Top 100 War Movies
Best War Movies of All Time
Movies with war plot in any form (dramas, action and adventures, post-war dramas, anti-war films, war comedies, civil wars, historical epics, militaristic films, historical conflicts, guerrilla warfare, e.t.c.) and other movies with wartime background or sub-plot.
Definition: A War film concerned with warfare, typically about naval, air, or land battles, with combat scenes central to the drama. Themes explored include combat, survival and escape, camaraderie between soldiers, sacrifice, the futility and inhumanity of battle, the effects of war on society, and the moral and human issues raised by war.
Essential / Must-see / Genre-defying: war movies:
Other Lists:
Top 75 World War II Movies
Top 75 Historical Movies
Top 75 Biographical Movies
Top 50 Medieval Films
Movies with war plot in any form (dramas, action and adventures, post-war dramas, anti-war films, war comedies, civil wars, historical epics, militaristic films, historical conflicts, guerrilla warfare, e.t.c.) and other movies with wartime background or sub-plot.
Definition: A War film concerned with warfare, typically about naval, air, or land battles, with combat scenes central to the drama. Themes explored include combat, survival and escape, camaraderie between soldiers, sacrifice, the futility and inhumanity of battle, the effects of war on society, and the moral and human issues raised by war.
Essential / Must-see / Genre-defying: war movies:
- All Quiet on The Western Front (1930)
- Apocalypse Now (1979)
- Come To See (Иди и смотри) (1985)
- Stalingrad (1993)
- Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Other Lists:
Top 75 World War II Movies
Top 75 Historical Movies
Top 75 Biographical Movies
Top 50 Medieval Films
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193 titles
- DirectorMichael MannStarsDaniel Day-LewisMadeleine StoweRussell MeansThree trappers protect the daughters of a British Colonel in the midst of the French and Indian War.The Last of The Mohicans (1992)*
Drama – War – Action – Adventure – Romance – Epic Historical War Drama – French and Indian War (1754–1763) Era – Military Conflict – Native-Raised White Man – Adopted Mohican – British Officer's Daughters Kidnapped Rescue Mission – Duty – Honour – Pride – Action-Adventure – Wilderness Survival Skills – Hand-To-Hand Combat – Siege – Escape Thriller – Suspense – Tension – Brutality – Chaos – Determination – Heroism – Romance Drama – Romanticism – Attraction – Sexual Desire – Passion – Love Story – Revenge Drama – Vengeful Huron Warrior – Betrayal – Sadism – Revenge Spiral – Tragedy – Others – Period Drama – Good-vs-Evil Pattern – Remake – Memorable Villain – Memorable Score – Fenimore Cooper’s Novel – Oscar (1) Winner – Cult Status – Classic Status – T o p – Best 90's – F a v e – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A.
★★★★★★★★★★ (10/10)-S
Topic: French and Indian War (1754–1763) - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsHarrison FordKaren AllenPaul FreemanIn 1936, archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can obtain its awesome powers.Raiders of The Lost Ark (1981)*
Action – Adventure – Action Comedy – Epic Action Adventure – Pre-WWII (1939-1945) Era – Year 1936 – Nazi Agents – Ark-of-God Search – Occult Super-Power – American Archaeologist – Man-on-a-Mission (Recover) Scenario – Survival Thriller – Dreadful Traps – Double-Crosses – Manhunt – Pursuit – Frantic Chase – Suspense – Escape Thriller – Heroism – Romantic Comedy – Ex-Girlfriend – Old-Fashioned Romance – Sarcasm – Caustic Humor – Others – Occultism – Extravaganza – Obsession – Ironic Fate – Poetic Justice – Nostalgia – Good-vs-Evil Story – Ingenious Plot – Iconic Film – Influential Film – Blockbuster – Oscar (4) Winner – F a v e – Classic Status – Cult Status – Best 80's – T o p – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A. – 1001 Must See Movies
★★★★★★★★★ (9/10)-S
Topic: Pre-WWII (1939-1945) / Third Reich’s Plans - DirectorMichael CurtizStarsHumphrey BogartIngrid BergmanPaul HenreidA cynical expatriate American cafe owner struggles to decide whether or not to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French Morocco.Casablanca (1942)*
Golden Age – Drama – War – Romance – War Romantic Drama – Wartime Subplot – WWII (1939-1945) Era – VichyFrance-Controlled Casablanca – American Expatriate Man – Nightclub Operator – Former Lover Woman – Czech Resistance Leader Husband – War Fugitives – Fateful Reunion – Love Story – Moral Dilemmas – Suspense – Escape Thriller – Self-Sacrifice – Catharsis – Film-Noir – Expressionist Lighting – Femme Fatale – Devotion – Corruption – Cynicism – Sarcasm – Melancholy – Intrigue – Fate – Others – Political Allegory – Character Study – Romanticism – Idealism – Humanism – Patriotism – Opportunism – Social Narcissism – Stage-To-Screen – Memorable Film – Iconic Film – Landmark Film – Influential Film – Oscar (3) Winner – T o p – Best 40's – F a v e – Classic Status – Cult Status – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A. – 1001 Must See Movies
★★★★★★★★★ (9/10)-S
Topic: WWII (1939-1945) / Battle For North Africa / Key-Military Objective Port-Casablanca Control - DirectorAkira KurosawaStarsTatsuya NakadaiAkira TeraoJinpachi NezuIn Medieval Japan, an elderly warlord retires, handing over his empire to his three sons. However, he vastly underestimates how the new-found power will corrupt them and cause them to turn on each other...and him.Ran (1985)*
Drama – War – Action – History – Period Drama – 16th Century Era – Powerful Elderly Warlord – Retirement – Abdication – Three Sons Successors – 3-Part kingdom Division – Political Intrigue – Family Betrayal – War – Revenge Drama – Son's Wife – Vengeance – Retribution – Karma – Conspiracy Theory – Hypocrisy – Greed – Corruption – Betrayal – Ironic Fate – Insanity – Downward Spiral – Epic War Drama – Siege Sequences – Massacre – Violence – Chaos – Tragedy – Apocalypse – Others – Fatalism – Pessimism – Nihilism – Elegiac – Allegorical – Sophisticate – Thought-Provoking – Shakespeare’s King Lear Adaptation – Novel-I-Read – Stage-To-Screen – Iconic Film – Oscar (1) Winner – Classic Status – Cult Status – T o p – Best 80's – F a v e – Re-Watch Value – Foreign Language – Asian – Japan – 1001 Must See Movies
★★★★★★★★★ (9/10)-W
Topic: Medieval Wars / Sengoku Period (1454-1615) Civil Wars - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsTom HanksMatt DamonTom SizemoreFollowing the Normandy Landings, a group of U.S. soldiers go behind enemy lines to retrieve a paratrooper whose brothers have been killed in action.Saving Private Ryan (1998)*
Drama – History – War – Epic War Drama – WWII (1939-1945) Era – Normandy D-Day (1944) Invasion – US Army Units – Heavily Fortified German-Forces – Combat Action – Violence – Confusion – Chaos – Major Losses – Rescue Mission – Group of American Soldiers – Behind German-Lines Mission – Extricate American Private Plan – Men-on-a-Mission – Track-Down Operation – Duty – Determination – Human Courage – Suspense – Panic Attack – Psychological Struggle – Uncertainty Stress – Honour – Decency – Morality – Sacrifice – Tragedy – Ironic Fate – Others – Horror-of-War – Realism – Humanism – Heroism – Blockbuster – Oscar (5) Winner – T o p – Cult Status – Classic Status – F a v e – Best 90's – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A. – 1001 Must-See Movies
★★★★★★★★★ (9/10)-S
Topic: WWII (1939-1945) / D-Day / Normady Invasion - DirectorElem KlimovStarsAleksey KravchenkoOlga MironovaLiubomiras LauceviciusAfter finding an old rifle, a young boy joins the Soviet resistance movement against ruthless German forces and experiences the horrors of World War II.Come To See (Иди и смотри) (1985)
Drama – History – War – War Drama – WWII (1939-1945) Era – Nazi Occupation of Byelorussia – Soviet Resistance Movement – Young Belarusian Partisan Teenager – Low-Rank Militiaman Recruit – Cruelty – Brutality – Atrocity – Dehumanization – Tragedy – Survival Horror – Wartime Survival – Horrors-of-War – Psychological Horror – Psychological Distress – Nightmarish Fears – Feverish Terror – Madness – Paranoia – Downward Spiral – Art-House – Hyper-Realism – Surrealism – Existentialism – Others – Anti-War Film – Philosophical – Thought-Provoking – Disturbing – Shock-Value – Ales Adamovich's 1971 Novel – Classic Status – Cult Status – T o p – Best 80's – Foreign Language – European – Russia – 1001 Must-See Movies
★★★★★★★★★ (9/10)
Topic: WWII (1939-1945) / Nazi-Occupied Belarus - DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsMartin SheenMarlon BrandoRobert DuvallA U.S. Army officer serving in Vietnam is tasked with assassinating a renegade Special Forces Colonel who sees himself as a god.Apocalypse Now (1979)
Drama – War – Epic War Drama – Vietnam War (1955-1975) Era – U.S. Army Officer – Secret Mission – Shadowy Renegade Special-Forces Officer – Assassination Mission – Man-on-a-Mission Scenario – Oppression – Combat – Brutality – Confusion – Chaos – Psychological Drama – Moral Ambiguity – Hallucinations – Uncertainty Stress – Madness – Despair – Insanity – Paranoia – Downward Spiral – Others – Character Study – Psychedelic – Cynicism – Nihilism – Surrealism – Symbolism – Extravagance – Horrors-of-War – Joseph Conrad’s Novel – Influential Film – Oscar (2) Winner – Classic Status – Cult Status – T o p – Best 70's – F a v e – U.S.A. – 1001 Must See Movies
★★★★★★★★★ (9/10)-M
Topic: Vietnam War (1955-1975) - DirectorMichael CiminoStarsRobert De NiroChristopher WalkenJohn CazaleAn in-depth examination of the ways in which the Vietnam War impacts and disrupts the lives of several friends in a small steel mill town in Pennsylvania.The Deer Hunter (1978)*
Drama – War – Epic War Drama – Vietnam War (1955-1975) Era – Ukrainian-American Steelworkers Group-of-Friends – Friendship – Loyalty – War Experiences – Vietnam Prison-Camp – Tragedy – Survival Horror – Russian Roulette Deadly Game – Cruelty – Brutality – Violence – Hysteria – Suspense – Escape Thriller – Rescue Mission – Psychological Drama – Post-War Trauma – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – Self-Destructive Behavior – Psychological Struggle – Downward Spiral – Relationship Drama – Others – Stoicism – Realism – Nihilism – Fatalism – Iconic Film – Oscar (5) Winner – T o p – Classic Status – Cult Status – Best 70's – F a v e – U.S.A. – 1001 Must See Movies
★★★★★★★★★ (9/10)-M
Topic: Vietnam War (1955-1975) - DirectorCarol ReedStarsOrson WellesJoseph CottenAlida ValliPulp novelist Holly Martins travels to shadowy, postwar Vienna, only to find himself investigating the mysterious death of an old friend, Harry Lime.The Third Man (1949)*
Golden Age – Drama – Mystery – Thriller – Espionage Mystery Drama – Post-WWII (1939-1945) Era – Corrupt Politically-Divided Vienna – Cold-War Era – Naive American Novelist – Old-Friend's Mysterious Death – Murder Mystery – Enigmatic Intelligence Officers – Suspicion – Investigation – Desperation – Manhunt – Suspense – Tension – Conspiracy Thriller – Shadowy Conspiracy – Sold-Secrets – Cover-Ups – Betrayal – Loyalty – Intrigue – Film-Noir – Urban Setting – Low-Key Lighting – Expressionism – Idealism – Cynicism – Arrogance – Deception – Moral Corruption – Paranoia – Others – Neo-Realism – Good-vs-Evil Pattern – Graham Greene's 1949 Novel – Influential Film – Oscar (1) Winner – T o p – Classic Status – Cult Status – Best 40's – F a v e – Re-Watch Value – European – U.K. – 1001 Must-See Movies
★★★★★★★★★ (9/10)-M
Topic: Post-WWII (1939-1945) / Politically-Divided Vienna / The Beginning of Cold-War Era - DirectorDavid LeanStarsPeter O'TooleAlec GuinnessAnthony QuinnThe story of T.E. Lawrence, the English officer who successfully united and led the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes during World War I in order to fight the Turks.Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Drama – War – Adventure – History – Biography – Historical Epic War-Adventure Drama – WWI (1914-1918) Era – Arab Revolt (1916-1918) Era – Arabs Uprising Against Ottoman Empire – Charismatic Eccentric English Intelligence-Officer – Mission: Unite / Organise Arabs – Rebellious Military Guidance – Guerrilla-Warfare Tactics – Brutality – Violent Battles – Respect – Saviour – Fate – Biographical Psychodrama – Complex Character – Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) – Stoicism – Amoralism – Fanaticism – Masochism – Heroism – Insanity – Others – True-Life Drama – Geopolitics – T.E.Lawrence's 1926 Novel – Iconic Film – Oscar (7) Winner – Classic Status – Cult Status – Best 60's – F a v e – Re-Watch Value – European – U.K. – 1001 Must See Movies
★★★★★★★★★ (9/10)
Topic: WWI (1914-1918) / Arab Revolt - DirectorVictor FlemingGeorge CukorSam WoodStarsClark GableVivien LeighThomas MitchellA sheltered and manipulative Southern belle and a roguish profiteer face off in a turbulent romance as the society around them crumbles with the end of slavery and is rebuilt during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods.Gone With The Wind (1939)
Golden Age – Drama – War – Romance – Epic War Romance Drama – American Civil War (1861-1865) Era – American South Wealth Family – Spoiled Self-Centered Beautiful Young Daughter – Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) – Win-Neighbour-Heart Obsession – Determination – Neighbour's Rejection – Hysteria – Charming Professional-Gambler Playboy – Attraction – Love-Hate Romance – Confederate Forces Defeat – Southern Society Collapse – Tragedy – Others – Period Drama – Margaret Mitchell's 1936 Novel – Iconic Film – Landmark Film – Oscar (8) Winner – Cult Status – Classic Status – T o p – Best 30's – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A. – 1001 Must-See Movies
★★★★★★★★★ (9/10) - DirectorLewis MilestoneStarsLew AyresLouis WolheimJohn WrayA German youth eagerly enters World War I, but his enthusiasm wanes as he gets a firsthand view of the horror.All Quiet on The Western Front (1930)
Golden Age – Drama – War – Epic War Drama – WWI (1914-1918) Era – Western Front – Young Imperial German Army Infantryman – Patriotism – Frontline Actions – Trench Warfare Battles – Violence – Agony – Anxiety – Panic Attack – Nightmarish Fears – Emotional Terror – Survival Horror – Honour – War Psychological Impact – Depression – War Trauma – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – Tragedy – Others – Apolitical Film – Anti-War Film – Humanism – Idealism – Realism – Thought-Provoking – Erich Maria Remarque's 1929 Novel – Oscar (2) Winner – Cult Status – Classic Status – Landmark Film – Best 30's – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A. – 1001 Must See Movies
★★★★★★★★ (8/10)
Topic: WWI (1914-1918) / Western Front - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsLiam NeesonRalph FiennesBen KingsleyIn German-occupied Poland during World War II, industrialist Oskar Schindler gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis.Schindler's List (1993)
Drama – War – History – Biography – Historical War Drama – WWII (1939-1945) Era – Nazi-Occupied Poland – Local Polish-Jews Concentration Camps – Psychotic SS Second Lieutenant Camp-Commandant – Hate – Cruelty – Violence – Nazi "Final Solution" Plan – Tragedy – Biographical Drama – Opportunist German Industrialist – Nazi-Party Member - Major Company Start-Up – Unpaid Jews Staff – Greed – Jewish Workers Rescue-Plan – Diplomacy – Escape Thriller – Savior – Hero – Fate – Others – True-Life Drama – Character Study – Good-vs-Evil Story – Humanism – Racism – Memorable Villain – Thomas Keneally's 1982 Novel – Oscar (7) Winner – T o p – Best 90's – Cult Status – Classic Status – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A. – 1001 Must-See Movies
★★★★★★★★ (8/10)
Topic: WWII (1939-1945) Era / Nazi-Occupied Poland / Holocaust - DirectorTerrence MalickStarsJim CaviezelSean PennNick NolteAdaptation of James Jones' autobiographical 1962 novel, focusing on the conflict at Guadalcanal during the second World War.The Thin Red Line (1998)
Drama – War – History – Epic War Drama – WWII (1939-1945) Era – Asia–Pacific War (1942) – Guadalcanal Island Battle - U.S.Army Attack – Japanese Stronghold – Violence – Fear – Chaos – Insanity – Paranoia – Tragedy – Honour – Redemption – Art-House – Existentialism – Thought-Provoking – Philosophical – Sophisticate – Transcendental Overtones – Lyrical – Others – Historical Drama – Anti-War Film – Symbolism – Skepticism – Cynicism – Realism – Heroism – James Jones Novel – Iconic Film – Criterion Collection – Best 90's – F a v e – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A. – 1001 Must See Movies
★★★★★★★★ (8/10)-S
Topic WWII (1939-1945) / Asia–Pacific War (1942) / Guadalcanal Island Battle - DirectorOliver HirschbiegelStarsBruno GanzAlexandra Maria LaraUlrich MatthesTraudl Junge, the final secretary for Adolf Hitler, tells of the Nazi dictator's final days in his Berlin bunker at the end of WWII.Downfall (Der Untergang) (2004)*
Drama – War – History – Historical War Drama – WWII (1939 -1945) Era – Battle of Berlin (16 April – 2 May 1945) Era – Historical Events – Third Reich Collapse – Adolf Hitler's Final Days – Underground Bunker – Isolation – Nazi Fuhrer – Adolf's Mistress – Infamous Nazis Members – Decisions – Loyalty – Rage – Cyclothymia – Desperation – Claustrophobic Tension – Psychological Struggle – Total Denial – Paranoid Delusions – Insanity – Paranoia – Fate – Tragedy – Political Drama – Nationalism – Fanaticism – Fascism – Nihilism – Others – Character-Driven Drama – Best 00's – Re-Watch Value – Foreign Language – European – Germany – 1001 Must See Movies
★★★★★★★★ (8/10)-S
Topic: WWII (1939 -1945) / Third Reich Collapse / Adolf Hitler's Final Days - DirectorSam MendesStarsDean-Charles ChapmanGeorge MacKayDaniel MaysApril 6th, 1917. As an infantry battalion assembles to wage war deep in enemy territory, two soldiers are assigned to race against time and deliver a message that will stop 1,600 men from walking straight into a deadly trap.1917 (2019)
Drama – War – Action – History – Thriller – Epic War Drama – WWI (1914-1918) Era – Western Front – German "Hindenburg Line" Defensive Position – German's Secret Military-Operation – Code-Name "Operation Alberich" – Strategic Withdrawal Plan – British Offensive Attack at-Jeopardy – Isolated British Army Regiment – Potential Massacre – Action Survival Thriller – Young British Soldier – Mission: Abandon-Scheduled-Attack Message Delivery – Man-on-a-Mission – Dangerous Mission – Through Enemy Lines – Suspense – Fear – Anxiety – Panic Attack – Desperation – Chaos – Race Against Time – Courage – Heroism – Others – True-Life Drama – Anti-War Film – One-Shot Technique – Oscar (3) Winner – Best 10's – F a v e – Re-Watch Value – European – U.K.
★★★★★★★★ (8/10)
Topic: WWI (1914-1918) / Western Front - DirectorOliver StoneStarsCharlie SheenTom BerengerWillem DafoeChris Taylor, a neophyte recruit in Vietnam, finds himself caught in a battle of wills between two sergeants, one good and the other evil. A shrewd examination of the brutality of war and the duality of man in conflict.Platoon (1986)
Drama – Action – War – War Action Drama – Vietnam War (1955-1975) Era – Vietnam-Cambodian Border – US Army Platoon – Massive Battles – Ambushes Survival – Brutality – Violence – Confusion – Chaos – Two Different-Characters Veteran Sergeants – 1st Macho Cynical Sergeant – 2nd Intelligent Compassionate Sergeant – Internal Conflict – Platoon Divide-in-Two Sides – Simmering Danger – Anger – Tension – Fear – Tragedy – Anxiety – Moral Dilemmas – Courage – Betrayal – Tragedy – Others – Character Study – Horrors-of-War – Realism – Dehumanisation – Oscar (4) Winner – Classic Status – Cult Status – Best 80's – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A. – 1001 Must-See Movies
★★★★★★★★ (8/10)
Topic: Vietnam War (1955-1975) - DirectorWolfgang PetersenStarsJürgen ProchnowHerbert GrönemeyerKlaus WennemannA German U-boat stalks the frigid waters of the North Atlantic as its young crew experience the sheer terror and claustrophobic life of a submariner in World War II.Das Boot (1981)
Drama – War – Adventure – History – Thriller – War Adventure Drama – WWII (1939-1945) Era – Battle of The Atlantic – German Submarine U-96 – British Convoy Attack – British Destroyer Spotted – Deadly Hunt – Suspense – Claustrophobic Tension – Courage – Fear – Anxiety – Moral Dilemmas – Exhaustion – Depression – Psychological Struggle – Others – Anti-War Film – Professionalism – Stoicism – Realism – Lothar-Günther Buchheim's 1973 Novel – Cult Status – Classic Status – Best 80's – Re-Watch Value – Foreign Language – European – Germany – 1001 Must See Movies
★★★★★★★★ (8/10)
Topic: WWII (1939-1945) / Battle of The Atlantic - DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsBrad PittDiane KrugerEli RothIn Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a plan to assassinate Nazi leaders by a group of Jewish U.S. soldiers coincides with a theatre owner's vengeful plans for the same.Inglourious Basterds (2009)
War – Adventure – Thriller – War Adventure – WWII (1939-1945) Era – Nazi-Occupied France – Jewish-American Commando Unit – Kill-Nazis Undercover Mission – Men-on-a-Mission – Cruelty – Violence – Brutality – Torture – Sadism – Revenge Thriller – Vengeful Jewish-Survivor Woman – Nazi SS-Colonel Assassination Plan – Suspense – Suspicions – Others – Historical Fiction – Opportunism – Amoralism – Racism – Sarcasm – Black Humour – Character-Driven Comedy – Memorable Psychopathic Villain – Oscar (1) Winner – Best 00's – Cult Status – F a v e – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A. – 1001 Must See Movies
★★★★★★★★ (8/10)-S
Topic: WWII (1939-1945) / Nazi-Occupied France - DirectorDavid LeanStarsWilliam HoldenAlec GuinnessJack HawkinsBritish POWs are forced to build a railway bridge across the river Kwai for their Japanese captors in occupied Burma, not knowing that the allied forces are planning a daring commando raid through the jungle to destroy it.The Bridge on The River Kwai (1957)
Golden Age – Drama – Adventure – War – Epic War Adventure – WWII (1939-1945) Era – Japanese Prisoner-of-War (POW) Camp – Japanese Commandant – Railway Bridge Construction Order – British War-Prisoners Commanding Officer – Collaboration – Courage – Determination – Obsession – Honour – Pride – Military Code – Suspense – Mounting Tension – Brutality – Violence – Commando Mission – Sabotage – Tragedy – Others – Historical Drama – Characterization – Egotism – Stoicism – Professionalism – Pierre Boulle's 1952 Novel – Oscar (7) Winner – Ironic Fate – Cult Status – Classic Status – Best 50's – Re-Watch Value – European – U.K. – 1001 Must-See Movies
★★★★★★★★ (8/10)
Topic: WWII (1939-1945) / Japanese Prisoner-of-War (POW) Camp - DirectorStanley KubrickStarsKirk DouglasRalph MeekerAdolphe MenjouAfter a failed attack on a German position, a general orders three soldiers, chosen at random, court-martialed for cowardice and their commanding officer must defend them.Paths of Glory (1957)
Golden Age – Drama – War – Historical War Drama – WWI (1914-1918) Era – Northern France Frontline – Tense Trench-Warfare – French Major General's Attack Order – Well-Defended German Position – Impossible Mission – Suicidal Attack – Doubts – Moral Dilemmas – First-Wave Massacre – Desperation – Fear – Second-Wave Refuse – Courtroom Drama – Court-Martial – Cowardice Accusations – Hypocritical French-Military Bureaucracy – Military Law – False Accusation – Corruption – Injustice – Execution – Tragedy – Others – Anti-War Film – Horrors-of-War – Social Commentary – Humanism – Idealism – Humphrey Cobb's 1935 Novel – Criterion Collection – Cult Status – Classic Status – Best 50's – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A. – 1001 Must-See Movies
★★★★★★★★ (8/10)
Topic: WWI (1914-1918) / Western Front - 19641h 35mPG8.4 (519K)97MetascoreDirectorStanley KubrickStarsPeter SellersGeorge C. ScottSterling HaydenAn unhinged American general orders a bombing attack on the Soviet Union, triggering a path to nuclear holocaust that a war room full of politicians and generals frantically tries to stop.Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb (1964)
Drama – War – Comedy – War Comedy – Cold War (1947-1991) Era – US Air-Force Base – Thermonuclear-Armed B-52 Bombers – Paranoiac Air-Force General – Nuclear Attack Order – Target: Soviet Union – Alert – Nuclear Holocaust Deadly-Scenario – Series-of-Events – Comedy-of-Errors – Political Satire – Pentagon's War Room – Plane-Recall Order – Political Crisis – Deadly Political Paradoxes – Suspense – Nightmarish Tension – Decisions – Desperation – Confusion – Russians Hostility – Paranoid Thriller – Shadowy Communist Conspiracy – Jeopardy – Suspicions – Mistrust – Cold-War Paranoia – Intrigue – Machiavellian Nightmare – Black Comedy – Black Humour – Sarcasm – Irony – Social Gaffe – Political Farce – Others – Militarism – Nihilism – Obsession – Eschatology – Peter George's 1958 Novel – Criterion Collection – Classic Status – Cult Status – Re-Watch Value – Best 60's – European – U.K. – 1001 Must See Movies
★★★★★★★★ (8/10) - DirectorKathryn BigelowStarsJeremy RennerAnthony MackieBrian GeraghtyDuring the Iraq War, a Sergeant recently assigned to an army bomb squad is put at odds with his squad mates due to his maverick way of handling his work.The Hurt Locker (2008)
Drama – War – Action – Thriller – Epic War Action Thriller – Iraq War (2003-2011) Era – Baghdad War-Zone – U.S.Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team – Disarm Bombs - Sergeant First Class – Alert – Danger – Risk – Suspense – Tension – Desperation – Fear – Anxiety Disorder – Panic Attack – Uncertainty Stress – Paranoia – Psychological Drama – Obsession – Never-Ending Experience – Self-Destructive Symptoms – Psychological Stress – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – Adrenaline Junkie – Narrating Trauma – Agoraphobia – Others – True Story – Character Study – Moral Dilemmas – Stoicism – Anti-Hero – Anti-War Film – Indie Film – Oscar (6) Winner – Best 00's – F a v e – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A. – 1001 Must See Movies
★★★★★★★★ (8/10)-S
Topic: Iraq War (2003-2011) - DirectorMartin ZandvlietStarsRoland MøllerLouis HofmannJoel BasmanIn post-World War II Denmark, a group of young German POWs are forced to clear a beach of thousands of land mines under the watch of a Danish Sergeant who slowly learns to appreciate their plight.Land of Mine (Under Sandet) (2015)
Drama – War – History – Historical War Drama – Post-WWII (May 1945) Era – Nazi-Surrender Aftermath – Danish Prisoner-of-War (POW) Camp – Heavily-Mined Denmark's West Cost – Scared German Teenagers Prisoners – Mission: Disarm Two-Million Land-Mines – Brutal Danish-Army Sergeant – Anger – Hostility – Empathy – Hate – Tragedy – Revenge Drama – Inhuman Conditions – Suicidally Dangerous Task – Sadistic Punishment – Suspense – Tension – Violence – Sadism – Torture – Psychological Stress – Cruelty – Fear – Deaths – Forgiveness - Nationalistic Vengeance – Others – True-Story Drama – Character Study – Power Abuse – War Crimes – Moral Dilemmas – Cynicism – F a v e – Indie Film – Best 10's – Foreign Language – European – Denmark
★★★★★★★★ (8/10)
Topic: WWII Aftermath / Danish Prisoner-of-War (POW) Camp - DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsLubna AzabalMélissa Désormeaux-PoulinMaxim GaudetteTwins journey to the Middle East to discover their family history and fulfill their mother's last wishes.Incendies (2010)
Drama – War – Mystery – Thriller – Mystery Drama – Present – Twin Christian Brothers – Arab-Immigrants to Canada – Dead Arab-Mother's Will – Family's Middle-East Roots Search – Mysterious Brother / Unknown Father Track-Down – Missing Person – Investigation – Moral Dilemmas – Shocking Secrets – Identity Crisis – Love-Loss Trauma – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – Ironic Fate – Political War Thriller – Past – Middle East – Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) Era – Political Crisis – Civil Disorder – Religious Conflict – Obsession – Depression – Brutality – Violence – Tragedy – Catharsis – Puzzle Film – Multiple Characters – Parallel Narratives – Non-Linear Timeline – Labyrinthine Structure – Fragment Time – Others – Family Drama – Thought-Provoking – Symbolism – Fatalism – Existentialism – Stage-To-Screen – Wajdi Mouawad's 2003 Play – Best 10's – Re-Watch Value – Foreign Language – Canada
★★★★★★★ (7/10)
Topic: Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsHarrison FordSean ConneryAlison DoodyIn 1938, after his father goes missing while pursuing the Holy Grail, Indiana Jones finds himself up against the Nazis again to stop them from obtaining its powers.Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989)
Action – Adventure – Action Adventure – Wartime Subplot – WWII (1939-1945) Era – Archaeology College-Professor – Code-Name "Indiana Jones" – Ancient Treasures Explorer – New-Mission: Find Holy Grail – Man-on-a-Mission – Father Mysterious Disappearance – Kidnapped-by Nazi Spies – Rescue Mission – Suspense – Tension – Greed – Obsession – Escape Thriller – Poetic Justice – Action Comedy – Black Humour – Sarcasm – Others – Good-vs-Evil Pattern – Fascism – Occultism – Heroism – Memorable Hero – Sequel – Iconic Film – Oscar (1) Winner – Cult Status – Best 80's – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A.
★★★★★★★★ (8/10) - DirectorAnthony MinghellaStarsRalph FiennesJuliette BinocheWillem DafoeAt the close of World War II, a young nurse tends to a badly burned plane crash victim. His past is shown in flashbacks, revealing an involvement in a fateful love affair.The English Patient (1996)*
Drama – War – Romance – Epic War Drama – WWII (1939-1945) Era – Mobile Army Medical Unit – Italian Old Monastery – Canadian Nurse – Dying Semi-Amnesiac Patient – Fragments of Memory – Romance – Married Woman – Passionate Love Affair – Love Story – Femme Fatale – Fatal Attraction – Melancholy – Obsession – Desperation – Loyalty – Tragedy – Love-Loss Trauma – Grief Trauma – Puzzle Film – Complex Storytelling – Non-Linear Timeline – Multi-Layered Plot – Self-Conscious Narration – Dream-Like Reality – Others – Poetic Melodrama – Fatalism – Michael Ondaatje's Novel – Indie Film – Oscar (9) Winner – Best 90's – F a v e – European – U.K. – 1001 Must-See Movies
★★★★★★★★ (8/10)-W
Topic: WWII (1939-1945) / Italian Declaration of War / North African Campaign - DirectorJoe WrightStarsKeira KnightleyJames McAvoyBrenda BlethynThirteen-year-old fledgling writer Briony Tallis irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit.Atonement (2007)
Drama – War – Romance – Romantic Drama – Upper-Class British Family Daughter – Housekeeper's Son – Romantic Affair – Attraction – Passion – Love Story – Happiness – Blame Game – Jealous Younger Sister – Misunderstand – Constructed Lie – Rape Accusation – False Accusation – Arrest – Prison Conviction – Wrong-Man Scenario – Dark Motives – Deception – Empathy – War Drama – WWII (1939-1945) Era – Battle of France – Dunkirk Evacuation – Violence – Atrocities – Reunion – Regret – Tragedy – Fate – Others – Ian McEwan's 2001 Novel – Oscar (1) Winner – F a v e – Best 00's – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A. – 1001 Must-See Movies
★★★★★★★★ (8/10)
Topic: WWII (1939-1945) / Battle of France / Dunkirk Evacuation - DirectorYann DemangeStarsJack O'ConnellSam ReidSean HarrisIn 1971, a young and disoriented British soldier is accidentally abandoned by his unit following a riot on the deadly streets of Belfast.'71 (2014)*
Drama – War – Crime – Action – Thriller – Political War Crime Drama – Northern Ireland Ethno-Nationalist Conflict "The Troubles" (1960-1998) Era – West Belfast 1971 War-Zone – Riot Situation – British-Unit Invasion – Violent Assembled Crowd – Danger – Violence – Confusion – Chaos – British Soldier Brutally Murder – Tragedy – Survival Action Thriller – Young New-Recruit British Soldier – Left Behind-Enemy-Lines – Missing Soldier Alarm – Frenetic Pursuit – One-Against-Many – Trapped Survival – Suspense – Tension – Fear – Terror – Uncertainty Stress – Psychological Struggle – Courage – Heroism – Cat-Mouse Game Theory – Wanted Man – Manhunt – Escape Thriller – Conspiracy Theory – Shadowy Conspiracy – Intelligence Services Operation – Proxy War – Paramilitaries Groups Operation – Informers – Manipulation – Double-Cross – Cynicism – Opportunism – Others – Historical Drama – Complex Internal Politics – Realism – Indie Film – F a v e – Best 10's – Re-Watch Value – European – U.K.
★★★★★★★★ (8/10)-S
Topic: Northern Ireland Ethno-Nationalist Conflict "The Troubles" (1960-1998) / West Belfast 1971 War-Zone - DirectorBilly WilderStarsWilliam HoldenDon TaylorOtto PremingerAfter two Americans are killed while escaping from a German P.O.W. camp in World War II, the barracks black marketeer, J.J. Sefton, is suspected of being an informer.Stalag 17 (1953)*
Golden Age – Drama – War – Comedy – War Drama – WWII (1939-1945) Era – German War-Prisoners Camp (Stalag) – Group of American Airmen Prisoners – Escape Attempt Gone-Wrong – Inside-Informant Suspicions – Cynical Black Marketeer Sergeant Prime-Suspect – Investigation – Tension – Frustration – Blame Game – Suspicions – Fake Accusations – Wrong-Man Scenario – Clear-His-Name Plan – True German Spy Uncover – New Escape Plan – Comedy – Comic Relief – Sarcasm – Situation Comedy – Character-Driven Comedy – Caustic Humour – Others – Dramedy – Characterizations – Opportunism – Cynicism – Patriotism – Stage-To-Screen – Oscar (1) Winner – Classic Status – Cult Status – Best 50's – F a v e – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A.
★★★★★★★★ (8/10)-S
Topic: WWII (1939-1945) / German Prisoner-of-War (POW) Camp - DirectorErnst LubitschStarsCarole LombardJack BennyRobert StackDuring the German occupation of Poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a Polish soldier's efforts to track down a German spy.To Be or Not To Be (1942)
Golden Age – War – Romance – Comedy – War Romantic Comedy – WWII (1939 -1945) Era – Nazi-Occupied Poland – Warsaw Theatre Company – Famous Polish Acting-Couple – Elegant Wife Actor – Young Handsome Polish Pilot – Wife’s Admirer – Romantic Affair – Husband Jealousy – Espionage Thriller – Dangerous Nazi-Spy – Secret List-of-Polish Resistance Members – List Recover Plan – Gestapo-Officers Masquerade – Deception – Suspense – Intrigue – Escape Thriller – Black Comedy – Black Humor – Political Satire – Farce – Screwball Comedy – Slapstick Comedy – Others – Anti-War Film – Fascism – Patriotism – Criterion Collection – Classic Status – Cult Status – Best 40's – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A. – 1001 Must See Movies
★★★★★★★ (7/10)
Case-Study: WWII (1939 -1945) / Nazi-Occupied Poland - DirectorBilly WilderStarsFranchot ToneAnne BaxterAkim TamiroffIn the North African campaign a British straggler manages to pass himself off as a waiter at the hotel commandeered as Rommel's headquarters. He has thoughts of assassinating Rommel but his cover may have an even better use.Five Graves To Cairo (1943)*
Golden Age – War – Drama – Thriller – War Drama – WWII (1939-1945) Era – Rommel's Africa-Corps – Fall-of-Tobruk Brutal Battle – Egypt's Small Isolated Desert Hotel – British Soldier Lone-Survivor – Fake (Dead Waiter) Identity – Espionage Thriller – Blasé-Tone Rommel Arrival – Secret Strategy – Code-Name "Five Graves – Plan: Uncover Axis Cryptic-Plan – Spy Mission – Suspense – Simmering Tension – Uncertainty Stress – Deception – Manipulation – Intrigue – Irony – Fate – Others – Character Study – Black Humour – Comic Relief – Arrogance – Ideology – Fascism – Opportunism – Patriotism – Heroism – Stage-To-Screen – Classic Status – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A.
★★★★★★★ (7/10)-M
Topic: WWII (1939-1945) / Western Desert Campaign / Fall of Tobruk - DirectorBrian G. HuttonStarsClint EastwoodTelly SavalasDon RicklesA group of U.S. soldiers sneaks across enemy lines in WWII France to get their hands on a secret stash of Nazi treasure.Kelly's Heroes (1970)
War – Action – Adventure – Comedy – War Action Adventure – WWII (1939-1945) Era – Post D-Day France – ex-Lieutenant American Private – Nazi's Hidden Gold Information – Bank-Vault Robbery Plan – Platoon Recruit – Behind-Enemy-Lines Operation – Risky Secret-Mission – Greed – Irresponsibility – Corruption – Determination – Battlefield Action – Courage-Under-Fire – Suspense – Heroic Patriotism Acts – Comedy – Anti-War Satire – Caustic Humour – Comic Relief – Feelgood Movie – Others – Heist Movie – Men-on-a-Mission Movie – Male-Bonding – Cynicism – Amoralism – Opportunism – Anti-Heroism – F a v e – Best 70's – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A.
★★★★★★★ (7/10)
Topic: WWII (1939-1945) / D-Day - DirectorKen AnnakinAndrew MartonGerd OswaldStarsJohn WayneRobert RyanRichard BurtonThe events of D-Day, told on a grand scale from both the Allied and German points of view.The Longest Day (1962)
Drama – Action – War – History – Epic War Action Drama – WWII (1939-1945) Era – Normandy, France Invasion Chronicle – US Army / Allied Forces – German High Command – French Resistance – Invasion Preparations – Strategy – Uncertainty Conditions – Risk – Suspense – Tension – War Operations – War Action Sequences – Massive Battles – Determination – Courage – Strength – Bravery – Heroism – Fate – Others – Historical Drama – True-Life Drama – Docudrama – Character Study – Cornelius Ryan's 1959 Novel – Blockbuster – Oscar (2) Winner – Classic Status – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A.
★★★★★★★ (7/10)
Case-Study: WWII (1939-1945) / D-Day / Normady Invasion - DirectorGillo PontecorvoStarsBrahim HadjadjJean MartinYacef SaadiIn the 1950s, fear and violence escalate as the people of Algiers fight for independence from the French government.The Battle of Algiers (La Battaglia di Algeri) (1966)
Drama – War – Historical War Drama – Algerian Independence War (1954-1962) Era – French Algeria's Capital City – Algeria's National Liberation Front (NLF) Movement – Algerian Revolutionary Guerrilla-Leader – Urban Guerrilla Warfare – French Colonial Powers – French Army Paratroopers – Armed Conflict – Raid – Violent Attacks – Brutality – Terror Strategies – Political Drama – Nationalism – Political Crisis – Sociopolitical Study – Others – Docudrama – kinetic Documentary-Style Film-making – Terrorism – Realism – Patriotism – Neo-Realism Movement – Influential Film – Best 60's – Classic Status – Cult Status – Foreign Language – European – Italy – 1001 Must See Movies
★★★★★★★ (7/10)
Topic: Algerian Independence War (1954-1962) - DirectorJ. Lee ThompsonStarsDavid NivenGregory PeckAnthony QuinnA team of Allied saboteurs is assigned an impossible mission: infiltrate an impregnable Nazi-held Greek island and destroy the two enormous long-range field guns that prevent the rescue of 2,000 trapped British soldiers.The Guns of Navarone (1961)
★★★★★★★ (7/10) - DirectorJean RenoirStarsJean GabinDita ParloPierre FresnayDuring WWI, two French soldiers are captured and imprisoned in a German P.O.W. camp. Several escape attempts follow until they are eventually sent to a seemingly inescapable fortress.The Grand Illusion (La Grande Ιllusion) (1937)
Golden Age – Drama – War – War Drama – WWI (1914-1918) Era – Imperial German Army Prisoner-of-War (POW) Camp – Battle-Wounded German Aristocrat Aviator Prison-Commandant – Two French Aviators Prisoners – Respect – Honour – Pride – Military Code – Prison-Escape Plans Preparations – Escape Thriller – Others – Anti-War Film – Social Commentary – Humanism – Pacifism – Patriotism – Optimism – Caustic Humor – Memorable Characters – Iconic Film – Criterion Collection – Classic Status – Re-Watch Value – Foreign Language – European – France – 1001 Must-See Movies
★★★★★★★ (7/10)
Topic: WWI (1914-1918) / Imperial German Army Prisoner-of-War (POW) Camp - DirectorJonathan GlazerStarsChristian FriedelSandra HüllerJohann KarthausAuschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden beside the camp.The Zone of Interest (2023)
Drama – War – History – War Drama – WWII (1939-1945) Era – German-Occupied Poland Year 1943 – Auschwitz Concentration Camp – Nazi Commandant Rudolf Höss – Family's Dream-Home Next-to-Camp – 7-Member Family – Daily Routine – Domestic Normalcy – Idyllic Life – Nazi Politics – Jews Mass Extermination Organise – Apathy – Cruelty – Dread – Unseen Tragedy – Art-House – Discomforting Sense – Unsettling Horror – Experimental Film – Irony – Others – True-Life Drama – Holocaust Film – Cynicism – Amoralism – Disturbing – Oscar (2) Winner – Martin Amis's 2014 Novel – A24 Production – Indie Film – Re-Watch Value – European – U.K.
★★★★★★★ (7/10)
Topic: WWII (1939-1945) Era / Nazi-Occupied Poland / Holocaust - DirectorChristopher NolanStarsFionn WhiteheadBarry KeoghanMark RylanceAllied soldiers from Belgium, the British Commonwealth and Empire, and France are surrounded by the German Army and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II.Dunkirk (2017)
Tags: Drama – War – History – Action – Thriller – Epic – True Story – Historical Drama – WWII (1939-1945) Era – Survival Thriller – Trapped Survival – Escape Thriller – Rescue Mission – Chaos – Dread – Tension – Desperation – Self-Sacrifice – Solidarity – Anxiety Disorder – Panic Attack – Non-Linear Timeline – Re-Watch Value – European – U.K.
★★★★★★★ (7/10)
Topic: WWII (1939-1945) / Battle of France / Dunkirk Evacuation - DirectorDavid O. RussellStarsGeorge ClooneyMark WahlbergIce CubeIn the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War, four soldiers set out to steal gold that was stolen from Kuwait, but they discover people who desperately need their help.Three Kings (1999)
War – Comedy – Action – Adventure – War Action Adventure – Gulf War (1990-1991) Era – Post-War Chaos – Four Veterans American Soldiers – Anarchic Attitude – Secret-Bunkers Map – Stolen Kuwaiti-Gold Location – Unauthorized Mission – Gold Robbery Plan – Confusing Situation – Iraqi Civilians Help Re-Plan – Rescue Mission – Action Sequences – Suspense – Tension – Chaos – Action Black Comedy – Satirical Fiction – Sardonic Humour – Sarcasm – Irony – Others – Heist Film – Anti-War Film – American Foreign Policy – Cynicism – Anarchism – Heroism – Humanism – Political Commentary – Cult Status – F a v e – Best 90's – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A. – 1001 Must-See Movies
★★★★★★★ (7/10)
Topic: Gulf War (1990-1991) - DirectorRidley ScottStarsJosh HartnettEwan McGregorTom SizemoreThe story of 160 elite U.S. soldiers who dropped into Mogadishu in October 1993 to capture two top lieutenants of a renegade warlord, but found themselves in a desperate battle with a large force of heavily armed Somalis.Black Hawk Down (2001)
War – Drama – Action – History – Thriller – War Drama – Somalia Civil War (1992-1995) Era – US Delta Force Operation – Somali General Capture-Mission – Mogadishu-Town Raid – Raid-gone-Awry – Somali Forces Strong-Resistance – Two Black-Hawk Helicopters Shot-Down – US Ground Forces Detached – Desperate Situation – Out-of-Control – Chaos – Fiasco – Survival Action Thriller – Somali Militia-Fighters Manhunt – US Army Rescue Mission – Dread – Tension – Battle Survival – Trapped Survival – Bravery – Chaos – Escape Thriller – Others – True-Life Drama – Urban Warfare – Realism – Heroism – Mark Bowden's 1999 Novel – Oscar (2) Winner – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A.
★★★★★★★ (7/10)
Topic: Somalia Civil War (1992-1995) / Black Hawk Down Incident - DirectorDavid AyerStarsBrad PittShia LaBeoufLogan LermanA grizzled tank commander makes tough decisions as he and his crew fight their way across Germany in April, 1945.Fury (2014)
Drama – War – Action – Thriller – War Action Drama – WWII (1939-1945) Era – WWII Final Phase – Western Allied Invasion-of Germany – Strong Resistance – American Tank Crew – Behind-Enemy-Lines Deadly Mission – Ground Assaults – Brutal Battles – Immediate Casualties – Action Sequences – Suspense – Tension – Brutality – Violence – Survival Instincts – Tragedy – Others – Horror-of-War – Moral Dilemmas – Heroism – Realism – Cynicism – Nihilism – Pessimism – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A.
★★★★★★★ (7/10)
Topic: WWII (1939-1945) / Final Phase - DirectorPaul GreengrassStarsMatt DamonJason IsaacsGreg KinnearDiscovering covert and faulty intelligence causes a U.S. Army officer to go rogue as he hunts for Weapons of Mass Destruction in an unstable region.Green Zone (2010)*
Drama – War – Action – Thriller – War Action Drama – Iraq Invasion (2003) Era – US Army Chief Warrant Officer – Mobile Exploitation Team (MET) Leader – Iraqi Mass-Destruction Weapon (WMDs) Investigation – War-on-Terror – Men-on-a-Mission – Tracking-Down Operation – Raids – Dead-Ends – Inaccurate Informations – Doubts – Action Sequences – Frenetic Chase – Urban Combat – Determination – Anger – Espionage Thriller – Intelligence Agencies Operation – Intelligence Assessment (Intel) – Conspiracy Theory – Shadowy Conspiracy – Dark Motives – Deception – Manipulation – Cover-Ups – Misdirections – Paranoia – Intrigue – Political Thriller – Middle-East Politics – Government Propaganda – Military Science – Political Agenda – Political Corruption – Others – Hypocrisy – Cynicism – Heroism – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A.
★★★★★★★ (7/10)-S
Topic: Iraq Invasion (2003) - DirectorPeter BergStarsMark WahlbergTaylor KitschEmile HirschMarcus Luttrell and his team set out on a mission to capture or kill notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shah, in late June 2005. Marcus and his team are left to fight for their lives in one of the most valiant efforts of modern warfare.Lone Survivor (2013)*
War – Drama – Action – Biography – Thriller – War Drama – Afghanistan War (2001-2014) Era – Korangal Valley (Valley-of-Death) – US Navy-Seal Four-Man Team – Capture Notorious Taliban-Leader Order – Men-on-a-Mission – Dangerous Top-Secret Mission – Mission-gone-Awry – Fatal Decisions – Local-Villagers Alert – Abort Order – Cat-Mouse Game Theory – Manhunt – Taliban Deadly-Pursuit – Escape Thriller – Survival Action Thriller – Afghanistan Cruel Mountains – Fierce Combat – Minute-by-Minute Fight – Suspense – Tension – Courage – Heroism – Dramatic Rescue-Mission – Tragedy – Others – Biographical Drama – Militaristic Film – Male Bonding – No-Exit Finale – Marcus Luttrell's 2007 Novel – Cult Status – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A.
★★★★★★★ (7/10)-W
Topic: Afghanistan War (2001-2014) - DirectorRoman PolanskiStarsAdrien BrodyThomas KretschmannFrank FinlayDuring WWII, acclaimed Polish musician Wladyslaw faces various struggles as he loses contact with his family. As the situation worsens, he hides in the ruins of Warsaw in order to survive.The Pianist (2002)
★★★★★★★ (7/10) - DirectorFrank PiersonStarsClare BullusStanley TucciSimon MarkeyAt the Wannsee Conference on January 20, 1942, senior Nazi officials meet to determine the manner in which the so-called "Final Solution to the Jewish Question" can be best implemented.Conspiracy (2001)
War – Drama – History – TV-Movie – Historical War Drama – WWII (1939-1945) Era – Southwestern Berlin's Lakeside Resort – Wannsee 1942 Conference – Top-Secret Meeting – Senior Nazi-Government Officials – "Jewish Question" Discussion – Plan Code-Name "Final Solution" – Germany's Jews Mass-Evacuation Decision – Radical ad-hoc Measures – Concentration Camps – Gas Chambers – Argument – Tension – Intrigue – Horror-of-War – Political Drama – Nazi Policy – War Crimes – Anti-Semitism – Forcible Emigration – Genocide – Conspiracy Theory – Shadowy Conspiracy – Determination – Manipulation – Discrimination – Annihilation – Others – Docudrama – True-Life Drama – Characterisation – Fascism – Cynicism – Racism – Amoralism – Arrogance – Social Psychology – Minimalism – Re-Watch Value – F a v e – European – U.K.
★★★★★★★ (7/10)-S
Topic: WWII (1939-1945) / Nazi Policies / Final Solution Plan - DirectorRichard MarquandStarsDonald SutherlandKate NelliganStephen MacKennaA ruthless German spy, trying to get out of Britain with vital information about D-Day, must spend time with a young woman and her crippled husband.Eye of The Needle (1981)*
Drama – War – Romance – Thriller – Espionage War Thriller – WWII (1939-1945) Era – United Kingdom – Ruthless Nazi-Spy – Code-Name “The Needle – British Military-Secrets Spy – Undercover Mission:Upcoming D-Day Invasion Investigation – Man-on-a-Mission – Determination – Deception – Murders – Cat-Mouse Game Theory – Military Intelligence Agency MI5 – Track-Down Operation – Manhunt – Suspicions – Suspense – Claustrophobic Tension – Escape Thriller – Erotic Drama – Isolated Storm-Island – Desperate Young Beautiful Wife – Romance – Passion – Twisted Relationship – Violence – Psychological Struggle – Others – Hitchcockian Aura – Twisted Villain – Ken Follett's 1978 Novel – F a v e – Best 80's – Re-Watch Value – European – U.K.
★★★★★★★ (7/10)-S
Topic: WWII (1939-1945) / Axis Espionage - DirectorRobert BressonStarsFrançois LeterrierCharles Le ClaincheMaurice BeerblockA captured French Resistance fighter during World War II engineers a daunting escape from a German prison in France.A Man Escaped (1956)
★★★★★★★ (7/10) - DirectorEmir KusturicaStarsPredrag 'Miki' ManojlovicLazar RistovskiMirjana JokovicTwo underground black marketeers, Marko and Blacky, sell weapons to the Communist resistance in wartime Belgrade, living the good life along the way.Underground (Podzemlje) (1995)
Tags: Drama – War – Comedy – WWII (1939-1945) Era – Anti-War Film – Black Comedy – Art-House – Mise-en-Scène – Allegorical – Metaphorical – Grotesque – Farce – Surrealism – Satirical Fiction – Foreign Language – European – Serbia – 1001 Must See Movies
★★★★★★★ (7/10) - DirectorDejan ZecevicStarsAleksandar StojkovicVuk KosticTihomir StanicSerbian soldiers discover a man locked in a basement at the end of the war. After he is freed, people start disappearing.The Enemy (Neprijatelj) (2011)
Drama – War – Mystery – Thriller – War Mystery Drama – Post-Yugoslavian Civil War (1991-2001) Era – Border's Isolated Rural Area – Serbian Army Engineering-Unit – Removing Mines Mission – Enigmatic Prisoner – Strange Phenomena – Disconcerting Effect – Uncertainty Stress – Anxiety – Demonic Figure – Paranoid Thriller – Psychological Manipulation – Oppression – Tension – Confusion – Suspicions – Alienation – Intolerance – Hostility – Distrust – Madness – Chaos – Paranoia – Downward Spiral – Psychological Horror – Claustrophobic Threat – Supernatural Dread – Metaphysical Horror – Art-Horror – Allegorical – Others – Horror-of-Wars – Bizarre – Thought-Provoking – Slow-Burn – Re-Watch Value – Foreign Language – European – Serbia
★★★★★★★ (7/10)
Topic: Yugoslavian Civil War (1991-2001) - DirectorRoberto BenigniStarsRoberto BenigniNicoletta BraschiGiorgio CantariniWhen an open-minded Jewish waiter and his son become victims of the Holocaust, he uses a perfect mixture of will, humor and imagination to protect his son from the dangers around their camp.Life is Beautiful (La Vita è Bella) (1997)
★★★★★★★ (7/10) - DirectorStanley KubrickStarsMatthew ModineR. Lee ErmeyVincent D'OnofrioA pragmatic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects the Vietnam War has on his fellow recruits from their brutal boot camp training to the bloody street fighting in Hue.Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Tags: Drama – War – Vietnam War (1955-1975) Era – True Story – Anti-War Film – Cynicism – Brutality – Torture – Power Abuse – Psychological Stress – Anxiety Disorder – Best 80's – Classic Status – Cult Status – Re-Watchable – U.S.A. – 1001 Must See Movies
★★★★★★★ (7/10) - DirectorCary Joji FukunagaStarsAbraham AttahEmmanuel AffadziRicky AdelayitorA drama based on the experiences of Agu, a child soldier fighting in the civil war of an unnamed African country.Beasts of No Nation (2015)
★★★★★★★ (7/10) - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsDaniel Day-LewisSally FieldDavid StrathairnAs the Civil War rages on, U.S President Abraham Lincoln struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on his decision to emancipate the slaves.Lincoln (2012)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorJustin KurzelStarsMichael FassbenderMarion CotillardJack MadiganMacbeth, the Thane of Glamis, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself.Macbeth (2015)
Tags: Drama – War – Historical Fiction – Epic – Civil War Era – Art-House – Fatalism – Ambition – Suspense – Tension – Tragedy – Paranoia – Insanity – Downward Spiral – Stage-To-Screen – William Shakespeare's Play – Mise-en-Scène – indie – European – U.K.
★★★★★★★ (7/10) - DirectorPeter WeirStarsRussell CrowePaul BettanyBilly BoydDuring the Napoleonic Wars, a brash British captain pushes his ship and crew to their limits in pursuit of a formidable French war vessel around South America.Master And Commander: The Far Side of The World (2003)
★★★★★★★ (7/10) - DirectorGuillermo del ToroStarsIvana BaqueroAriadna GilSergi LópezIn the Falangist Spain of 1944, the bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world.Pan’s Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno) (2006)
Tags: Drama – War – Fantasy – Spanish Civil War Era (1936-1939) – Surrealism – Fascism – Sadism – Brutality – Allegorical – Cruelty – Abuse – Courage – Good-vs-Evil Story – Cult Status – Foreign Language – European – Spain – 1001 Must See Movies
★★★★★★★ (7/10) - DirectorAaron SchneiderStarsTom HanksElisabeth ShueStephen GrahamSeveral months after the U.S. entry into World War II, an inexperienced U.S. Navy commander must lead an Allied convoy being stalked by a German submarine wolf pack.Greyhound (2020)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorClint EastwoodStarsBradley CooperSienna MillerKyle GallnerNavy S.E.A.L. sniper Chris Kyle's pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and turns him into a legend. Back home with his family after four tours of duty, however, Chris finds that it is the war he can't leave behind.American Sniper (2014)
Drama – War – Action – Biography – War Action Drama – September 11 Attacks – USA "War-on-Terror" Campaign – Iraq War (2003-2011) Era – US Special Forces Charismatic Sniper – Four-Tours Iraq Duty – Lethal Precision – Al-Qaeda Leader Hunt-Mission – Action Sequences – Life-or-Death Situations – Suspense – Tension – Duty – Determination – Male Bonding – Legendary Marksman – Marital Problems – Melancholy – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – Tragedy – Others – True-Life Drama – Biographical Drama – Character Study – Professionalism – Patriotism – Stoicism – Heroism – Chris Kyle's 2012 Novel – Oscar (1) Winner – Cult Status – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A.
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorJalmari HelanderStarsJorma TommilaAksel HennieJack DoolanWhen an ex-soldier who discovers gold in the Lapland wilderness tries to take the loot into the city, German soldiers led by a brutal SS officer battle him.Sisu (2022)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorFranklin J. SchaffnerStarsGeorge C. ScottKarl MaldenStephen YoungThe World War II phase of the career of controversial American general George S. Patton.Patton (1970)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorBryan SingerStarsTom CruiseBill NighyCarice van HoutenA dramatization of the July 20, 1944 assassination and political coup plot by desperate renegade German Army officers against Adolf Hitler during World War II.Valkyrie (2008)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorJerzy SkolimowskiStarsVincent GalloEmmanuelle SeignerZach CohenAn Afghan POW attempts his escape.Essential Killing (2010)
Drama – War – Action – Thriller – War Drama – Afghanistan War (2001–2021) Era – US Military Operation – Taliban Terrorist Capture – Black-Ops Interrogation – Brutality – Torture – Survival Horror – Escape Thriller – Unfamiliar Snowbound Wasteland – Manhunt – Frenetic Pursuit – Track-Down Operation – Extreme Survival Mode – Kill-to-Survive – Determination – Desperation – Fear – Trapped Survival – Men-Against-Nature – Wilderness Survival – Primitive Instincts – Existential Dread – Madness – Paranoia – Downward Spiral – Destiny – Political Thriller – CIA’s Covert Operations – War-on-Terror – Religious Extremists – Others – Anti-War Film – Symbolism – Realism – Cynicism – Stoicism – Opportunism – Nihilism – Minimalistic Set-Up - Disturbing – E x t r e m e – WTF Factor – Shock Value – F a v e – Re-Watch Value – European – Poland
★★★★★★ (6/10)
Topic: Afghanistan War (2001–2021) - DirectorJulius AveryStarsJovan AdepoWyatt RussellMathilde OllivierA small group of American soldiers find horror behind enemy lines on the eve of D-Day.Overlord (2018)*
Science Fiction – War – Drama – Action – Horror – Thriller – War Drama – D-Day (06-06-1944) WWII Era – American Paratrooper Squad – Behind-Enemy-Lines Secret-Operation – German Communication-Tower Destroy Mission – Men-on-a-Mission – Crucial Mission – Plane Crash – Confusion – Battles – Four Survivors – Sci-Fi Action Survival Horror – Nazi-Occupied French Small-Village – Enigmatic German Underground-Laboratory – Secret Medical Experimentation – Undead Army Experiment – Superhuman Strength Zombies – Lone Survivors – Teamwork – Suspense – Tension – Determination – Courage – Nightmarish Fear – Claustrophobic Dread – Horror – Gore – Panic Attack – Man-against-Monsters – Others – Zombie Movie – Good-vs-Evil Concept – Moral Conflict – Patriotism – Heroism – Shock – WTF Factor – F a v e – Re-Watch Value – U.S.A.
★★★★★★ (6/10)-S
Topic: WWII (1939-1945) / D-Day - DirectorGuy RitchieStarsHenry CavillAlan RitchsonAlex PettyferThe British military recruits a small group of highly skilled soldiers to strike against German forces behind enemy lines during World War II.The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorAnatole LitvakStarsPeter O'TooleOmar SharifTom CourtenayIn 1942, a Polish prostitute and German Agent is murdered in Warsaw. Suspicion falls on three Generals, and Major Grau of German Intelligence seeks justice which ends up taking decades.The Night of The Generals (1967)
Drama – War – Crime – Mystery – War Crime Mystery Drama – WWII (1939-1945) Era – German-Occupied Warsaw – Prostitute Sadistic Murder – Three German Generals Prime-Suspects – German Military-Intelligence Services Officer Investigator – Investigation – Detective Story – Murder Mystery – Serial Killer – Cat-Mouse Game Theory – Manhunt – Justice – Suspicion – Suspense – Tension – Determination – Sadism – Obsession – Others – Memorable Villain – Mental Disorder – Psychopathic – Maniac – Obsessive Personality Disorder – Sexual Sadism Disorder – Hans Hellmut Kirst’s Novel – Classic Status – F a v e – Best 60's – Re-Watch Value – European – U.K.
★★★★★★ (6/10)-W
Topic: WWII (1939-1945) Era / Nazi-Occupied Poland - DirectorBrian G. HuttonStarsRichard BurtonClint EastwoodMary UreAllied agents stage a daring raid on a castle where the Nazis are holding American brigadier general George Carnaby prisoner, but that's not all that's really going on.Where Eagles Dare (1968)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorJohn SturgesStarsMichael CaineDonald SutherlandRobert DuvallA German plot to kidnap Sir Winston Churchill unfolds at the height of World War II.The Eagle Has Landed (1976)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorKen AnnakinStarsHenry FondaRobert ShawRobert RyanA dramatization of Nazi Germany's final Western Front counterattack of World War II.Battle of The Bulge (1965)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorRobert AldrichStarsLee MarvinErnest BorgnineCharles BronsonDuring World War II, a rebellious U.S. Army Major is assigned a dozen convicted murderers to train and lead them into a mass assassination mission of German officers.The Dirty Dozen (1967)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorJohn SturgesStarsSteve McQueenJames GarnerRichard AttenboroughAllied prisoners of war plan for several hundred of their number to escape from a German camp during World War II.The Great Escape (1963)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsTallulah BankheadJohn HodiakWalter SlezakSeveral survivors of a torpedoed merchant ship in World War II find themselves in the same lifeboat with one of the crew members of the U-boat that sank their ship.Lifeboat (1944)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorFred ZinnemannStarsBurt LancasterMontgomery CliftDeborah KerrAt a U.S. Army base in 1941 Hawaii, a private is cruelly punished for not boxing on his unit's team, while his commanding officer's wife and top aide begin a tentative affair.From Here To Eternity (1953)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorCy EndfieldStarsStanley BakerJack HawkinsUlla JacobssonOutnumbered British soldiers do battle with Zulu warriors at Rorke's Drift.Zulu (1964)
★★★★★★★ (7/10) - DirectorRichard AttenboroughStarsSean ConneryRyan O'NealMichael CaineOperation Market Garden, September 1944: The Allies attempt to capture several strategically important bridges in the Netherlands in the hope of breaking the German lines.A Bridge Too Far (1977)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorRod LurieStarsScott EastwoodCaleb Landry JonesOrlando BloomA small team of U.S. soldiers battles against hundreds of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.The Outpost (2020)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorMichael BayStarsBen AffleckKate BeckinsaleJosh HartnettA tale of war and romance mixed in with history. The story follows two lifelong friends and a beautiful nurse who are caught up in the horror of an infamous Sunday morning in 1941.Pearl Harbor (2001)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorRandall WallaceStarsMel GibsonMadeleine StoweGreg KinnearThe story of the first major battle of the American phase of the Vietnam War, and the soldiers on both sides that fought it, while their wives wait nervously and anxiously at home for the good news or the bad news.We Were Soldiers (2002)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorJean-Pierre MelvilleStarsHoward VernonNicole StéphaneJean-Marie RobainIn occupied France, an elderly man and his niece are forced to give shelter to a German army lieutenant who seemingly loves their country and culture.The Silence of Τhe Sea (Le Silence de La Mer) (1949)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorSam MendesStarsJake GyllenhaalJamie FoxxLucas BlackA psychological study of Marine's state of mind during the Gulf War. Told through the eyes of a U.S. Marine sniper who struggles to cope with boredom, a sense of isolation, and other issues back home.Jarhead (2005)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorRobert SchwentkeStarsMax HubacherAlexander FehlingSebastian RudolphIn the last moments of World War II, a young German soldier fighting for survival finds a Nazi captain's uniform. Impersonating an officer, the man quickly takes on the monstrous identity of the perpetrators he's escaping from.The Captain (Der Hauptmann) (2017)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorMel GibsonStarsAndrew GarfieldSam WorthingtonLuke BraceyWorld War II American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, serving during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first man in American history to receive the Medal of Honor without firing a shot.Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorRoland EmmerichStarsEd SkreinPatrick WilsonWoody HarrelsonThe story of the Battle of Midway, told by the leaders and the sailors who fought it.Midway (2019)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorGuy RitchieStarsJake GyllenhaalDar SalimSean SagarDuring the war in Afghanistan, a local interpreter risks his own life to carry an injured sergeant across miles of grueling terrain.The Covenant (2023)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorWerner HerzogStarsChristian BaleSteve ZahnJeremy DaviesA U.S. fighter pilot's epic struggle of survival after being shot down on a mission over Laos during the Vietnam War.Rescue Dawn (2006)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorClint EastwoodStarsKen WatanabeKazunari NinomiyaTsuyoshi IharaThe story of the battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Imperial Japan during World War II, as told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought it.Letters From Iwo Jima (2006)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorMorten TyldumStarsBenedict CumberbatchKeira KnightleyMatthew GoodeDuring World War II, the English mathematical genius Alan Turing tries to crack the German Enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians while attempting to come to terms with his troubled private life.The Imitation Game (2014)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorTaika WaititiStarsRoman Griffin DavisThomasin McKenzieScarlett JohanssonA young German boy in the Hitler Youth whose hero and imaginary friend is the country's dictator is shocked to discover that his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home.Jojo Rabbit (2019)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorCate ShortlandStarsSaskia RosendahlKai-Peter MalinaNele TrebsAs the Allies sweep across Germany, Lore leads her siblings on a journey that exposes them to the truth of their parents' beliefs. An encounter with a mysterious refugee forces Lore to rely on a person she has always been taught to hate.Lore (2012)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorRoland EmmerichStarsMel GibsonHeath LedgerJoely RichardsonPeaceful farmer Benjamin Martin is driven to lead the Colonial Militia during the American Revolution when a sadistic British officer murders his son.The Patriot (2000)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorMichael BayStarsJohn KrasinskiPablo SchreiberJames Badge DaleDuring an attack on a U.S. compound in Libya, a security team struggles to make sense out of the chaos.13 Hours (2016)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorTerry GeorgeStarsDon CheadleSophie OkonedoJoaquin PhoenixPaul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager, houses over a thousand Tutsi refugees during their struggle against the Hutu militia in Rwanda, Africa.Hotel Rwanda (2004)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorNorman JewisonStarsHoward E. Rollins Jr.Adolph CaesarArt EvansAn African-American officer investigates a murder in a racially charged situation in World War II.A Soldier's Story (1984)
★★★★★★★ (7/10) - DirectorTom HooperStarsColin FirthGeoffrey RushHelena Bonham CarterThe story of King George VI, his unexpected ascension to the throne of the British Empire in 1936, and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch overcome his stammer.The King's Speech (2010)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorEdward ZwickStarsMatthew BroderickDenzel WashingtonCary ElwesRobert Gould Shaw leads the U.S. Civil War's first all-black volunteer company, fighting prejudices from both his own Union Army, and the Confederates.Glory (1989)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorJoe WrightStarsGary OldmanLily JamesKristin Scott ThomasIn May 1940, the fate of World War II hangs on Winston Churchill, who must decide whether to negotiate with Adolf Hitler, or fight on knowing that it could mean the end of the British Empire.Darkest Hour (2017)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorPaul HaggisStarsTommy Lee JonesCharlize TheronJonathan TuckerA retired military investigator works with a police detective to uncover the truth behind his son's disappearance following his return from a tour of duty in Iraq.In The Valley of Elah (2007)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorBabak AnvariStarsNarges RashidiAvin ManshadiBobby NaderiAs a mother and daughter struggle to cope with the terrors of the post-revolution, war-torn Tehran of the 1980s, a mysterious evil begins to haunt their home.Under The Shadow (2016)
★★★★★★ (6/10) - DirectorRoland JofféStarsSam WaterstonHaing S. NgorJohn MalkovichA journalist is trapped in Cambodia during tyrant Pol Pot's bloody 'Year Zero' cleansing campaign, which claimed the lives of two million 'undesirable' civilians.The Killing Fields (1984)
★★★★★★★ (7/10) - DirectorAnne FontaineStarsLou de LaâgeAgata BuzekAgata Kulesza1945. Mathilde is a French Red Cross doctor working on a mission to help the French survivors of the German camps. While she works in Poland, she is asked for help by a nun. In her convent, several nuns are pregnant.The Innocents (Les Innocentes) (2016)
★★★★★★ (6/10)