warfare movieshave been an enduring writing style in theaters worldwide for over a hundred , but not without controversy . A difficult subject to tackle , war has often been the focussing of movie maker eager to showcase the turpitude and violence often invoked by bloody conflicts . Catching the directorial eyes of some of the most legendary filmmakers , from Coppola to Kubrick , warfare film have been a box - spot boonand near - constant staple fiber of the cinematic landscape painting . Originally finding a footing in nationalism and wartime heroic meter , the literary genre shifted over time to more accurately seize the realism and grim nature of the theme .

It is no wonder that state of war picture show have inevitably gained aid for their coarse-grained , hyper - red , and often overt political electronic messaging over the years . Often controversial , not only for the subject of war but also for the handling of it , war films are often satirize for their historic inaccuracy and artistic license . Even so , the genre stay one of the most pop ever , make incredible popularity among critics and audiences likewise . With so many awful taradiddle exploring some of the most vivid human experience conceived , war films often make indelible film - choke experiences that are not easy forgotten .

20Das Boot (1981)

The most influential war movie to pass on Germany in the 1980s , Das Boot , is a claustrophobic thriller follow the crew aboard the World War II German submarine , U-96 . fight down for their lives in an iron casket late beneath the ocean , the work party of the U-96 suffers setback after setback in their short expedition off the coast of Spain . strange in its depiction of the German Navy as for the most part manned by men with either anti - national socialist or at least indifferent sentiments to the thickly settled political party , Das Bootstretched the believability of its narrative with non - German audiences . Its popularity as a tense warfare thriller stay on undeniable , though , and it even landedDas Boota series on Hulu .

19Kajaki (2014)

Kajaki , eject in North America asKilo Two Bravo , trace the events of the real - world Kajaki Dam incident involving soldiers from the British Army station in Afghanistan in 2006 . Spotting Taliban forces during their post at the eponymous dkm , the soldier seek a more advantageous military position to take out the insurgents . erroneously crossing a antecedently unknown Soviet - era minefield , the squad promptly finds themselves in dire circumstances , unsure if their next step will be their last . While the film was universally praised and even nominated for several BAFTA awards , the real - world incident led five surviving soldier to sue the British Ministry of Defence for their reckless endangerment of the troops involved .

18Platoon (1986)

With an unbelievable ensemble stamp featuring Charlie Sheen , Willem Dafoe , Forest Whitaker , John C. McGinley , Kevin Dillon , Keith David , and Johnny Depp , Platoonis a power station war dramatic play written by the uncomparable Oliver Stone . Despite many critic and reviewers questioning theaccuracy ofPlatoon ’s story of the Vietnam War , it is surprising to discoverPlatoonwas largely based on Oliver Stone ’s own experience as a member of the twenty-fifth foot segmentation during the war . Platoonwould arrest five Academy Awards , include Best Picture and Best Director . Nevertheless , the moving picture bring in considerable criticism for its depiction of black table service members and its over - poetic view of the war itself .

17The Hurt Locker (2008)

Being a commercial-grade and critical success , The Hurt Lockerwas controversial for its depiction of the Iraq War . Being lambasted by both veteran and journalist alike for its completely unrealistic characterisation of both the military and the Iraqi hoi polloi , The Hurt Lockerwas controversial when it was released . The film even swept up six Academy Awards , let in Best Picture and Best Director . ornament the top ten list of many critic in 2008 , the film also landed in Roger Ebert ’s sought after turn one blot . It seems that despite its inaccuracy , the moving-picture show had stuck a nerve with audience and their overall sensing of the Iraq War , which was well into its fifth year by this point .

16Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983)

The factious yet magneticMerry Christmas , Mr. Lawrencefeatured one of the first big covert show of the magnificent David Bowie . Based on the bookThe Seed and the Sower , the film surveil the inhume prisoner of a Nipponese internment encampment run by the tortured Captain Yonoi . The Captain , however , begins developing romantic impression for David Bowie ’s Jack Celliers . Using this to his reward , Celliers skirts the rule of the prison house camp , further complicating Yonoi ’s belief for him . With such an unusual plot , the film would become incredibly polarizing , with the remarkable common laurels being Bowie ’s starring performance .

15Casualties Of War (1989)

Directed by Brian De Palma and star Sean Penn and Michael J. Fox , Casualties of Waris a tense examination of putrescence rampant through the U.S. military ranks during the Vietnam War . Based on the infamous incident on Hill 192 resulting in the snatch , crowd rape , and eventual execution of Phen Ti Mao , the film heavily emphasizes the dehumanizing nature of the American war machine . With Michael J. Fox ’s Max Eriksson futilely attempting to rescue the fille and finally being betrayed by his fellow soldiers , the pic stands as a stark admonisher of the horrors of state of war and the darkness it brings out in men .

14Waltz With Bashir (2008)

walk-in With Bashircertainly sets itself apart from other entries on this leaning with its outstanding animated optical style and non - linear story . A kind of animated documentary , the film follows the director Ari Folman as he interviews Quaker and veterans of the 1982 Lebanon War , of which he himself was a part but can not recall with any clarity . bright and bombastic in its portrayal of state of war and the memory board of its survivors , Waltz With Bashiris a ocular feast . Even with his intentions position bare , the film was unsurprisingly blackball in Lebanon , with Lebanese bloggers and critics secretly pass around the film in defiance of the governance .

13All Quiet On The Western Front (2022)

All Quiet on the Western Front , released on Netflix in 2022 and base on the book of the same name , is a World War I shoot that follows the state of war through the quickly disillusioned eyes of three young enlistee in the German Imperial Army . Highlighting the monstrous human cost of war , All Quiet on the Western Frontis a brilliant distillate of the staggering pandemonium that underscore the futility of warfare . take care past its strong critical receipt , All Quiet on the Western Frontearned detractor for its notable changes compared to the script , with some German critics accusing the film of wholly decoupling the content from its title .

12The Ascent (1977)

guide by Larisa Shepitko , the wife of picture show music director Elem Klimov , The Ascentdepicts two Soviet guerillas desperate to hold up the war - bust country of Belarus during World War II . seize by Germans and tortured into grant up information , one of the soldiers finally cracks and begins feed them information he believe they already know . Eventually , he is offer a post among his gaining control as a phallus of the Belarusian Auxiliary Police . Concerned that the picture show might have featured a religious - same angle to its taradiddle , the celluloid was almost prorogue by the communist USSR . fortunately , it was save by a last - minute interposition by the director ’s hubby and even re - expel by Criterion in 2021 .

11Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

A powerful war tarradiddle focus on pacifism and humanity in the face of death , 2016sHacksaw Ridgetells the story of Desmond Doss . Doss take on staunch opposition from about every one of his commanding who believes his pacifist political theory to be suicidally uninitiated . Eventually defending his posture , Doss is allowed to enter the Asiatic - Pacific Theater of warfare against the Japanese . Upon his arrival , he meet the film ’s namesake and the dreaded violence it entail . With its unbelievable floor of conviction and the human spirit , it is deflating to get wind the first share of the movie is largely fictional .

Ben-Stiller’s-$128M-Dark-Comedy-Lands-On-Netflix’s-Global-Charts-18-Years-Later

In a dusty landscape Finn stares out into the distance in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Josh Hartnett looking shocked in Fight or Flight

War movies

Klaus Wennemann as the chief engineer yelling in Das Boot

A group of soldiers stands and laughs in Kilo Two Bravo, AKA Kajaki

Screencap from Platoon 1986. Tom Berenger as Sgt Barnes interrogates a Vietnamese villager while other soldiers look on in the background.

Jeremy Renner points a gun while speaking into a walkie talkie in The Hurt Locker

MerryChristmasMrLawrence

Michael J. Fox and Sean Penn argue in Casualties of War

Defeated soldiers standing with raised arms in Waltz With Bashir

Felix Kammerer as Paul looking shocked in All Quiet on the Western Front.

Two soldiers wandering in snow

Desmond helping out while working with a rope in Hackraw Ridge