Looking for inspiration for your next movie night?
Look no further. Here is a list of movies compiled with veterans in mind.
War movies explore the fictional and real-life stories of soldiers. They provide a platform to discuss the challenges faced by service men and women and the sacrifices they make to overcome these challenges for a greater good.
The sheer quantity of war movies means that it can be difficult to choose which ones to watch. Many movies within the genre are guilty of glorifying war. They are often extremely inaccurate, contain a huge number of clichés, and follow one dimensional characters and plots that don’t capture the true complexities of soldier’s lives.
The goal of this list is to make the selection process a little easier. There are war movies renowned for being sad, those renowned for their accuracy and those that are less popular but no less mighty. There are also those which avoid portraying violence and instead focus on what it means to be a veteran, both historically and in the present day.
We have compiled a list of the greatest war movies of all time. Whatever mood you are in, you will find something in this list.
Most Realistic War Movies Of All Time
In most war movies, there are issues concerning the accuracy of the plot, the characters, the chronology, or the fighting scenes. If the inaccuracies found in war movies bug you and you can’t bring yourself to sit through another inaccurate portrayal of what it is to be at war, then keep reading to see our suggestions for the most realistic war movies of all time.
Private Ryan is one of four brothers, three of which lost their lives in action. Upon hearing this news General George C. Marshall sends orders from the War Department in Washington D.C. that the remaining brother (Private Ryan) be found and brought home.
The movie follows a team of soldiers as they try to find Private Ryan and bring him back.
The movie is renowned for its historical accuracy particularly in the second scene which depicts the Omaha beach assault during the Normandy landings. War historians have praised this twenty-four-minute scene.
Scenes from Saving Private Ryan
War historians have praised this twenty-four-minute scene. It captures the real confusion that was felt during the beach landings and many World War II veterans frequently praise the scene for being the most accurate portrayal of their experience to ever be on screen. When directing the movie, Spielberg consulted with historians and retired marine corps captains to ensure its accuracy.
This movie is set in 1993 during the Battle of Mogadishu, a failed US Special Forces mission to destabilise the Somalian government. Soldiers are charged with the task of taking food provisions and humanitarian aid to citizens. As the Black Hawk helicopters lower to the ground, the soldiers are met with an unexpected attack from Somalian forces which cause two of the helicopters to crash.
From then on, the movie follows US soldiers as they try to survive their failed mission.
Although not perfect, the movie accurately captures the historical events of the Battle of Mogadishu. At the time of its release, it provided an insight into modern day warfare that had never been seen before. From its portrayal of third world countries, to the living conditions of the soldiers, to the gore of battle scenes, the movie has been noted as an accurate depiction of the experiences of soldiers in the modern day.
Stalingrad is a 1993 German movie that is set in November 1942 during one of the most brutal battles of the Second World War.
It follows an accurate chronology of the Battle of Stalingrad and resists the urge to glorify the battle as other cinematic renderings have done.
It is also praised for the accuracy of uniforms, weapons, tanks, urban warfare and the conditions under which the soldiers fought.
If you like everything to be done right and find that you irritate your family with complaints about characters wearing the wrong uniform or using the wrong weapons, this movie could be the solution to all of your problems.
Scenes from Stalingrad
Jar Head is a biographical movie based on a memoir of the same name written by Anthony Swofford an ex US marine.
MEMOIR
MOVIE
It tells the story of his training, how he became a sniper and how he was eventually deployed to the Arabian Peninsula during the Gulf War (1990-1991). This movie portrays the monotony of life for soldiers who trained hard, were eager to see action, but never got the chance to put their training to use.
The movie is based in the Arabian Peninsula during the Gulf War (1990-1991).
This movie portrays the monotony of life for soldiers who trained hard, were eager to see action, but never got the chance to put their training to use.
Jar Head gives an unprecedented insight into the everyday lives of soldiers and what it means to be part of the armed forces in times of modern warfare.
With most war movies, huge emphasis is placed on the action. There are lengthy fight scenes and a whole load of gore. This movie tackles an underrepresented aspect of military life, the waiting and the boredom which comes before the action.
This movie portrays the claustrophobic conditions of a German submarine during World War II.
The producers hired former U-boat captains as consultants for the movie, used reference photos taken during the war to ensure the submarine was an authentic replication of World War II U-boats, and all actors received intense training like the training that World War II submariners would receive to ensure they could move around the cramped set safely. For these reasons, the movie is often praised for its accuracy.
Scenes from Das Boot
If you are really looking for accuracy and realism, there is no better option than to watch this 2010 documentary film about the Afghanistan war. It follows the story of the men who were deployed to the Korengal Valley in May 2007.
Nicknamed Death Valley, it is considered to be one of the most dangerous postings in the US Military.
It follows the men from their deployment to their return home, documenting their everyday lives, their losses and their battle for survival. The film won numerous awards in 2010 and does an amazing job of showcasing the brotherhood formed within the Second Platoon Battle Company.
There you have it, the most accurate war movies ever made. Of course, with the exception of Restrepo, none of these can be considered as a truly accurate portrayal of war. They are after all movies, fictional renderings of reality that are designed to entertain rather than inform the viewers and, in this way, there will always be an element of glorification, dramatization and poetic licence. These movies are merely the most realistic out of the many cinematic adaptations out there.
That is why Restrepo was included in this list. It is not a war film in the traditional sense, but it has got to be the most accurate representation of modern day warfare to have made it to screen.
If you are looking for something that fully captures the true experience of war, with all its nuances and historical accuracy it is probably best to watch a documentary like Restrepo rather than a film.
War Movies You May Not Have Seen Yet
If you are a true movie buff, the movies mentioned in the lists above probably come as no surprise to you. In fact, you have probably already seen them on numerous occasions, know the plots and are sick of hearing people talk about them. If you think you have exhausted the pool of good war movies, fear not. Here are some you may not have seen yet.
These movies for some reason went under the radar and never got the attention they deserved.
Anthropoid is based on true events and tells the story of two resistance fighters from the exiled Czechoslovak government who are given the mission of assassinating Reinhard Heydrich, high ranking police officer in Nazi Occupied Czechoslovakia and the main architect of the Final Solution.
This movie is truly refreshing. It tells a story that so often goes untold when we discuss resistance during World War II.
Resistance is usually observed through a French lens; however this movie gives a voice to the unsung heroes that often go unrecognised, but whose work nevertheless played a huge part in our eventual victory.
The movie follows Connor Cruise O’Brien an Irish diplomat who is assigned the head of a UN peacekeeping mission during the Katanga Crisis in 1961. His job is to protect the inhabitants of the mining town of Jadotville in Katanga.
The Irish company find themselves under siege and are eventually forced to surrender. They are held in a Katanganese prison for a month before being freed and returning home. The movie shows the danger that soldiers face and the bravery they show even when outnumbered by Kantaganese and mercenary troops.
Scenes from The Siege of Jadotville
A new recruit to the British Army, Gary Hook is sent to Belfast during the Northern Ireland Conflict.
Gary Hook is sent to Belfast during the Northern Ireland Conflict.
In an area where protestant and catholic territory meets and is separated only by the Divis flats, he is abandoned by the rest of his unit during a street riot. He must survive the night and evade attacks by those who wish him dead.
To enjoy this movie, it would be best to have some prior knowledge of the ideological and political conflicts that were prominent in Ireland at the time.
The movie focuses on the violence which took place as well as the friendships and relationships that the main character develops on his journey.
Max Manus returns to Norway after fighting voluntarily in the Winter War. When he returns, he finds Oslo is occupied by the Nazis. He joins the Norwegian resistance, eventually becoming a saboteur.
The movie is based on true events and remains mostly accurate.
It is full of suspense and gives a great insight into the psychological impact that the war has on the protagonist. Again, it explores resistance from a new perspective.
It explores the role that Norway played in the war effort, another story which often goes untold.
Based on a true story, the movie is set in Rwanda in 1994 as tensions between the Hutu government and Tutsi rebels rise. After the Hutu president is assassinated, we see the beginnings of a civil war and a mass genocide which would eventually lead to the death of 1 million people.
The movie is set in Rwanda in 1994 during the Civil War.
The movie follows a hotel owner who diverts Hutu soldiers, protects thousands of refugees from genocidal slaughter, all whilst trying to maintain his four-star hotel.
This has been a list of the unsung heroes of the war genre. One common theme overarching all of these less popular movies is that they tell stories from history that aren’t as well known.
These movies demonstrate that there are multiple faces to every war. It is refreshing to see war stories taking place in countries which are usually left out of the historical dialogue.
They are definitely worth a watch if you have already seen the most popular war movies or if you are sick of the common tropes and clichés found within the genre and want something a little different.
Movies About Veterans For Veterans
As exciting as movies about combat and warfare are, what war movies seem to neglect is the story of what comes after the war. They tend to focus on the violence, the physical struggles and the victories or losses, but they often neglect the challenges that veterans face as they try to reintegrate into civilian life.
Here are some movies which focus on the veteran experience. Of course, every veteran’s experience is unique.
The list includes depictions of a range of wars that have taken place throughout our modern history.
A 1946 movie which explores what happens to three veterans after they return home from their service at the end of World War II. It tackles themes like disability, alcoholism, PTSD, as well as other issues like changes in relationship dynamics, job struggles and the general difficulty with which the veterans readjust to civilian life.
The movie does not over dramatize the experiences of the characters which, despite the films age, makes it seem surprisingly relevant to the modern day.
The age of the movie gives viewers the opportunity to reflect on how far we have come since the forties. There is currently a lot more support for servicemen and women as they return home from the war. It also serves as a reminder of the work that still needs to be done to ensure that veterans receive all the support they need to reintegrate after their service is over.
Scenes from The Best Years of Our Lives
Based on an autobiography by Ron Kovic, this movie follows his life as he grows up and becomes a marine. He is eventually injured during a firefight and is paralyzed from the chest down.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
MOVIE
This movie highlights the inadequacy of the Veterans Health Care System during the Vietnam war.
This leads to Kovic further injuring himself as he attempts to walk and confines him to a wheelchair.
The script was cowritten by two Vietnam veterans and explores some of the most prevalent challenges faced by veterans when they return home. It points out the frustration felt by veterans as they returned home after having fought for their country only to be met with an utter lack of government support.
This movie is not necessarily about the Vietnam War, but explores how the character ends up there and what his life looks like when he comes home.
Whilst in Vietnam, Forrest befriends and rescues Lieutenant Dan who ends up losing both of his legs.
After the war, Forrest in reunited with Lieutenant Dan and we see the struggles that he faces due to social prejudices and lack of government support. These aspects of the movie take place within a wider narrative context.
Details of the war are featured alongside the story of Forrest’s Love interest and his desire to fulfil a promise made to his best friend Bubba that he would own a shrimping boat, but the consequences of war and the veteran experience is extremely prevalent throughout.
This movie is based on the memoir of Chris Kyle, the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military history. We see how a young Texan boy learns how to shoot with his dad, how the tragic events of 9/11 lead to him enlisting as a Navy Seal. How he marries his wife and has two children. We follow him as he is sent to Iraq and watch as he makes the difficult decisions that service men and women must make.
MEMOIR
CHRIS KYLE
As a sniper, he is given the job of picking off anyone he suspects to be hiding an IED or weapon. This means that he must sometimes make the difficult decision to shoot a seemingly innocent civilian. Returning home, he struggles to adapt to civilian life and completes several more tours before returning home again for good. We watch as he speaks to a Veterans Affairs psychologist about how he is haunted by the men that he didn’t manage to save.
The movie explores the struggles Chris faces as he readapts to family life and how the war affects his relationship with his wife and kids.
Eventually he begins to adapt to life at home, finding work helping other veterans get back on their feet. The movie’s ending is shocking and tragic. It highlights the need for more support for soldiers as they return home.
Based on a true story, this murder mystery movie follows an Army Investigator as he searches for his son who went missing shortly after returning from Iraq.
He soon discovers that his son has been murdered and he launches his own investigation in an effort to catch his son’s killer. The movie explores themes such as prisoner abuse, the conditions under which soldiers fought in Iraq, and the PTSD which effects some veterans after their service is over.
No Greater Love is a documentary which tells the story of a U.S. Army battalion deployed to Afghanistan between 2010 and 2011.
It deals with what seemingly unscathed soldiers bring home from the war with them: the things they experienced which can’t be unseen, the sleepless nights, the mental health struggles and how they come together again to help each other.
The documentary is directed by Justin D. Roberts who served six years as an Army chaplain.
His role as a chaplain meant that he could not carry a weapon with him. Instead, he took a camera. It is his footage of fighting, bombing, death and survival that we see in this documentary interspersed with interviews conducted with members of his unit, where they discuss the horrors they experienced during their time in the Korengal Valley.
JUSTIN D. ROBERTS
The documentary highlights the emotional and mental impact that service can have on soldiers, pointing out the alarmingly high rate of suicide among veterans who struggle to live with the memories of their time in Afghanistan and Iraq.
It does offer an optimism that is rarely seen in similar documentaries. Within the final scenes, soldiers offer societal solutions, insisting on the importance of jobs for veterans and encouraging veterans to connect with one another post war. The end of the film reminds all veterans that they remain brothers long after the war has ended.
This list is for veterans and those who want to learn more about what it is to be a vet.
They explore the struggles that are faced by veterans long after the war is over, often highlighting the lack of support available for those who have risked their lives for their country.
Most Poignant War Movies Of All Time
Of course, to vets who have experienced war first hand, all war movies will be poignant, but there are a handful which are renowned for their ability to move almost everyone who watches them.
These movies truly capture the devastating effects of war on the lives of both soldiers and civilians.
This movie is inspired by the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who opens an enamelware factory in Krakow at the start of World War II.
Oskar Schindler
Initially, Schindler hires Jewish workers who he can exploit and pay significantly less than polish workers.
As time goes on though, Schindler realises that he has the power to save the lives of his Jewish employees, preventing them from going to extermination camps.
When he learns of the threat that is faced by the Jews due to the Nazi regime, he decides to use his fortune to save as many lives as possible, hiring Jewish workers and transporting them to his factories in Czechoslovakia where they wait until the war has ended. Schindler’s list puts a face to the many victims of the Nazi regime. When we talk about the holocaust, we typically use numbers and statistics.
This movie shows us the humans that suffered, and the complex lives they lived.
This movie explores the Nazi regime and its Final Solution through the lens of children. Bruno is the child of a Nazi officer who gets promoted during the war.
The family move to the countryside in occupied Poland where Bruno sees what he thinks is a farm whilst playing outside one day.
He ignores his father’s orders to stay away and returns to the farm where he meets a young boy named Shmuel on the other side of the wire fencing. The two become friends and Bruno learns that Shmuel is Jewish and that the farm is in fact a Nazi concentration camp.
BRUNO
Shmuel
The movie has a tragic ending which highlights the true sacrifices of war and the damaging effects it has on people of all ages, nationalities and religions.
It has however received criticism from some scholars for its inaccuracy. The plot definitely uses a certain level of creative license and should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, the movie follows the story of Albert and his beloved horse Joey.
NOVEL
The two are inseparable, but after the start of World War I, Albert’s father sells Joey to the British Cavalry.
From this point on we follow Joey as he is acquired by numerous owners and trained for war, eventually falling into the hands of a German soldier. Meanwhile, Albert has grown up and is old enough to signup which he does straight away. Once enlisted, he spends his service searching for his horse Joey, hoping to be reunited.
This is a movie that definitely tugs on the heartstrings so be sure to have your tissues handy.
The movie is set during the beginning of the Second World War. It follows the story of Rafe who is stuck in a love triangle with his best friend Danny and his lover Evelyn.
When Rafe is promoted, he is forced to move away and leave Evelyn behind. Whilst away, he is shot in service and presumed dead. After this, Danny and Evelyn begin a relationship together. One day, Rafe returns and we discover that he was never dead but had instead been trapped in occupied France.
Amidst the personal dramas taking place between the three characters, there is an unexpected attack on Pearl Harbor and Rafe and Danny take to the sky to shoot down the attacking planes.
RAFE
evelyn
DANNY
After this event, the two are deployed on a secret mission and Evelyn reveals to Rafe that she is pregnant with Danny’s child. The end of the movie is a tragedy. I won’t spoil it for you, but it is another tearjerker. As with many Hollywood movies about the war, Pearl Harbor received criticism concerning its inaccuracy in chronology.
Some of the events in the movie have been swapped around and delayed for dramatic effect, which means whilst it is gripping and thoroughly entertaining, it is not the most accurate.
The movies above all take advantage of a certain artistic licence. These artistic decisions often make them beautiful to watch. They are designed to entertain, to grip the audience and to tug on the old heart strings and they do a pretty good job. So, if you are looking for stunning cinematics, gripping plots and a whole lot of Hollywood, then this is the list for you.
Conclusion
This has been just a short list of suggestions constructed with veterans in mind. Not all of the movies are accurate, in fact it is extremely unlikely that any movie will be able to capture the realities of life as a soldier.
Through watching them, we can gain a better understanding of the true costs of war and the sacrifices that soldiers are making every day. For veterans, these movies can make them feel heard in a world where so few people can truly relate to their reality. It can provide an opportunity to reflect on their own experiences.
Many of these movies are based on true events and within them soldiers are given the heroic status that they deserve.
They tell the stories of heroes where they may have otherwise gone unnoticed by the general public. They serve as a reminder that these heroic actions are making a difference every day, whilst also helping to keep the memories of fallen heroes alive.
References:
- https://www.historians.org/research-and-publications/perspectives-on-history/october-1998/translating-war-the-combat-film-genre-and-saving-private-ryan
- https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/which-stalingrad-wwii-movie-best-or-most-accurate-171330
- https://sites.miamioh.edu/hst-journeys/2018/11/grading-historical-movies-joseph-vilsmaiers-stalingrad-1993/
- https://screenrant.com/jarhead-movie-true-story-accuracy-anthony-swofford-explained/#:~:text=Jarhead%2C%20based%20on%20the%20book,better%20Marines%20in%20the%20battalion
- https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/sep/08/anthropoid-review-second-world-war-czech-resistant-cillian-murphy
- https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/siege-of-jadotville-review-suave-brave-acting-by-jamie-dornan-1.2797169
- https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/71-2015
- https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-best-years-of-our-lives-1946
- https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/18/american-sniper-review-bradley-cooper-real-life-tale-legendary-marksman
- https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/american-sniper-review/
- https://www.wearethemighty.com/lists/6-reasons-why-hollywood-should-make-more-war-movies/