War movies come in various shapes and sizes, but the genre’s masterpieces from the last century are so much more than mere cinematic spectacle. Going back all the way to the Silent Era, war films were typically the largest and most expensive epics of their day. Global conflicts like the World Wars influenced Hollywood, and inspired tons of movies.
Though many war films from Hollywood’s Golden Age glorified combat and essentially acted as propaganda, they were nevertheless quite entertaining. However, some filmmakers used the war genre as a platform to tell much richer stories, ones that examined the destructive nature of violent conflict and its impact on soldiers and civilians.
While some war movies tell stories of heroism and triumph, others are dark tales of times that try man’s soul. What’s more, Hollywood isn’t the only source of classic war films, and other nations around the globe have contributed their efforts too. Though the genre is crowded, a handful of war films stand out as the best of the century.
Joker carries a gun through the woods in Full Metal Jacket
Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket is essentially one story split into two parts, and each is harrowing in its own way. During the Vietnam War, a Marine recruit goes through a rigorous basic training program before being dropped into the middle of battle. The shocking character arc of Private Leonard “Gomer Pyle” Lawrence completely steals the show.
Though it has all the trappings of a normal war too, Full Metal Jacket is an examination of the mental destruction required for a war like Vietnam. Private Pyle’s crack-up is indicative of the insanity that Kubrick and others saw in the prolonged proxy war. The second half is also exciting, though not nearly as effective as the first.
9
Come And See (1985)
A young boy stands with other soldiers in the woods in Come and See
Perhaps the only Belarusian film to ever crack the international stage, Come and See remains the most gut-wrenching anti-war film ever made. During the German invasion of the Soviet Union in WWII, an idealistic young boy joins the resistance but is slowly devastated by the horrors of war. For 142 minutes, Come and See delivers unflinching horror.
Unlike other anti-war movies which hide their themes behind spectacle, the Soviet classic gives the audience no respite. While this makes the viewing experience unpleasant and challenging, it never risks being misunderstood or ill-defined. Horrific war movies aren’t uncommon, but none have been as nightmarish as Come and See. Perhaps to the detriment of the movie’s legacy.
8
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Martin Sheen in Apocalypse NowUnited Artists /Courtesy Everett Collection
Just a few years removed from the Vietnam War, Francis Ford Coppola put his own spin on Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness with Apocalypse Now. In Vietnam, a jaded soldier is enlisted to go on a dangerous mission to find Colonel Kurtz who has gone rogue in the jungle. Despite its notoriously troubled production, Apocalypse Now is a masterpiece.
Bounding from one scene to the next with an almost dreamlike abandon, the journey at the heart of the story symbolically represents the war itself. When Kurtz finally arrives, the movie shifts into an aura of psychological horror, something never before seen in the genre. Other films approached Vietnam humanistically, but Apocalypse Now’s gonzo approach best sums up the conflict.
7
The Great Escape (1963)
Steve McQueen sits on his motorcycle in The Great Escape
Though The Great Escape plays quite fast and loose with the truth, it still makes for a memorable war adventure. During WWII, a rag-tag bunch of Allied soldiers plot an escape from a Nazi POW camp in order to draw the Germans away from battle and save their comrades. The brilliant ensemble piece is led by the charismatic Steve McQueen.
Glossy and fun, The Great Escape is just that, a deft piece of escapism. The three-hour epic has everything that a war movie should, with exciting action, a compelling plot, and even a bit of humor to make it a well-rounded experience. Along with its spot among other war masterpieces, The Great Escape is the best POW movie ever made.
6
Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)
Lawrence looks on dramatically in Lawrence of Arabia
Lawrence of Arabia checks several boxes. It isn’t just an all-time great war movie, but also a classic biopic and historical epic too. British officer T.E. Lawrence is dispatched to the Middle East to help advise Prince Feisal in his revolt against Turkish forces during WWI, but he gets personally involved.
Peter O’Toole’s performance in the title role earned him an Oscar nod, while the film won seven. At 222 minutes in length, Lawrence of Arabia represents the pinnacle of Old Hollywood opulence on screen. However, the real brilliance of the epic is how it tells a very personal story on a grand scale, something most war movies struggle to achieve.
5
All Quiet On The Western Front (1930)
Men cower in a trench in All Quiet on the Western Front
One of the few epic war movies made before WWII, All Quite on the Western Front set the standard for the genre. Adapting the novel, the story concerns German youths who are talked into joining WWI, where they experience the harsh reality of trench warfare. Made before strict censorship was imposed on Hollywood, the classic was ahead of its time.
Because sound was still a novel invention in 1930, All Quiet on the Western Front relies heavily on visual storytelling. The black and white photography adds a layer of grit to the storytelling, but it still has that dreamy quality of early sound movies. Despite approaching 100 very soon, few war films have been able to top the harrowing vision.
4
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Tom Hanks as John H Miller and Tom Sizemore as Mike Horvath leading troops into D-Day in Saving Private Ryan
When it comes to effortlessly blending action spectacle and a deeper examination of war, no Hollywood film hits the mark like Saving Private Ryan. During the invasion of Normandy in WWII, an American battalion is sent behind enemy lines to rescue a private who is the last of his family after his brothers each perished in the war.
The opening battle sequence alone is enough to make it one of the all-time greats, but it’s what happens after that really shines. The film finds time to feature a gigantic ensemble, each with defined characters, and tells an exciting narrative with a lot of heart. Steven Spielberg was at the height of his powers when he directed the blockbuster.
3
Paths Of Glory (1957)
Dax and his men stand in a trench as bombs go off in Paths of Glory
30 years before Full Metal Jacket, Stanley Kubrick delivered a startling war drama for the ages. Paths of Glory is set during WWI, and concerns a Colonel who must court-martial three of his men for cowardice. Other films showed the horrors of battle, but Paths of Glory is about the horrors of the war machine itself.
The film moves slowly, and is largely anchored by several long set pieces. Kirk Douglas gives the performance of a lifetime, and the plot spirals out like a slow-burn Shakespearean tragedy. Made during the height of soaring patriotism in the U.S., Paths of Glory is a cynical piece of anti-propaganda that dissects the evil of bureaucracy.
2
Das Boot (1981)
The Captain and the crew look on in Das Boot
History is written by the victors, but audiences were ready for a story about the German navy from WWII by 1981. Das Boot is set aboard a U-boat, and follows a correspondent who observes the realities of serving on a submarine at the height of war. Das Boot was produced in West Germany, but was a hit around the world.
The epic spectacle film might not be fully accurate, but it captures every minute detail of the U-boat’s story. From explosive battles to intimate moments between crew members, Das Boot invites the viewer to step into its reality for over three hours. Though it isn’t the greatest war masterpiece ever, it’s the greatest submarine movie by far.
1
Schindler’s List (1993)
Schindler’s List Iconic Black and White Image with Child In Red
Some argue that Schindler’s List is not a war movie, but its association with WWII is so inseparable that it is as much a war film as any other masterpiece. Based on the true story, Schindler’s List is the tale of industrialist Oskar Schindler who saved more than a thousand Jewish refugees from the Nazi concentration camps.
On a grand scale, it tells a deeply personal story about redemption. Schindler’s transformation from an apathetic opportunist to an unlikely hero is the crux of the film, but it also explores the nature of evil in fine detail. Without focusing on the battles, Schindler’s List tops other war movies because it so perfectly understands the themes of its genre.
