What characteristics define the best World War II movies? Is it the intensity and realism of their portrayal of the chaotic battlefield? How about the authenticity of the heroism and camaraderie that actors, far removed from actual combat, bring to the screen? Sure, any expert on war movies will admit to you that taste is subjective, but the defining World War II movies of the past eight decades all have one thing in common: They resonate deeply with audiences far beyond their box-office success and Hollywood awards.
This became apparent when we asked Military.com readers to share their must-watch war movies with us. Here’s what made the cut in terms of the best World War II movies, according to service members and veterans.
"A Bridge Too Far" (1977)
A fictionalized account of the failed Operation Market Garden from the perspective of the Allies, "A Bridge Too Far" featured a star-studded cast, including Robert Redford ("The Last Castle"), Sean Connery ("The Hunt for Red October"), Edward Fox ("The Day of the Jackal"), James Caan ("Gardens of Stone"), Gene Hackman ("Uncommon Valor"), Laurence Olivier ("Spartacus") and Anthony Hopkins ("One Life").
"A Bridge Too Far" won multiple awards from the British film industry but experienced a tepid response from critics, perhaps because it depicted the blind spots of the Allies' planning and execution in Holland. Interestingly enough, many of our readers suggested it as a must-watch film for exactly that reason. "This was not an Allied victory but showed the determination of soldiers from across Europe that came together and how their lack of resources (supplies, equipment, transportation and communication) combined to defeat them," one reader said.
"A Walk in the Sun" (1945)
Based on a novel of the same name by Harry Brown, "A Walk in the Sun" stars Dana Andrews ("The Best Years of Our Lives") and tells the story of a group of Texan soldiers who are among the first to invade Italy by way of Salerno. The movie was filmed less than two years after the real-life invasion and faced wartime obstacles during production, including shortages and requested changes from the U.S. Army. In 2016, it was included in the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. One reader chose "A Walk in the Sun" because "[It] captures the interaction between enlisted men, the boredom, interrupted by intense firefights of varying duration and moving on."
"Battle of Britain" (1969)
Starring film icons Michael Caine ("The Great Escaper"), Robert Shaw ("Battle of the Bulge") and Christopher Plummer ("Aces High"), "Battle of Britain" is a British film that tells a fictionalized story of the 1940 Blitz over England. Even though it was the No. 1 movie in Britain for 14 weeks, it premiered to mixed reviews in its home country and in America, most likely owing to some anti-war sentiment at the time. Interestingly, Caine's cameo in "Dunkirk" nearly 50 years later was a nod to his role as Squadron Leader Canfield in "Battle of Britain."
"Battle of the Bulge" (1965)
Premiering on the 21st anniversary of the historic Battle of the Bulge, this eponymous movie tells the fictitious story of pilot Lt. Col. Daniel Kiley, played by Henry Fonda. Kiley finds himself locked in a private battle with a German officer as the larger battle rages. Boasting a large, famous cast, the movie was criticized for its historical inaccuracies, including by former Supreme Allied Cmdr. Dwight D. Eisenhower, who came out of retirement to make a public statement.
"Battleground" (1949)
Ricardo Montalban ("Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan"), Van Johnson ("The Caine Mutiny"), George Murphy ("This Is the Army") and John Hodiak ("Lifeboat") are Army privates in the 101st Airborne who find themselves trapped in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. When released, "Battleground" was MGM's most successful movie in half a decade and won two Oscars and two Golden Globes. Resonating with veterans throughout the years, one reader shared, "I can remember as a child watching 'Battleground' on our local PBS channel; it gave me a sense of patriotism. I saw the Army as a brotherhood."
"Casablanca" (1942)
What can be said about a film that is routinely recognized as one of the greatest in history? Humphrey Bogart ("The Maltese Falcon") and Ingrid Bergman ("Murder on the Orient Express") star in "Casablanca," a war film that has it all: a love triangle, deception, sacrifice, patriotism, missed connections and loyalty. "It's truly a classic WW2 movie that is patriotic and romantic and action-filled," one reader chimed in.
At the Oscars, it was nominated for eight Oscars and won three: Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay. Perhaps surprisingly, Bogart did not take home Best Actor, and despite its iconic soundtrack, Max Steiner did not win for Best Musical Score, either. "Casablanca" was a substantial box-office hit and opened to critical acclaim that has continued for more than 80 years.
"Das Boot" (1981)
The only non-British foreign film on our list, "Das Boot" has certainly made an impression among Military.com readers. This West German movie is an adaptation of Lothar-Günther Buchheim's novel of the same name, which draws heavily from his own experiences aboard a U-boat during World War II. The film chronicles the experiences of Lt. Werner, a journalist assigned to U-96, a submarine staffed by a war-weary crew. Over time, "Das Boot" has been released in five different cuts, including one that fit the movie into a BBC miniseries.
Routinely considered one of Germany's greatest movies, it received six Oscar nominations and a Golden Globe nomination. Perhaps the enduring draw of "Das Boot" is best summed up by this reader: "Who doesn't love a submarine movie? This is the best of all of them."
"Fury" (2014)
"Fury" is an unwavering look at the effects of war on a group of tankers who have survived the battlefields of Europe, only to fight for their lives in the crumbling Reich. Starring Brad Pitt ("Inglourious Basterds") as the swaggering commander of an outgunned (but not outmanned) M4 Sherman tank, the film was written, produced and directed by David Ayer, who was inspired by the service and sacrifice of veteran family members.
Despite filming taking place seven decades after the war, authentic Tiger and Sherman tanks were used during production. "["Fury"] shows the horror of war in a less refined manner than usual. The protagonists -- one hesitates to call them heroes -- are brutal, compassionate, violent, and merciful," a reader commented.
"Go for Broke!" (1951)
Another dramatization of historical events, "Go for Broke!" tells the story of the 442nd, which was composed of Japanese-American soldiers. The film begins in 1943 at Camp Shelby in Mississippi, where Lt. Michael Grayson (Van Johnson) trains and commands the unit as they coalesce and are sent abroad to fight in France and Italy together. One of the only films of its time to portray Japanese-Americans favorably and to even briefly mention internment camps, the movie mostly centers on the experiences of their white commander and his eventual rejection of racism.
"Greyhound" (2020)
The youngest film to make it on this list, "Greyhound" was released during the COVID lockdown on Apple TV+ rather than in theaters, as originally planned. Despite its unusual release, the movie was well-received and nominated for an Oscar for Best Sound. Tom Hanks wrote the screenplay, a faithful adaptation of "The Good Shepherd" by C.S. Forester, and stars as a U.S. Navy commander protecting a convoy of supply and troop ships crossing the U-boat-infested waters of the North Atlantic. "The movie shows the commitment of [a] Navy ship captain who is working ... day and night to escort a convoy to Europe in [the] early days of WW2," one reader wrote.
"Hacksaw Ridge" (2016)
Andrew Garfield ("The Amazing Spider-Man") stars as Desmond Doss, the first person who served as a conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor. "Hacksaw Ridge" follows Doss from his childhood to his enlistment as a medic, then to the battlefields of Okinawa. Even though it took more than a decade for the movie to become reality, "Hacksaw Ridge" eventually garnered a bevy of awards, including two Oscars. One reader reflected that the movie is a "great depiction of the bravery and courage of our fighters and Desmond Doss.
"In Harm's Way" (1965)
"In Harm's Way," an adaptation of the novel "Harm's Way" by James Bassett, stars John Wayne ("The Green Berets"), Kirk Douglas ("The Final Countdown") and Patricia Neal ("Hud") and features notable actors including Burgess Meredith ("Rocky") and Henry Fonda ("The Longest Day"). Following two Navy officers at the beginning of the war, the movie's portrayal of the service is dismal in comparison to other WWII pictures.
Wayne's and Douglas' characters struggle in the Pacific Theater with demotions, heavy drinking, affairs and grief. Douglas' character rapes a nurse, who then dies by suicide. Despite its gritty depiction, readers submitted it as a must-watch film: "Besides the tremendous cast, it brings viewers close to the real actions of the U.S. Navy during the Second World War. Six decades later, it is still a compelling movie."
"Letters from Iwo Jima" (2006)
"Letters from Iwo Jima" is the Japanese-language companion film to Clint Eastwood's "Letters from Our Fathers" and portrays the Battle of Iwo Jima from the perspective of Japanese soldiers. It is based on "Picture Letters from the Commander in Chief" by Tadamichi Kuribayashi and has a nearly all-Japanese cast of characters.
While most of the movie was shot in the U.S. and Iceland, a few scenes were filmed on Iwo Jima, and footage of the USS Texas -- a battleship that participated in the historical assault -- were also used. One Military.com reader appreciated the movie, noting "[It's] nice to see WW2 from a Japanese perspective."
"Midway" (1976)
With an ensemble cast of great actors that included Charlton Heston ("The Ten Commandments"), Hal Holbrook ("Lincoln"), Henry Fonda and Robert Mitchum ("Story of G.I. Joe"), it is no surprise that Military.com readers listed 1976's "Midway" as a must-watch film.
While the 21st-century version of "Midway" boasted state-of-the-art CGI battle scenes, this classic did things a little differently. The dramatized account of the 1942 clash in the South Pacific reused battle footage from other movies, including "Tora! Tora! Tora!" and "Away All Boats," and shot on location at multiple naval bases and on the USS Lexington. "The movie shows the action from many levels, command to common sailors," one reader who suggested "Midway" wrote.
"Patton" (1970)
Perhaps one of the most notable biopics ever produced, "Patton" is iconic from its opening scene. Starring George C. Scott ("The Hustler") and Karl Malden ("On the Waterfront") and with a script written by Francis Ford Coppola, the movie opened to mostly good reviews and more than $60 million in box-office receipts worldwide.
The film was nominated for 10 Oscars and won seven, including Best Actor for Scott's portrayal of the titular character. Scott became the first actor to decline an Academy Award, because he disagreed with the voting process and the concept of artistic competition. "Patton" was screened at the White House and was reportedly President Richard Nixon's favorite, just as it is a favorite for many readers, one of whom shared, "I will slap you in the face if I have to explain it to you!"
"Pearl Harbor" (2001)
Yes, we can hear the groans, but this is a list of readers' favorites, and you nominated "Pearl Harbor"! A genuine blockbuster from Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer that made more than $450 million worldwide, "Pearl Harbor" tells the story of a fated military love triangle from the onset of the United States’ involvement in World War II to its end. The movie features Kate Beckinsale ("Van Helsing"), Ben Affleck ("Argo") and Josh Hartnett ("Black Hawk Down"), with other notables including Cuba Gooding Jr. ("Jerry Maguire"), Jon Voight ("Coming Home") and Alec Baldwin ("The Departed").
Despite "Pearl Harbor" earning four Oscar nominations (and winning for Best Sound Editing), Rolling Stone called Bay's signing onto the film as one of the worst decisions in movie history. From one reader who bravely recommended this nearly universally despised movie: "It's just a magnificent movie that shows how WWII started, and ended with great acting from all concerned."
"Red Tails" (2012)
Starring Terrence Howard ("Crash") and Cuba Gooding Jr., "Red Tails" focuses on a group of Black fighter pilots from the 332nd who are sent to Italy to replenish the ranks. The pilots endure racism and obstacles despite their heroism and skill. In an interesting twist of film history, "Red Tails" was not the first time that either starring actor had portrayed a Tuskegee Airman. The movie was released to lackluster reviews, but our readers nominated it as a must-watch: "["Red Tails"] shows the obstacles that had to be overcome for Black soldiers to be accepted Army Wide," one wrote.
"Sahara" (1943)
Another Humphrey Bogart movie filmed during the war, "Sahara" is set in the often-ignored Western Desert Campaign of North Africa. It's a fight to the last man and a battle of good versus evil and Allies versus Axis. The movie was shot with the help of extras and equipment from the Army's 4th Armored Division, including American tanks "disguised" as German ones since it was impossible to get authentic equipment at the time.
"Sands of Iwo Jima" (1949)
Starring John Wayne, "Sands of Iwo Jima" follows a swaggering Marine Sgt. John Stryker through the Pacific Theater, including campaigns in Tarawa and Iwo Jima. Released four years after Japan's surrender, the movie used combat veterans as extras and contains the first known instance of "lock and load" in the cultural zeitgeist. One reader nominated this film, writing that "'Sands of Iwo Jima' shows what normal citizens can do with excellent training!"
"Stalag 17" (1953)
Directed by Billy Wilder ("Some Like It Hot"), the film is adapted from a Broadway play of the same name that was written by Donald Bevan and Edmund Trzcinski, who were imprisoned in Austria's Stalag 17B. "Stalag 17" features William Holden ("Sunset Boulevard") as a suspected informant in a prisoner-of-war barracks in Germany. Holden won the Oscar for Best Actor, the only win of that year's awards season for the film, even though it is considered an excellent movie.
"The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946)
"The Best Years of Our Lives" was a huge success in spite of -- or perhaps because of -- its poignant post-war themes. Telling the intersecting stories of three veterans who return home to the same town, the movie wrestles with the effects of war, including alcoholism, joblessness, PTSD, and relationship and familial issues.
"The Best Years of Our Lives" was not only successful at the box office, but it took home eight Oscars. Harold Russell, a double-amputee veteran who was not a professional actor but played the part of double-amputee veteran Homer Parrish, is the only person in history with the distinction of receiving two Academy Awards: one for Best Supporting Actor and an honorary Oscar. Decades later, "The Best Years of Our Lives" continues to ring true in the military community, with one nominator writing, "[It's the] best movie about what veterans faced on returning from WWII and still face on returning home from a combat zone."
"The Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957)
"The Bridge on the River Kwai" is a staple of any WWII movie list, if only for its memorable whistled tune -- "The Colonel Bogey March" -- that became a cultural touchstone. Starring William Holden and Alec Guinness ("Star Wars"), the movie is an adaptation of a novel by the same name and is now widely regarded as a cinematic masterpiece.
When British POWs are tasked by their Japanese captors to build a bridge in virtually impossible conditions, Guinness' Col. Nicholson becomes obsessed with building the bridge -- the backdrop for a larger thematic discussion of British class and culture. "The Bridge on the River Kwai," which collected seven Oscars, has been included on many "best of" lists and has been preserved in the National Film Registry. "I enjoyed the depth of the personalities being portrayed, because emotions are a true reflection of one of the greatest tragedies in war," noted one Military.com reader.
“The Dirty Dozen” (1967)
Several Military.com readers recommended the 1967 World War II action flick “The Dirty Dozen” for one simple reason: its cast. Featuring an star-studded ensemble of Hollywood tough guys led by Lee Marvin (“The Big Red One”) and Ernest Borgnine (“McHale’s Navy”) and based on an incredible true story of the "Filthy Thirteen,” the film follows a group of convicts trained as commandos and dropped into Normandy ahead of Operation Overlord. Tasked with taking out the Nazi officers who are coordinating the defense of France, their survival means a full pardon for their past offenses.
“The Dirty Dozen” was considered a major commercial success upon its release, and the film took home the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing. While there have been rumblings of a remake in recent years, readers agree that replicating the deep bench of acting talent from the original movie is a near-impossible task.
"The Great Escape" (1963)
"The Great Escape" is a fictionalized account of a real Allied POW prison break during WWII. Featuring a star-studded ensemble cast headed by Steve McQueen ("The Magnificent Seven"), Charles Bronson ("Death Wish"), Richard Attenborough ("Jurassic Park") and James Garner ("Space Cowboys"), the film found an instant place in American popular culture.
From McQueen's legendary motorcycle jumps and its famous soundtrack, "The Great Escape" influenced subsequent pop cultural phenomena such as "Chicken Run," "Inglourious Basterds," "Seinfeld" and "The Simpsons." One of our readers shared that "[the POWs'] patience in planning, delegating duties and their ingenuity at problem solving to execute such a daring plan shows what can be done in times of adversity."
"The Longest Day" (1962)
A story of the D-Day assault on Normandy, "The Longest Day" is adapted from a book of the same name by Cornelius Ryan. With a huge, multinational cast including John Wayne, Robert Mitchum ("The Enemy Below"), Richard Burton ("The Spy Who Came in from the Cold") and Sean Connery, it's easy to see why this film is widely considered a masterwork of war movies, opened to excellent reviews and made more than $50 million at the box office.
It's also no wonder that "The Longest Day" was one of the most nominated films by Military.com readers, with one explaining, "It details an era of history that will never be repeated. And who doesn't like a war movie where the good guys win?"
"They Were Expendable" (1945)
"They Were Expendable" follows a dramatized version of a true story about PT boat Squadron 3 commander John D. Bulkeley (a Medal of Honor recipient) and his executive officer, Robert Kelly. Robert Montgomery ("Mr. and Mrs. Smith"), a veteran of PT boats himself, starred in the movie, as did Donna Reed ("From Here to Eternity") and John Wayne. John Ford ("The Grapes of Wrath"), a Navy Reserve commander during WWII, directed.
Authentic WWII equipment was used in filming, including PT and Higgins boats. "The music was wonderful and the good guys put up a great fight at the beginning of WWII, but left the audience knowing we would eventually prevail and that PT Boats would play a part," one nominator shared.
"To Hell and Back" (1955)
Starring Medal of Honor recipient Audie Murphy, "To Hell and Back" is an autobiographical movie of Murphy's childhood and exploits during the war. The movie was a box-office hit, with reports that Murphy made more than $1 million on residuals. Another favorite of Military.com readers, one wrote, "It gives a 'true' picture of war and the people it has an effect on."
"Tora! Tora! Tora!" (1970)
Released to mixed reviews from American critics, "Tora! Tora! Tora!" has had 50 years of staying power. Following the lead-up to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and subsequent fallout, the movie was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck ("The Longest Day"). The movie employed an American and Japanese cast, as well as American and Japanese directors for their respective nationalities' scenes.
A wide variety of era-appropriate machinery was used, including a B-17 that accidentally crashed during filming when the landing gear jammed, providing extremely authentic footage for the movie. "The historical accuracy and the blending of the Japanese and American events are top drawer," noted one reader.
"Valkyrie" (2008)
"Valkyrie" stars Tom Cruise ("Born on the Fourth of July") as Nazi Col. Claus von Stauffenberg, one of the principal actors in the homegrown 1944 plot to assassinate Hitler. Some German politicians protested Cruise's involvement with the film because of his close ties to Scientology. Small, public protests against Scientology happened sporadically at the movie's premieres around the world. The critical reception of "Valkyrie" was lukewarm at best.
Overall Pick: "Saving Private Ryan" (1998)
A gold standard of war movies, "Saving Private Ryan" was a runaway choice among our readers. A collaboration between Steven Speilberg ("Schindler's List") and Tom Hanks, this instant classic features iconic scenes, an outstanding ensemble cast and a soundtrack by John Williams. "Saving Private Ryan" follows a contingent of American GIs tasked with finding and extracting Pvt. James Ryan from the battlefields of Europe after all of his brothers are killed in action elsewhere.
Bringing in nearly $500 million, the movie was a critical and cultural success, winning five Academy Awards and two Golden Globes. "Saving Private Ryan" is now immortalized in the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. "I was gobsmacked by the cinematography, the acting, and for taking the viewer into a total immersion experience of the horrors of war," one Military.com reader wrote.
Not a Movie, But an Honorable Mention: "Band of Brothers" (2001)
While "Band of Brothers" is a made-for-TV miniseries and not a movie, it was an overwhelming fan favorite among Military.com survey respondents. The 10-part series depicting the struggles and triumphs of the 101st Airborne's Easy Company has been a beloved staple of small-screen viewing since its debut on HBO at the beginning of the century.
Created and produced by cinematic powerhouses Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, the miniseries is a dramatized version of Stephen Ambrose's nonfiction tome, "Band of Brothers." The series was nominated for 20 Emmys and won seven of them, as well as a Golden Globe and Peabody Award, among other accolades. One reader noted, "Though it portrays activity before my time I feel it accurately shows both combatant groups and leadership activities." Another simply justified their pick: "[Saving] Private Ryan on steroids."
Don't see your favorite war movie listed here? You can help expand this list through our reader survey on the best war movies of all time.
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