Several years ago we held a reader poll to help decide the best military movies (or at least our readers favorite military movies!)
This is a list of the best military movies as voted by readers of The Military Wallet. This list includes a small selection of ancient wars, then after that, the lists are focused on wars in which there was a substantial American presence. No list can be all-inclusive, but we have done our best to include a wide range of wars, and a wide range of movies including blockbusters, multi-part mini-series, and documentaries. Some of these movies are based upon fact, but many are fictionalized representations of events which occurred or may have occurred. The focus and purpose of this list isn’t historical accuracy, but rather, to share with others the films which, in our opinion, and the opinion of our readers, best represent the men and women who sacrificed so much to make our world a better, and safer place in which to live.
What counts as a military movie? In my opinion, anything that has a military topic, or a war as the centerpiece of the story. Ancient warfare, modern warfare, The Cold War, peace time movies that focus on the military, documentaries, comedies, dramas, foreign language films, you name it – if it focuses on the military or a war, it’s good to go. We will draw the line at science fiction (sorry Star Wars fans!), and action movies (Example, Bourne Identity and sequels would not qualify).
Best War Film Categories
Here are a few categories we used for classifying these films. As always there is room for debate. Your favorite movie may or may not be listed here. Don’t like our top choice? Leave a comment at the end of this article and share your favorite military film!
- Ancient Wars
- American Revolution
- American Civil War
- World War I
- World War II (European and Pacific theaters)
- Korean War
- Vietnam
- Cold War
- Iraq, Afghanistan, and Middle Eastern Conflicts
- Documentaries
- Comedies
- Worst War Movies Ever!
- Other?
Best Military Movies of All-Time
What follows are the best movies as selected by you, our readers. Do you agree with these selects? Disagree? Then please share your comments below. If we get enough votes for different movies, we may change the rankings to reflect those votes. So please, share your opinions on the best war movies, and more importantly, why you believe your favorite movie is the best.
The Best Movies of Ancient Wars
These movies encompass the real, the imagined and the “inspired by” events of yesteryear. These events probably didn’t happen as they are portrayed in these films, but they are entertaining and inspiring, nonetheless.
- Braveheart
- Ben Hur
- Gladiator
- Lawrence of Arabia
- Troy
American Revolutionary War Era
The American Revolution was a turning point in the tactics used in Western warfare. Lining up and trading volleys was still commonplace, but The American Revolutionary War brought about changes including the citizen warrior, regional militias, and guerrilla tactics which were unheard of in Western warfare prior to these wars. This section includes movies from the related era, including the Spanish Indian War.
- The Patriot
- The Crossing
- The American Revolution Boxed DVD Set (A&E)
- Liberty! The American Revolution
- Johnny Tremain
- Last of the Mohicans – Spanish Indian War
- Rough Riders
The Best American Civil War Movies
The American Civil War has long been romanticized by poets, novelists, story tellers, and screenwriters – and for good reason. Not only was this war fought over economics and control of a territory, but also over the definition of freedom and equality. The American Civil War was the bloodiest battle in American history and represented a major turning point in Western warfare (did you know that more Americans died in the Civil War than in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War combined?). The American Civil War split the country, then brought it back together. This war featured brothers fighting brothers, fathers fighting sons, the first instances of aerial combat and submarine warfare in the US, armored battleships, espionage, and a Presidential assassination following the war. The result of the war was a unified nation and the freedom of 3.5 million slaves, representing 15% of the American population. Did you know that an estimated 2/3 of all Civil War deaths have been attributed to disease? Here are some amazing Civil War facts, and here are some more. Now on to the best Civil War movies of all time.
- Glory
- Dances With Wolves
- Gettysburgh
- Gone With the Wind
- Andersonville
- The Hunley
- Ironclads
- Birth of a Nation
- The Red Badge of Courage
- Outlaw Josey Wales
- North And The South ( 1985, Warner Bros, ABC Mini-Series)
- Gods & Generals
Honorable Mentions: Cold Mountain, Shiloh, Friendly Persuasion, Shenandoah, The Blue and the Gray
The Best World War I Movies
World War I was commonly referred to as “The War to End All Wars.” That is, until it was all but certain there would be a second World War. World War I is now most commonly referred to as WWI or “The Great War.” World War One saw the advancement of warfighting various technologies including trench warfare, the first wide scale use of poisonous gases gases and perhaps most notably, using airplanes in aerial conflict. This in itself is an interesting topic as the first airplanes in WWI were used for scouting and the pilots brought along long range rifles, and later machine guns as protection and to shoot at enemy scouts. It wasn’t long before advancements in airplane and weapons technology brought about the introduction of true fighter aircraft and the first “dog fights.” Here is a selection of WWI movies which best represent this era.
- All Quiet on the Western Front
- Farewell to Arms
- Sergeant York
- A Very Long Engagement
- Gallipoli
- Lawrence of Arabia
- African Queen
- Flyboys
- Joyeux Noel
Honorable Mentions: Paths of Glory, The Blue Max, Wings, The Dawn Patrol, The Lost Battalion
The Best World War II Movies
World War Two is probably represented by the most movies of any war in the history of mankind. The fact that it was probably the largest war of all-time is only one reason for this. However, the size of the war is only part of the equation. The recency in our history plays a large part, as does the fact that WWII was one of the first major wars to be covered extensively in the media. There are literally hundreds of movies and film clips representing this rich era of warfare. The scale of the war, it’s duration, and the fact that it touched hundreds of millions of lives around the world makes WWII such and enduring part of our lives, even to this day. To top it off, the technological advancements of this period represent one of the largest jumps in warfare technological in a given 5 year period. WWII also represents “the end of innocence,” as we left the … and entered the Roaring 50’s and The Cold War. Here we break down the best WWII movies by the European and Pacific Theaters, as these were very diverse segments of the war.
Best WWII Movies – The European Theater
- Band of Brothers
- Saving Private Ryan
- The Longest Day
- Patton
- Das Boot
- Casablanca
- Schindler’s List
- The Great Escape
- Guns of Navarone – 10 from Neveron
- The Cross of Iron
- A Bridge Too Far
- The Black Book (foreign language)
- Enemy at the Gate
- Where Eagles Dare
- u-571
- To Hell And Back
- Valkyrie
- The Tuskegee Airmen
- Red Tails
- Memphis Belle
- The Caine Mutiny (1954)
- In Harm’s Way
Honorable Mentions: The Glenn Miller Story, Catch-22, Inglourious Basterds, Sink the Bismarck, Gardens of Stone, The Final Countdown,
Best WWII Movies – The Pacific Theater
- Letters From Iwo Jima
- Tora! Tora! Tora!
- Empire of the Sun
- From Here to Eternity
- The Thin Red Line
- 30 Seconds Over Tokyo
- Flags of Our Fathers
- Sands of Iwo Jima (John Wayne)
- Windtalkers
Honorable Mentions: Pacific (HBO Mini-series), The Raid, Wake Island (1942), The Bridge On the River Kwai, Midway, Fat Man and Little Boy
The Best Korean War Movies
Often referred to as The Forgotten War, the Korean War was sandwiched between World War Two and The Vietnam War, perhaps the most popular and most unpopular wars (and most influential wars in recent American history). Though the Korean War isn’t as popular in American pop-culture as the aforementioned WWII and Vietnam War, it remains a popular topic for films and books in Asia. And before dismissing the Korean War as just another dark spot in the Cold War, try taking a few moments to read up on some of the stories from our American Vets who served in the Korean theater, or spend a couple hours watching one of the following films. Better yet, take a Korean War vet out for a nice meal and let him tell you a few stories about his experiences. Then you will realize that the Forgotten War is one that needs to be remembered.
- M*A*S*H
- Pork Chop Hill
- The Bridges at Toko-Ri
- Macarthur
- Manchurian Candidate
- The Hunters
The Best Vietnam War Movies
The last American war staffed by a non-volunteer military, the Vietnam War was not even a declared war, but a military action… Despite the semantics, the Vietnam War was (and is) real to the hundreds of thousands of Vietnam Veterans who served our country during this dark hour.
- Platoon
- Full Metal Jacket
- Apocalypse Now
- The Deer Hunter
- Good Morning Vietnam
- We Were Soldiers
- Forrest Gump
- Born on the Fourth of July
- Uncommon Valor
- Rescue Dawn
Honorable Mentions: Tigerland, Birdy, Gardens of Stone, The Green Berets, The Killing Fields, Hamburger Hill, The Quiet American
The Best Cold War Movies
We don’t know what it is about Cold War movies and submarines, but we detected a major trend in that direction!
- The Hunt for Red October
- K-19 – The Widowmaker
- Crimson Tide
- Top Gun
- A Few Good Men
- Strategic Air Command
Honorable Mentions: Dr. Strangeglove
Best Movies of the Iraq, Afghanistan, & Middle Eastern Conflicts, & Modern US Engagements
These movies collectively cover the War on Terror. These conflicts and movies are the most recent in our memory, as they are still ongoing.
- The Hurt Locker
- Green Zone
- Jarhead
- Three Kings – A guilty pleasure. It’s not very realistic, but it’s a lot of fun.
- Black Hawk Down
- Act of Valor
Honorable Mentions: Courage Under Fire
Various Wars, Conflicts and Peacetime Battles
- Master & Commander
- 300
- Generation Kill
- Sniper
- Tears of the Sun
- No Man’s Land
Honorable Mentions: The Alamo, Behind Enemy Lines, The Last Samurai, The Sand Pebbles, Pan’s Labrynth
The Best War Documentaries
The best war documentaries as voted by our readers:
- Korengal
- Restrepo
- Ken Burns’ Civil War
- The War: A Ken Burns Film
Best War Comedies
These movies have little to no basis in fact, but some of them are just plain fun anyway.
- Stripes
- Buffalo Soldiers
- Major Payne
- In The Army Now
- Private Benjamin
Honorable Mentions: Down Periscope, How I Won the War, Tropic Thunder, The Men Who Stare at Goats
Dishonorable mentions:
These movies are some that received poor ratings from our readers:
- Pearl Harbor
- Navy Seal
- Iron Eagle – all of them
- GI Jane
- Starship Troopers
A few of my favorite military movies.
I’ll get things started with a few of my favorite military movies (chronological order of conflict):
- Glory
- Ken Burn’s Civil War
- Band of Brothers
- Enemy at the Gates
- The Longest Day
- Saving Private Ryan
- The Great Escape
- Platoon
- Full Metal Jacket
Love the rankings? Hate them? We would love to hear your opinions of the movies as they have been rated. Please be sure to share why your movie should be listed.
Fury is the best hands down
There is another movie that should be added to the Korean War called Men of the Fighting Lady MGM 1954.
This was a no brainer for me since I saw the hard charging Sgt. Striker in Sands of Iwo Jima, Christmas Day 1982, Paris Island, SC. Four weeks til graduation from Platoon 3005, there couldn’t have been a more moral boosting movie for all of us. Feeling alone and missing our families like in the movie, we had our new found Devil Dog brothers. I know we’ve come all the way to Lone Survivor with many greats between but that will always be my favorite. Semper Fi!!
My favorite movie is Top Gun.
My favorites are:
Sgt. York for WWI
Midway for WWII
We Were Soldiers for Viet Nam
Overall my favorite is Midway. I will watch it everytime it’s on.
Saving Private Ryan
The Longest Day
Band of Brothers, this is the standard all other will be measured against.
My favorite military movie has to be Saving Private Ryan. From the very beginning when the troops arrived on the beach, there was such a reality that just took my breath away. People always try to compare wars. Archie Bunker refers WWII as “The big one”. I think all wars are pretty big, but to see how they were ambushed and attacked from the very beginning? Wow!
“Das Boat” is my favorite military movie. My dad was in the US Navy and was in the Submarine Force. He never spoke about what he did, life on board the sub, his missions, etc. So, this movie gave me a peek into what it must have been like.
Tom
Black Hawk Down
My first choice would be Apocalypse Now. It reveals the insanity of the Vietnam war and the disorienting effect on our troops caused by the inability of the officers to command without any comprehensible goal.
My second choice would be First Blood, because it reveals the rampant ignorance and prejudiced judgment that many of us inflict upon each other. It’s a very dangerous way to live.
BAND OF BROTHERS
Very compelling story, could watch it over and over again.
Black Hawk Down! I can never get enough of that one.
I like Full Metal Jacket because when I was in boot camp, my drill instructors made us watch it at the rifle range. Most of everyone had watched it before they went but it was my first time watching it and it was funny in the beginning because there’s always that one recruit that just messes up everything. Then it got serious when the pressure and bullying got too much for him and also when the men had to go to war.
I also really liked Taking Chance because no one really gets to see that side when a Service Member is killed. It was very emotional and it made me feel so proud to be a United States Marine.
I like Glory. We watched a clip from it in my MBA class regarding leadership…it was such a great example when Matthew Broderick decided to not accept his pay when his recruits did not receive the wage they deserved. topgun34er(at)hotmail(dot)com
My favourite war movie is black hawk down. It is strong but it show you the real story and the feelings of the soldiers that were there fighting and dyeing for freedom and values. I really enjoyed it watching it and I always wacth it again if is shown on TV.
Great movie!
If I’m feeling shallow, Top Gun. Though there is a serious angle to it, it is lighthearted and fun. Tom Cruise was still attractive, and it was a good time in my life. It makes me feel young 🙂 Plus, my husband’s first duty station was an F-14 squadron, and I have lots of friends who have attended and/or taught at Top Gun, so I can related to the characters.
More seriously, I think that Taking Chance was a spectacular insight into the reality of death in military service. The scene where the technicians at Dover AFB are preparing the body will forever remain fresh in my mind. I was honored to see it at the GI Film Festival in DC with a variety of relevant VIPs and it was so emotional.
I would have to say my favorite military movie is “Flags of Our Fathers.” It tells the story of 5 Marines and 1 Navy Hospital Corpsman (Jonathan Bradley, also a Navy Cross recipient) who were responsible for raising the flag over Mount Suribachi during World War II during the Battle of Iwo Jima. I am very proud to say that I am also a Navy Hospital Corpsman and am honored to have such a connection to the history of our ancestors who have fought for the democracy of our great nation! Everytime I watch this movie I get goose bumps! I also enjoyed “Letters From Iwo Jima”, which was the sequel and the Japanese side of the story. Clint Eastwood is a brilliant movie director!
I believe my favorite military movie would have to be “Heartbreak Ridge”. Not only because I am a big fan of Clint Eastwood but also when I was in the Navy we had a Ltjg who always thought he knew more than our chiefs or senior chiefs who worked thier way through the ranks. He proved just how much he still had to learn when he got all excited during a “war game” exercise and ran out from the pilot house of a PBR boat and tripped. He grabbed for the 50Cal. gun to break his fall and shot our gunners mate right in the leg ( mid thigh) with a 50 Cal round. “Heatbreak Ridge” shows how sometimes it is better to actually work your way to the top rather than have it handed to you just because you have a collage degree. I would rather be under the… Read more »
Love Back Hawk Down- cannot watch it since my son now flies for the Army- too emotional for me.
Rule of Engagement- hits where we worry
The Kingdom- lived through much of that from the military side.
Grew up on Hogan’s Heros, Patton and Yellow Ribbon
I see that someone else out there shares my love of the classics. My favorite war movie is also a great comedy, who-done-it and Christmas movie rolled into one. It is “Stalag 17”. But you also can’t deny “Tora, Tora, Tora” or “Patton”. Those are great learning tools.
The obvious choices are Top Gun, and Saving Private Ryan, but I also think of Officer and A Gentleman, for romantic/war…. okay, my husband says The Longest Day because of all the classic movie stars. I suppose it’s according to a woman’s or a man’s opinion, what’s best.
Best Navy movie of all time, Men of Honor. Very inspiring.
One of my favorites in the “modern” category is “Blackhawk Down.” I thought the tension was incredible and that it was probably a very accurate portrayal of things (although I don’t know from personal experience).
“A Few Good Men” because I can’t handle the truth!
Saving Private Ryan, absolutely the best, realistic portrayal or the violence, camaraderie, heroism, honor and humor of war.
My favorite is Gettysburg
Hard choices–my top picks are We Were Soldiers and GI Jane
My favorite military war movie is also my favorite Christmas movie. Stalag 17.
Kelly’s Heroes / Saving Private Ryan
The first one – Just something about from the first time I saw it as a kid I loved the characters – I watched it every time it came on, not to mention I have always been deeply interested in WWII –
The second on – Well, just as I mentioned before, my deep interest in WWII, this a far more realistic face to a small part of the war and what soldiers may have encountered-
My favorite war movie is “Heartbreak Ridge” with Clint Eastwood, if only for his recurrent line, “This doesn’t mean we’re gonna swap spit in the morning.”
Having cast my vote there, I have to add that there are many others that are favorites of mine,
“12 O’clock High”, “M*A*S*H”, “The Green Berets”, the movie about the Sullivan Brothers (who all served on the same ship in the Navy in WWII and went down on her), “To Hell and Back”, just about any John Wayne Cav movie (ya’ know, the Indian Wars time frame), and a real sleeper that I would recommend to anyone who is disgusted with warfare being depicted without the humanity of the US Soldier being glorified, “Don’t Cry, Its Only Thunder,” about an Army medic in Vietnam who “adopted an orphanage. Best part is that it is a true story.
No question, Tora! Tora! Tora! is by far one of the most compelling movies ever made about the turning point in WWII with the entrance of the US into the war after the bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japan. Even to this day everytime I watch that movie I feel as though I am there on December 7, 1941. The movie is absolutely riveting and I consider it one the the best military movies ever made.
My husband is a big fan of Top Gun but Good Morning Vietnam would be more my speed.
I’m surprised no one has nominated The Deer Hunter. Really rang my chimes because I’m from that culture (Western PA near Pittsburgh). I worked on the labor gangs at the steel mill in summers for money for college. My next door neighbor and boyhood buddy went to ‘Nam just in time for Tet after high school graduation. I was at his wedding reception at the local fire hall. I’m also a deer hunter (and qualified expert with the M1 and M16, among others), and it captures both the war and that way of life so well.
Dan, US Army SGT (Ret), service circa 1970’s and “graduate” of 6 months @ Walter Reed Ortho (30% permanently disabled, honorable discharge, good conduct medal – among others)
Indisputably there are dozens upon dozens of well made movies chronicling the bloody rage that fills the human heart – war. War tackles so many emotions, all you have to do is watch either “Band of Brothers” or “The Pacific” to catch a small glimpse of the horrors men at battle are forced to face and the strength and bond of the commaraderie that is forged in those fires of hell to get a less than thorough understanding of what these men went through, for months, even years. Now for my smooth transition. Though not in the same category as some of the gritty, realistic films such as “Saving Private Ryan”, “Platoon” and other extremely worthy candidates. My favorite, and I’m a little surprised it hasn’t been mentioned yet, is “Forrest Gump”. Perhaps not a “war” movie by pure design but the driving force behind the movie is Forrest’s experiences… Read more »
Has to be Green Berets with the Duke. This movie had great war strategy, awesome action, depcited strong leadership and the emotional scars of war.
I’m torn between “Dr. Strangelove,” sub-titled “How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Live With the Bomb;” and the adaptation of Joseph Heller’s “Catch 22.” Both offered so much to think about, but delivered their messages with humor.
Platoon is tough to beat and still really relevant today. Its about a war we shouldn’t have fought and the mental anguish it causes. Replace Vietnam with Iraq or Afghanistan and the story is the same.
Band of Brothers is awesome, but it kind of glorifies a good war instead of forcing people to think about the psychological effects our recent wars have had on soldiers.
I love “The Throne of Blood,” a Japanese movie with subtitles. It is the story of MacBeth set in 16th century Japan. When MacBeth dies in the end, he has so many arrows in his body that he looks rather like a porcupine. And the death scene is so long that it becomes humorous.
After that, I’d have to say “Independence Day.” Launching every available plane from every country on earth – what a great battle plan! And who doesn’t cheer when the alien mother ship is destroyed? (I think this falls under the category of “other” since to the best of my knowledge, we’ve never been at war with space aliens.)
My favorite military movie is Men of Honor. Because it shows how sailors went against all odds to succeed.
I have always enjoyed “The Dambusters”. A story about a little known specialised raid on Germany during WWII. It tells the story from the beginning. The idea of the bomb by the inventor, trying to get the Military to buy into it, The training of the plane crews, and finally the mission itself. An outstanding movie.
My favorite Military War Movie is SAILOR BEWARE with Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. It inspired me to join the Navy. I will never forget the beautiful people and adventures I had while serving. It will always be a huge part of me!
my favorite military movie; 30 Seconds Over Tokeo It showed the world NOT to mess with the USA
I liked Top Gun it was a variety of things, love story, battle, personal loss and mission accomplished plus accolades.
I also like Patton, if only we had leaders like him. There was more respect for the leadership in this country than there is now.
I’ll go the comedy route and say Stripes. Classic Bill Murrey!
For actual military action I’ll say Black Hawk Down. Awesome cast and great direction/cinematography.
Saving Private Ryan! The task of staying alive while doing something improbable was telling. I thought it cut to the core of how men find courage
to tackle ordeals that none found reasonable or inspiring. A true tribute to duty!
Platoon- It never amazes me how fast people can turn on eachother in dire circumstances.
Favorite movie (not the series): MASH
Both dark and funny. Medical/surgical aspect cool
Forgotten war
The Victors, starring Eli Wallach,George Hamilton,George Peppard
Follows squad of GI’s through the war ,beginning in England for training, all the way to Italy, the trials and hardships the loves and hate that some times goes with war.