10 Best War Films

War is hell. It's bloody and brutal. It ruins lives, nations, and communities. Our history, our current, our future are formed by it. And that is why the interest of actors and movie-goers alike remains to be. Stories of war expose humanity's true existence in its darkest moments. These are not necessarily flag-waving patriotic films, because these are dramas that mostly deal with the military, sharing tales about heroic warriors and great victories. A war movie may be fundamentally pacifist, revolutionary, dismissive of our politicians who are dragging us into conflict.

Posted On November 23rd, 2020

Dunkirk

The brave account of the Dunkirk evacuation by Christopher Nolan, a humiliating 1940 loss that advanced the German cause, tries to portray the full extent of the incident by portraying it at once through three separate timelines. Six, the tale of several stranded troops, unfolds over the course of a week. The second is set over the course of a day, following people trying to save soldiers by sea. A third in which the beach is stormed by air by a pilot occupies a single hour.

Inglorious Basterds

The sprawling, episodic Inglourious Basterds by Quentin Tarantino is a World War II movie influenced by the decades of war movies that followed it and is well aware of the power of fiction to reshape history. The film pits, subtly at first the pitiless but ingratiating SS Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) under the direction of the honey-accented Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) against a platoon of Jewish-American troops.

War Horse

A teenage soldier named Albert (Jeremy Irvine) and his horse Joey pursue an episodic trip through World War I Europe in Steven Spielberg's adaptation of a 1982 novel that found a second life as a much-loved play in the aughts. There is war, they find little glory, only brutality, absurdity, and terror. In the middle of the bloodshed, due to Joey's unlikely recovery, Albert discovers moments of grace and optimism.

1917

This 2019 Best Picture contender is more like a pacifist film than it is about the glories of either side of the First World War. Shot to look like one continuous take, you'll feel like you went almost 2 hours without breathing after seeing it.

Hacksaw Ridge

The real tale of Pfc. Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield), who, despite refusing to bear arms during WWII for religious reasons, received the Congressional Medal of Honor. Doss was enlisted and ostracized for his pacifist position by fellow troops but went on to gain admiration and adoration for his courage, selflessness and humanity after he risked his life to save 75 men in the Battle of Okinawa without firing a shot.

12 Strong

Captain Mitch Nelson is leading a U.S. Special Forces unit to Afghanistan for an incredibly risky operation in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. While there to take down the Taliban and its al-Qaida allies, the troops establish an uneasy relationship with the Northern Coalition. Outgunned and outnumbered, in a war against a relentless adversary who takes no prisoners, Nelson and his forces face daunting odds.

Saving Private Ryan

In the dynamic ethics of fighting, Saving Private Ryan dives into it. A special mission is formed to go out to rescue the remaining Private Ryan (Matt Damon) in Normandy when a mother loses three of her four sons in battle before it becomes the final fatality that divides a family. But the mission threatens the lives of the seven men sent to rescue him by doing so.

Letters From Iwo Jima

One of the most celebrated war movies in modern times is Clint Eastwood's 2006 Japanese-language film. That happens when you mix the creative forces of Spielberg, the directing of Eastwood, and the script of Yamashita. To absolute excellence, it addresses the problems of good and bad on both sides of World War II.

Ran 1985

Ran is a movie about the war like no other. The epic of 1985 takes a little from King Lear of Shakespeare, turning three faithful sons upon their aunt, Hidetora Ichimonji, who abdicates his throne.

Lone Survivor

Navy SEALs Marcus Luttrell (Mark Wahlberg), Michael Murphy (Taylor Kitsch), Danny Dietz (Emile Hirsch) and Matthew 'Hammer' Axelson (Ben Foster) were sent to Afghanistan in 2005 on a reconnaissance mission to remove Taliban leader Ahmad Shah. Luttrell and his team, when spotted by goatherds, resolve not to kill them. But one of the Afghans warns the attackers to a party of Taliban troops, and a horrible battle ensues, in which the SEALs are hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned.