Top 10 Best War Movies

The top movies depicting elements of real wars throughout human history range from antiquity to modern conflicts. War brings out the worst and the best of humanity, and these movies work to capture one or both of these extremes.
The Top Ten
1 Saving Private Ryan

Have you ever walked out of a movie and saw 80-year-old men in tears? This movie really struck a chord with the men that lived it. The story may be fictional, but soldiers dying for their brothers is not. And the technical effects were realistic beyond compare. Truly deserves being #1.

My favorite scene was when the last remaining soldiers of Cpt. Miller's squad and Private Ryan were in the Alamo. It was really sad when Horvath died. He got shot three times trying to shoot his bazooka at a Tiger Tank.

Cpt. Miller: Are you okay, Mike?
Mike Horvath: Yeah, fine, just got the wind knocked out of me.

The first 15 minutes alone are a good enough reason this is the best. But Steven Spielberg was nice enough to give us 2 more hours of emotional and epic storytelling.

2 Full Metal Jacket

When he explodes the booby trap, I had told my wife it was coming. Saw too many taken by such things. If it looks strange or out of place, you run!

Easily the best war movie I've seen. Apocalypse Now was good, but this was just far more watchable.

It is filled with entertainment. From the 40-minute training at the beginning to the scenes of Vietnam.

3 Apocalypse Now

Because this is very real with the funny crazy of real combat. The extended version is even better. 300 is just a CGI/bluescreen... not a MOVIE... This is one of the best movies EVER.

Following the words of Coppola himself, Apocalypse Now is not a film about Nam. It is the Vietnam War.

How can Troy, 300, and Saving Private Ryan be ahead of this?

4 Platoon

This movie is better than Saving Private Ryan, simply because it doesn't glorify war. There are no "heroes" in wars, only soldiers. It also shows the trial and tribulation of a squad and their descent into madness.

Way better than FMJ. Came before, had a lower budget, made more money, and it stars a young Charlie Sheen! FMJ's first half was good, but after the boot camp, the movie went downhill. Platoon was solid throughout.

Better than Full Metal Jacket, to be quite honest. FMJ falls apart at the halfway point, but Platoon soldiers on through and through. It shows you why war is so terrible.

5 Schindler's List

Great deal. I see no one has written for Schindler's List. I think it's the lack of understanding, but I am sure the creator of the list knows the importance of the movie. For the movie, just see it. You'll get to know the meaning of humanity.

I think as a Jew, it would actually make my dead great grandmother, who escaped Auschwitz and moved to Italy so that she would not remember the disappearance of her family who died in Auschwitz, cry and smile. This is one of the reasons why Israel is a country.

Great movie. Very strong and visual.

6 Black Hawk Down

My favorite movie ever. I really connected with the characters, and what the soldier says at the end of the movie really touched me. I love this movie.

It is certainly one of the few great movies on this list! It ranks among such films as Saving Private Ryan and Troy when it comes to action!

Brutal, tons of action, and is based on a true event in Somalia. I find this movie enjoyable. It was too ahead of its time. The effects were good, great SFX and actors.

7 Braveheart

Such a great state of freedom and courage! The revenge scene is awesome, and Mel Gibson is the best actor of all times!

Mel Gibson movies are always good!

I am Scottish, and I loved the movie. My only complaint is the historical accuracy.

8 Inglourious Basterds

Unbelievable film... Quentin is a genius.

Funny and has great action/war scenes but not to the point it's just uninteresting.

9 300

300 is really one of the greatest action movies ever made. It's the setting which I have liked all my life, the struggle of that tiny army against the gargantuan forces of Xerxes. In this movie, everything is very well made, the direction is very good, and the visual style is simply awesome.

In my opinion, it should be 300 at number 1, and Saving Private Ryan at number 2. The rest of the list I don't care about. The battle scenes are intense, and the actors really pulled it off. One of the greatest movies ever. Watch it before you vote for Saving Private Ryan.

Best movie. Killing hundreds of soldiers with just 300 men is simply awesome. Hope God of War Kratos was there to save the king.

10 All Quiet on the Western Front

Sometimes classics are the best. It is an extremely realistic and sophisticated look at the human psyche and fear in warfare. I wrote a research paper on it and got an A!

The Newcomers

? The Red Baron
? Battle of Britain
The Contenders
11 Hacksaw Ridge

This is one of the best I've ever seen. It deserves WAY more recognition.

This should be a lot higher up! Mel Gibson is such a great director.

12 Troy

The finest acting yet! This movie is excellent and long. This is the best movie I have seen in my life and will go down as a legend!

The most fantastic and diverse movie of all time! Brad Pitt plays a brilliant role, and this movie is so much better than 300!

The best war film or say love story...this is the best movie ever! The most epic love story ever!

13 1917

It's a stunning and engaging war movie from start to finish, and these long shots do serve a purpose for having a subjective experience.

14 Dunkirk

Best WW2 movie, in my opinion. A number of actors were good-looking, and I loved the soundtrack and cinematography. This movie is about heroism and about persevering even when circumstances seem to be against you. This movie isn't only about WW2 but it has a good lesson as well.

Amazing movie, awesome along with Troy and Gladiator.

15 The Bridge on the River Kwai
16 Enemy at the Gates

This is just epic. How many movies have you seen about snipers pitting their lives like a game of cat and mouse?

This movie has a bit of everything we love about movies!

17 Gladiator

It is the top-rated movie. It should be in the top ten. I have never seen this kind of movie in my life. It went down as a legend for me. The action of the hero is really outstanding.

It is the top-rated movie. It should be in the top ten. It is one of the legendary movies. The hero's action is really mind-blowing. I have never seen this kind of movie in my life.

This movie is a masterpiece. 300 sucks!

18 The Deer Hunter

Whack! De Niro and Walken at their best. This movie is so deep and moving, no way it's not top 10.

19 Lawrence of Arabia

Wonderful scenery and excellent acting. Lawrence wrote the book on guerrilla warfare. Well portrayed.

All-time favorite. Our leaders should read Lawrence's Seven Pillars.

20 The Last Samurai

Great movie! Love the final battle, so epic!

21 The Thin Red Line

This movie is like the Saving Private Ryan of the Pacific Theater.

22 The Hurt Locker

I legitimately started crying seeing that this is at #27. This is the best war movie of all time!

23 Paths of Glory
24 Come and See
25 The Patriot

Best American Revolution movie ever. No doubt about it. Whoever doesn't like it can bug off. Thanks, bye.

My favorite movie ever! So well made and accurate. Mel Gibson is just amazing and tough as nails.

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