15 War Movies; Watch Before You Die recommendation

Directed by Wolfgang Petersen, this German film takes place during World War II and follows the crew of a German U-boat, providing a gripping and realistic portrayal of submarine warfare.

Plot: A German submarine hunts allied ships during the Second World War, but it soon becomes the hunted. The crew tries to survive below the surface, while stretching both the boat and themselves to their limits.

Starring: Jürgen Prochnow,Herbert Grönemeyer, Klaus Wennemann

Directed by Roy Stevens, this epic film tells the story of T.E. Lawrence and his experiences during World War I as he leads Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire.

Plot: The story of British officer T.E. Lawrence’s mission to aid the Arab tribes in their revolt against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War. Lawrence becomes a flamboyant, messianic figure in the cause of Arab unity but his psychological instability threatens to undermine his achievements.

Starring: Peter O’Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn

Directed by Joe Wright, this film spans from pre-World War II to post-war years and centers around a tragic love story that unfolds against the backdrop of war.

Plot: As a 13-year-old, fledgling writer Briony Tallis irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister’s lover of a crime he did not commit.

Starring: Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Romola Garai

Directed by Clint Eastwood, this film offers a unique perspective on World War II by focusing on the Japanese soldiers defending the island of Iwo Jima against American forces.

Plot: The story of the battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Imperial Japan during World War II, as told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought it.

Starring: Ken Watanabe,Kazunari Ninomiya,Tsuyoshi Ihara

Directed by Willem de Beukelaer, this film is set during World War II and revolves around a Jewish woman who becomes a spy for the Dutch Resistance while also falling in love with a German officer.

Plot: In the Nazi-occupied Netherlands during World War II, a Jewish singer infiltrates the regional Gestapo headquarters for the Dutch resistance.

Starring: Carice van Houten,Sebastian Koch,Thom Hoffman

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, this film follows an elite U.S. Army bomb disposal team in Iraq, diving into the psychological toll of their high-risk job.

Plot: During the Iraq War, a Sergeant recently assigned to an army bomb squad is put at odds with his squad mates due to his maverick way of handling his work.

Starring: Jeremy Renner,Anthony Mackie,Brian Geraghty

Directed by Mel Gibson, this film tells the true story of Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector who served as a medic during World War II and saved numerous lives without firing a single shot.

Plot: WWII American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first Conscientious Objector in American history to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Starring: Andrew Garfield,Sam Worthington,Vince Vaughn

Directed by Ridley Scott, this film recreates the harrowing Battle of Mogadishu in 1993, where U.S. forces found themselves engaged in a deadly urban warfare situation.

Plot: When U.S. Rangers and an elite Delta Force team attempt to kidnap two underlings of a Somali warlord, their Black Hawk helicopters are shot down, and the Americans suffer heavy casualties, facing intense fighting from the militia on the ground.

Starring: Josh Hartnett,Eric Bana,Ewan McGregor

Directed by Stanley Kubrick, this film takes place during World War I and follows a French Army officer who is tasked with defending three soldiers accused of cowardice.

Plot: A commanding officer defends three scapegoats on trial for a failed offensive that occurred within the French Army in 1916.

Starring: Kirk Douglas,Ralph Meeker,Adolphe Menjou

Directed by Christopher Nolan, this film depicts the evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk during World War II, showcasing the resilience and bravery of those involved.

Plot: The story of the miraculous evacuation of Allied soldiers from Belgium, Britain, Canada and France, who were cut off and surrounded by the German army from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk between May 26th and June 4th 1940 during World War II.

Starring: Fionn Whitehead,Tom Hardy,Mark Rylance

Directed by Oliver Stone, this film offers a gritty portrayal of the Vietnam War through the eyes of a young soldier caught in the conflict between his comrades and a morally corrupt sergeant.

Plot: As a young and naive recruit in Vietnam, Chris Taylor faces a moral crisis when confronted with the horrors of war and the duality of man.

Starring: Tom Berenger,Willem Dafoe,Charlie Sheen

Directed by Terrence Malick, this film tells the story of a group of soldiers fighting in the Battle of Guadalcanal during World War II, examining the psychological toll of war.

Plot: The story of a group of men, an Army Rifle company called C-for-Charlie, who change, suffer, and ultimately make essential discoveries about themselves during the fierce World War II battle of Guadalcanal. It follows their journey, from the surprise of an unopposed landing, through the bloody and exhausting battles that follow, to the ultimate departure of those who survived.

Starring: Sean Penn,Jim Caviezel,Adrien Brody

Directed by Stanley Kubrick, this film explores the experiences of a platoon during their training and deployment to Vietnam, highlighting the dehumanizing effects of war.

Plot: A pragmatic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects the U.S.-Vietnam War has on his fellow recruits from their brutal boot camp training to the bloody street fighting in Hue.

Starring: Matthew Modine,Adam Baldwin,Vincent D’Onofrio

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, this film is set during the Vietnam War and follows a U.S. Army captain as he journeys upriver to assassinate a renegade colonel.

Plot: At the height of the Vietnam war, Captain Benjamin Willard is sent on a dangerous mission that, officially, “does not exist, nor will it ever exist.” His goal is to locate – and eliminate – a mysterious Green Beret Colonel named Walter Kurtz, who has been leading his personal army on illegal guerrilla missions into enemy territory.

Starring: Martin Sheen,Frederic Forrest,Albert Hall

Directed by Steven Spielberg, this film follows a group of soldiers in World War II as they embark on a mission to find and bring back a soldier whose brothers have all been killed in action.

Plot: As U.S. troops storm the beaches of Normandy, three brothers lie dead on the battlefield, with a fourth trapped behind enemy lines. Ranger captain John Miller and seven men are tasked with penetrating German-held territory and bringing the boy home.

Starring: Tom Hanks,Tom Sizemore,Edward Burns

War movies have a special place in the hearts of many cinephiles. They offer tales of heroes, sacrifice, and redemption that provide a unique insight into our shared human experience and encourage us to appreciate the beauty and tragedy that comes with living life on the battlefield.

We hope you enjoyed diving into our list of 15 War Movies; Watch Before You Die! Now go ahead and get ready for your cinematic adventure – these timeless masterpieces await your viewing pleasure!