The greatest war movies
A great war movie effectively conveys the palpable horrors confronted by men on the battlefield, the disapproval of their fears from unempathetic corners, or the angst of those forced to partake in perilous missions.
Saving Private Ryan
After exploring Nazi-perpetrated horrors in Schindler's List, Steven Spielberg took on another dark World War II story, depicting most realistically the Normandy invasion while telling a unique, moving story of great sacrifice.
The Thin Red Line
Arguably the most philosophical of all the war movies made in cinema history, Terrence Malick brings his trademark penchant for immersing viewers in an almost trance-like state with a film loaded with lyrical imagery.
The Dirty Dozen
An army major, played by a superbly commanding Lee Marvin, is forced to lead soldiers convicted of various crimes on a dangerous mission to destroy a fortress holding many senior officials of the Nazi high command.
Black Hawk Down
Ridley Scott's enactment of a real-life battle between a group of elite American forces and a dreaded Somalian warlord and his militia features some of the most stunning battle sequences ever put to film.
Paths of Glory
Stanley Kubrick's anti-war film also incorporates elements of the courtroom drama. Kirk Douglas is a Colonel defending soldiers court-martialed for cowardice after refusing to engage in an attack.
The Train
Director John Frankenheimer applied his gritty action filmmaking skills to this true story-inspired tale of French resistance fighters planning to foil an attempt by Nazi officers to transport stolen paintings via a train.
The Guns of Navarone
An immensely thrilling adaptation of the Alistair Maclean book of the same name led by a stellar cast featuring Gregory Peck, David Niven, Anthony Quinn, Stanley Baker, Anthony Quayle and Irene Papas.
Das Boot (The Boat)
There are different versions with varying runtimes of this Wolfgang Petersen submarine warfare masterpiece, but the complete and uncut miniseries version is preferred instead of the shorter theatrical cut.