Top 10 Best 20th Century War Movies

The best war movies depict action that took place during the 1900s. This list includes films about World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and other notable conflicts.

1. Saving Private Ryan

   

   Great, inspiring, and realistic characters. Spielberg captures the European battlefield amazingly with fantastic performances from the likes of Tom Hanks. Moving and action-packed from start to finish, it definitely deserves its position at the top.

   However, I feel The Thin Red Line deserves a higher position. Also a very moving film, it illustrates how man has changed our natural world with war.

   A good story without a political agenda that illustrates the dilemma faced by good men confronted by evil wearing the mask of humanity.

2. Apocalypse Now

   

   The most definitive war movie of all time. It is a classic, and to have Pearl Harbor on this list is obviously a disgrace.

   A great movie which is very long and emotional! Stunningly brilliant and full of drama!

3. Lawrence of Arabia

   

4. Platoon

   

   A great movie with an excellent storyline and plenty of gore. Not better than SPR but certainly tops Full Metal Jacket.

5. Come and See

   

   This movie shows what war is and not some American propaganda that makes Russians or any other enemy look like idiots.

   This movie exposes the true horrors of war and the atrocious war crimes the Nazi pigs committed.

6. Full Metal Jacket

   

7. Downfall

   

   Realistic and emotional! Bruno Ganz gives a fantastic performance as Hitler!

8. The Deer Hunter

   

9. The Bridge on the River Kwai

   

10. We Were Soldiers

    

    Based on a real battle, this film was considered 80% accurate by the UPI reporter who covered it. He co-wrote the book with the 1st Cav officer who led the troops and said it was 60% accurate. It had its schmaltzy moments and corny dialogue, but the war scenes and facts mentioned were right.

    The guy who narrated the opening scenes involving the French in 1954 mispronounced the place, "Ia Drang Valley." It's actually pronounced like "Ya". The narrator of "Vietnam in HD" gets it right.

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Schindler's List

    

    No Schindler's List? Wow. This is a masterpiece.

12. ?

    A Bridge Too Far

    
The Contenders

13. Black Hawk Down

    

    A brilliant war movie. It might not deserve number one, but bravo.

    One of my favorite war movies of all time! So amazing...

    Brilliantly made... One of my favorite war movies...

14. Threads

    

    It's scary what nuclear war does.

15. The Great Dictator

    

16. The Great Escape

    

    The cast and the movie were one of the best POW-type movies ever. I could watch it over and over. What strength!

17. The Longest Day

    

    Great story about a great day. I've watched this in theaters, on tape, and now DVD. It's the best war movie ever on recounting a great event. Excellent book as well.

18. Paths of Glory

    

    Great anti-war film showing some of the absurd things people will do in positions of authority.

19. Empire of the Sun

    

20. Guns of Navarone

    

21. Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

    

22. Gallipoli

    

23. Battle of the Bulge

    

24. From Here to Eternity

    

25. None But the Brave

    

26. Patton

    

27. All Quiet on the Western Front (1979)