Hollywood loves World War II movies. The obsession makes sense, considering how eventful the conflict between the Allied and Axis powers was. According to History.com, more than 1000 battles took place, leaving heavy casualties. There are thus numerous stories to be told, so filmmakers are always willing to grab the history books and scour for what they believe audiences will love. Furthermore, World War II movies tend to get a lot of love during award season. For that reason, any studio looking for Oscar glory can always bet on them.
However, not all films about the early 20th-century conflict beam with realism and accuracy. Some filmmakers dive too much into creativity and pomposity, crafting movies that make for great viewing but are mere fantasy. Others study deeply and consult experts, hence they come up with final products that make military personnel proud of signing up. Well, military.com used a Google Form to seek the opinions of veterans and service members anonymously. They singled out the following movies as the best.
10
‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’ (1957)
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Release Date
October 11, 1957
Runtime
161 minutes
Cast
William Holden
, Alec Guinness
, Jack Hawkins
, Sessue Hayakawa
, James Donald
, Geoffrey Horne
In The Bridge on the River Kwai, British POWs at a Japanese prison camp in Thailand are ordered to construct a railway bridge over the River Kwai connecting Bangkok and Rangoon. Unwilling to help the enemy, they try to sabotage the construction process in whichever way they can, with disastrous consequences.
A Pressure Cooker Atmosphere
Here’s one nail-biting WWII thriller that truly lives up to its legacy as one of the greatest British war movies ever. The film won seven Oscars (including Best Picture) and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the United States Library of Congress.
The beauty of The Bridge on the River Kwai lies in the acting. Sir Alec Guinness is perfect as the defiant British commander, Colonel Nicholson, and William Holden is extremely stolid as the dedicated Commander Shears. Villain Colonel Saito will also cause your skin to crawl with his wheezing whisper.
9
‘Fury’ (2014)
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Release Date
October 17, 2014
Runtime
135 Minutes
Set during the final weeks of the battle in the European theater of World War II, Fury follows Don “Wardaddy” Collier (Brad Pitt) — a battle-hardened First Sergeant in the United States Second Armored Division — and his team, as they push their M4 Sherman tank (nicknamed Fury) into the heart of Germany. While on it, one crew member’s aversion to violence threatens to ruin the entire operation.
Pacifism and the Horrors of War
Despite facing endless criticism throughout his career, director David Ayer confidentially demonstrates his love of cinema with this eerie picture that draws on both genre conventions and the lyricism of human interactions. The look of frustration on all the characters’ faces feels authentic, which is hardly surprising, considering that the cast members’ preparation involved a week-long boot camp run by Navy SEALs.
Fury’s behind-the-scenes stories are generally as wild as the movie itself. Shia Lebouf reportedly didn’t shower during the entire shoot, so he could perfectly replicate the WWII frontline conditions. You’re guaranteed a good time here.
8
‘Saving Private Ryan’ (1998)
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Release Date
July 24, 1998
Runtime
169 minutes
Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan is credited with renewing interest in World War II and inspiring numerous other movies and TV shows set during the violent global conflict. Set in 1944 in Normandy, France, the film follows a team led by Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks), on a mission to find Private James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon) and get him home safely after it emerges that his three brothers have all been killed in combat.
Personal Stakes in a Global War
Despite its simplistic premise, Spielberg’s war actioner has all the emotional pull, savage bite, and brisk fight choreography of some of the best films in the genre. Deliberately compassionate in concept, Saving Private Ryan probes questions of courage, unity, morality, and the necessity of war while giving the talented cast leeway to flex their skills. Many names here became major stars, including Paul Giamatti, Bryan Cranston, and Vin Diesel.
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7
‘Casablanca’ (1942)
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Release Date
January 23, 1943
Runtime
102 minutes
To fall in love or be patriotic? Rick (Humphrey Bogart) from Casablanca reminds us that it’s a tough decision. Through the unlikeliest of circumstances, the American expatriate living in Morocco learns that his old flame is in town with her husband, a Czechoslovak resistance leader. Rick must soon choose between rekindling his romance with the woman or helping her husband escape from the Vichy-controlled city of Casablanca to enable him to continue his fight against the Nazis.
A War Flick with Fun Soap Opera Elements
Made when paranoia about the conflict was still at its height, Casablanca is a masterwork of unremitting suspense. Of all the WWII thrillers that have unnerved us since the war ended, the Michael Curtiz film will likely impress you more. Mostly restricted to rooms and streets, the Best Picture winner slowly builds claustrophobia and tension, losing you in the proceedings. The scenes with Bogart and Ingrid Bergman are especially riveting. Conrad Veidt also makes your blood freeze as the dispassionate Nazi colonel who has been sent to Casablanca to deal with all foes.
6
‘Das Boot’ (1981)
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Das Boot
Release Date
September 17, 1981
Runtime
149 Minutes
Cast
Jurgen Prochnow
, Herbert Grönemeyer
, Klaus Wennemann
, Hubertus Bengsch
, Martin Semmelrogge
, Bernd Tauber
, Erwin Leder
, Martin May
Based on wartime reporter Lothar-Günther Buchheim’s 1973 German book based on his experiences aboard the German submarine U-96, Das Boot revolves around a U-96 and her crew, as they embark on a hazardous patrol during the Battle of the Atlantic. At first, everyone is excited, but the fruitless hunt soon makes the crew members grumpy and wildly unreasonable.
Riding on the “War Is No Fun” Narrative
How director Wolfgang Petersen turns this story about a military voyage into cinematic gold attests to his genius for high-stakes blockbusters. At first, the crew members appear resigned to their dull, humdrum existence, but gradually we see faint, faltering glimmers of dissatisfaction. After all, they’re human. The film was nominated for six Oscars and is currently available in both English and German, for viewers who enjoy assessing the work done by translators.
Stream it on Apple TV+
5
‘Red Tails’ (2012)
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Release Date
January 20, 2012
Runtime
125minutes
World War II is quickly raging on in Red Tails and black cadets aren’t happy about being left out of the action. Things soon change when the Civil Aeronautics Authority selects a group of minority servicemen — known as The Tuskegee Airmen — to fly fighter jets. It initially seems like a golden opportunity, but racial discrimination and bureaucratic challenges mar the whole fighting-for-country experience.
What Life Was Like for Black Air Pioneers in the Military
The film deftly balances action, tender friendship arcs and commentary about racism, thanks to an amazing screenplay by John Ridley (better known for 12 Years a Slave). It must have helped to have actors like Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding Jr. as the two had starred in two previous movies that featured Tuskegee Airmen. With the cast’s heady chemistry evident from the outset, you can’t help but breathlessly root for the team throughout all the woes and twists in this moving adventure.
4
‘Valkyrie’ (2008)
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Release Date
December 25, 2008
Runtime
2h 4m
One of the essential Tom Cruise movies based on true stories, Valkyrie is the sad story of Germany’s Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Cruise), who tried to stamp on the pest named Adolf Hitler but failed. Stauffenberg was the mastermind behind “Operation Valkyrie,” a secret 1944 plot to kill the Fuhrer using a carefully hidden bomb.
Ganging up Against Hitler
Definitely not the crowning work of Cruise’s long, distinguished acting career, but a must-see film about WWII. The idea was conceived after the actor’s long-time collaborator Christopher McQuarrie visited Berlin while researching another film and visited the von Stauffenberg memorial at the Bendlerblock. A fast-paced narrative and a strong performance from Cruise elevate the film to greater heights. You’ll definitely appreciate the sacrifice.
3
‘Hacksaw Ridge’ (2016)
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Release Date
October 7, 2016
Runtime
131
Cast
Andrew Garfield
, Richard Pyros
, Jacob Warner
, Milo Gibson
, Darcy Bryce
, Roman Guerriero
Is the military an ideal career path for the highly religious? Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge tackles this question through Seventh-day Adventist Christian Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), who strongly believes in the commandment, “Thou shall not kill.” He figures he can still help by becoming a military doctor, but even for the medics, weapons training is a must, so Desmond finds himself in a tough spot.
War Vs. Religion
Part military boot camp movie, part battlefield action thriller, Hacksaw Ridge was nominated for six Oscars and made good money for Lionsgate. The predicament faced by Desmond is still presumably faced by many servicemen today, no wonder the movie was selected here. As the director, Gibson is superb and Garfield proves that being a hero doesn’t just involve shooting webs or carrying a gun. There is no doubt that the wonder, brutality, spectacle, and utter visual artistry saturating Hacksaw Ridge will render it a timeless masterpiece for decades to come.
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2
‘Letters from Iwo Jima’ (2006)
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Release Date
February 2, 2007
Runtime
141 Minutes
Cast
Ken Watanabe
, Kazunari Ninomiya
, Tsuyoshi Ihara
, Ryo Kase
, Shido Nakamura
, Hiroshi Watanabe
, Takumi Bando
, Yuki Matsuzaki
We rarely get to see World War II movies from a Japanese perspective. Thankfully, Clint Eastwood chose to be fair by directing both Flags of Our Fathers (from an American lens) and Letters from Iwo Jima (from a Japanese lens). Both films capture the fight for control of Iwo Jima island because of its proximity to Tokyo.
Barricading the Neighborhood
Letters from Iwo Jima brilliantly takes us through the harsh dynamics of military operations. We see how difficult it is to lead extremely tough men, as a soldier questions General Kuribayashi’s commands to march towards an American military camp. We also see how protective each country is during times like this. Japan wants America nowhere near Iwo Jima. A similar preventive approach played out years later when America did everything in its power to prevent the Soviet Union from setting up shop in Cuba.
1
‘Pearl Harbor’ (2001)
Should you trust your friend with your lover? History and fiction say “Don’t!” In Pearl Harbor, American childhood buddies, Rafe McCawley (Ben Affleck) and Danny Walker (Josh Hartnett), enlist as pilots at the onset WWII. Eager to get more action, Rafe signs up for England’s Royal Air Force (they were taking American soldiers). Back home, his girlfriend, Evelyn (Kate Beckinsale), starts seeing Danny. Before the three can figure everything our, the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor.
Michael Bay’s Greatest Effort?
Nominated for four Oscars (unprecedented for a Michael Bay motion picture), this mesmerizing WWII classic still hits the mark with its affecting blend of tropic graphics and progressive romance. The story favors Bay greatly since he is the “Master of Explosions.” When things go boom, he captures them perfectly. The result is a wild, eye-catching, and unforgettable America vs Japan story.
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