journey of their lives after their mother’s passing. They go to her native country in the Middle East and experience horrific brutality and learn terrifying truths about their family’s past along the way.
Never pulling any punches, Incendies is a dark spiral into these women’s and their family’s stories, as well as the ongoing conflict in the foreign country they visit. It’s a harrowing and profound story that connects the protagonist’s intimate narratives with the wider context of violence and instability that they never truly escaped.
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Any list of the top 10 war movies of all time is likely to include Full Metal Jacket, a classic war film directed by Stanley Kubrick. Featuring an all-star cast, including Matthew Modine as Private Joker, Adam Baldwin as Animal Mother, and Vincent D’Onofrio as Private Pyle, the film follows a group of Marine Corps recruits as they undergo basic training and then go on to fight in the Vietnam War.
Known for its unflinching portrayal of the horrors of war and how it affects soldiers’ psyches, the legendary film features Kubrick’s trademarks. The director’s touch is obvious in the movie’s intense atmosphere and the way it delves deep into the characters’ minds, which escalates to disturbing levels as the film progresses.
Watch on Showtime
13 ‘Braveheart’ (1995)
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Mel Gibson stars in and directs Braveheart, a war drama film that follows the story of the Scottish warrior William Wallace. After seeing his loved ones slain by the English invaders, the protagonist executes a risky mission to get rid of a platoon. This soon leads to a full revolt against English rule, as William inspires others to fight alongside him.
Braveheart is far from perfect, but it’s the cheesy and funny moments that also make it endearing for fans. Of course, it’s remembered for the grand and brutal action sequences, which often feature the protagonist leading his countrymen in dangerous battles.
Watch on Max
12 ‘Inglourious Basterds’ (2009)
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Director Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds is a war movie that needs no introduction. The film has two storylines, with the first telling the fictitious account of a troop of Jewish-American soldiers who enjoy their task of eliminating as many Nazis as they can. Simultaneously, a young Jewish theater owner in France plots her own vengeance against the dictatorship that is responsible for the deaths of her family.
It’s easy to see why this movie is considered one of Tarantino’s best works, as it has stellar performances from A-listers like Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, and Michael Fassbender. Plus, the cinematographic techniques and production design are both remarkable, while the memorable dialogue is snappy, smart and often hilarious. A portrayal of the World War II era with its own fresh take on the genre, Inglourious Basterds is a daring, innovative and enjoyable movie that unsurprisingly ranks high on IMDb.
Watch on Prime Video
11 ‘The Great Dictator’ (1940)
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
One of Charlie Chaplin’s most iconic masterpieces, The Great Dictator is a satirical comedy film that sees the actor playing the roles of a Jewish Barber and the ruthless dictator Adenoid Hynkel. After Adenoid takes over the “fictional” country of Tomania, everything changes for The Barber.
The film offers daring commentary through gut-busting comedy that pokes fun at fascist regimes of that time (mostly Hitler and Mussolini’s). It uses Chaplin’s signature slapstick humor to draw attention to how ridiculous these regimes really are, which is a critical message that was especially relevant, considering the world was still in the midst of WWII when the film premiered.
Watch on Max
10 ‘Paths of Glory’ (1957)
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
One of Stanley Kubrick’s first provocative efforts into the dissection of the military system through filmmaking was the hard-hitting war movie, Paths of Glory. General Mireau (George Macready) and Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas) are depicted in the film as World War I leaders who send their troops on a suicide mission to try to breach a German trench.
The film’s anti-war message centers on the ridiculousness of authority during warfare. Its leaders are shown as ruthless careerists eager to eliminate everyone who hinders their climb to the top of the ranks. Kubrick’s expert framing of the film’s scenes and performances keeps viewers both enthralled and enraged until the very end.
Watch on Prime Video
9 ‘The Boat’ (1981)
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IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Director Wolfgang Petersen’s legendary movieThe Boat (Das Boot) is based on Lothar-Günther Buchheim’s 1973 novel that chronicles his experiences aboard the German submarine U-96 during World War II. While they initially set out to search for allied ships, they’re soon the ones being tracked and endangered.
The war movie steers clear of overwhelming audiences with chaotic action sequences, choosing to focus instead on the relationships between the soldiers. As they become dependent on one another for their survival, they also learn more about their individual lives, dreams, and fears – these intimate moments make the grand scenes more exhilarating and tense.
Watch on Fubo
8 ‘Dr. Strangelove’ (1964)
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is an iconic war movie and a dark comedy that uses satire to highlight heightened fears of the possibility of a nuclear war. Starring Peter Sellers in three different roles (including the titular character), the film depicts the events following an erratic general who orders a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union.
With biting humor and an unflinching commentary on the absurdity of the nuclear arms race, the movie doesn’t shy away from raising truly controversial points at that time. Its portrayal of how absurdly close the world actually is to nuclear annihilation invites viewers to laugh, get angry, and be terrified of the future.
7 ‘Come and See’ (1985)
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Come and See is an unflinching anti-war movie centered on a young Belarusian teenager, Flyora (Aleksei Kravchenko), who joins the resistance movement during the Nazi German occupation of Belarus. Directed by Elem Klimov, the war movie delves into the darkness and brutality that Eastern European villages’ populace experienced during that time.
Viewers will see the same horrific suffering Flyora witnesses as he returns to an unrecognizable home. The film doesn’t hold back when it comes to depicting the harrowing effects of war and how quickly things can spiral out of control in once-peaceful areas.
Watch on The Criterion Channel
6 ‘Apocalypse Now’ (1979)
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Apocalypse Now is one of those movies that sticks with you long after watching it. It’s an experience. A journey into a hellish world that is unlike our own where absurdity reigns and morals are an afterthought. Francis Ford Coppola’sVietnam War epic follows Captain Willard (Martin Sheen), who’s sent to take out a rogue Colonel that’s purported himself to be a god to the locals.
Filled with iconic imagery, massive set pieces, and a slow methodical pace Apocalypse Now is unlike any other war movie. It questions the sanity of the soldiers left out in the jungles, who are constantly surrounded by barbaric carnage. With all men having to face the choice of either holding onto what little shred of humanity they have left or falling into absolute chaos and losing themselves forever.
5 ‘Casablanca’ (1942)
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
Set in the midst of WWII in 1942, Casablanca is a renowned classic that revolves around the decisions Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) must make after an unexpected encounter with a former partner. Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) makes him question his neutrality during the war and his role in his nightclub and gambling den in the titular location.
Director Michael Curtiz’s award-winning film sets itself apart in the war movie genre by focusing on romance. Its compelling characters have palpable chemistry in the movie and make it impossible not to feel invested in their choices and relationships, which all build up to a legendary ending that still holds up today.
Watch on Max
4 ‘Grave of the Fireflies’ (1988)
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
Grave of the Firefliesfollows two young siblings, Seita and Setsuko, as they struggle to survive in Japan during the declining days of World War II. After an American bombing run leaves the siblings separated from their parents the two must rely on one another for their survival.
This animated Studio Ghibli masterpiece does an excellent job of contrasting brutal themes of war admits beautiful drawn imagery. Grave of the Fireflies never shies away from the reality of war showing the true cost of battle and the effect it has on innocent civilians.
3 ‘The Pianist’ (2002)
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
Director Roman Polanski’s BAFTA award-winning masterpiece, The Pianist, tells the story of the Holocaust survivor Władysław Szpilman (masterfully played by Adrien Brody). The talented pianist is forced to find ways to survive during the Nazi occupation in Warsaw, and is left even more vulnerable and alone after his family is deported in 1942.
The war movie doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to its raw depiction of the human suffering and destruction that spread during that time. Seen through the eyes of the devastated pianist, it sends a painful reminder of what people are capable of during the worst of times.
Watch on Prime Video
2 ‘Life Is Beautiful’ (1997)
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
When Guido Orefice (Roberto Benigni) and his son Giosuè (Giorgio Cantarini) are sent to a concentration camp during WWII in Life Is Beautiful, the loving father and bookshop owner uses wit and creativity to shield his child from the awful reality they’re in. He turns the entire situation into a game, making his son believe that he’ll get a prize if he just follows the rules.
Director Roberto Benigni’s critically-acclaimed war movie is a heartbreaking portrayal of what war does to innocent families. Fans won’t soon forget the tear-jerking moments that highlight what a father’s love can inspire during the darkest hours in this essential Italian movie.
1 ‘Saving Private Ryan’ (1998)
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IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Saving Private Ryan has one of the most iconic opening scenes in cinema history, throwing viewers right into the middle of D-Day, depicting one of the most faithful interpretations of war ever shown on screen. From there the film never lets up as a squad of soldiers led by Captain John H. Miller (Tom Hanks) is tasked with moving through enemy lines in search of a single soldier and bringing him home.
Saving Private Ryan is truly a must-watch for any World War II buff or any war buff in general. Steven Spielberg’s incredible film never shies away from the brutal realities of war, showing both the terrible mutilation that battle can cause and the comradery and sacrifice these men made for their country and for each other.
Watch on Prime Video
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