“ War ! Huh ! Yeah . What is it good for … ? ” allot to Edwin Starr , dead nothin’ . But what about all those war idealization moving picture sport the WWII era ? FYI : The word glory is taken from the Latin root , gloria , and at last settles on this idea of weight unit or unbelievable means . It ’s easy to “ glorify ” the allied actions in WWII because the Axis force were so obviously evil . And if there ’s anything humankind loves , it ’s a write up of salvation from tragedy , even when written as a victor ’s history . Here are 12 of the best films set during WWII .
20. The Dirty Dozen (1967)
The Dirty Dozenremains a authoritative case of the quintessential , testosterone - laden movie made for the manful psyche . It will tap into the wannabe warrior of anyone . The 1967 movie sport a group of military prisoners who are facing death sentence or years behind bars . These misfits and criminals are offered the opportunity to operate in a high-pitched - risk mission on the eve of D - Day . They ’re led into opposition territory by one of movie theatre ’s greatest knotty guys , Lee Marvin .
Their mission : parachute into German soil and make life pure hell for the German officer responsible for a D - solar day counterattack . film usingThe foul Dozenformula are still popular today ( Suicide Squad ) , and the film has survived the trial of meter . Regardless of miss the benefit of applied science . hard-nosed and VFX , the story sustain . The report is pep up by the real - life Filthy Thirteen .
19. Downfall (2004)
One of the fine biopics ever made turn to Adolf Hitler ’s authorities , here ’s a brief look atDownfall . You have in all probability ensure more than one parody using this picture show as source fabric ( the angry Hitler meme videos ) . Some are , without a dubiousness , hilarious , but it ’s well realise why the filmmakers became fabulously annoyed at a certain point . It ’s possibly one of the most significant films offering insight into the mind-set of Adolf Hitler as the public came crashing down around him .
The picture is based on the journals and memoir of Traudl Junge , a secretarial assistant for Hitler during the final chapter of World War II and the ruination of the Third Reich . The versed glimpse of the magnetic leader , crumble toward sure death — no matter of military defeat — is a staggering monitor that no power is altogether sustainable . The film also spotlight the final days of the Nazi elite , Joseph Goebbels and Heinrich Himmler .
18. The Pianist (2002)
InThe Pianist , Adrien Brody love an Oscar - winning bout as Polish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman . The write up was establish on Szpilman ’s playscript , which was release curtly after WWII , but kept off the shelf for years due to the ruling communistic authorities follow the war . It offer up linear perspective outside the “ prescribed ” war story . The movie chronicle the life and survival of Szpilman in German - interest Poland , begin in 1939 . As Szpilman ’s family and friends are assault up and shipped off to Nazi labor and death camp , he escaped and hide in the shelled ruins of Warsaw for year .
Roman Polanski did a knockout job call the guessing on this slice of non - fiction horror . He offers no opportunity to depend away . The look , tonality , and tempo of the celluloid are bleak , yet allow for Adrien Brody to shine as a spark throughout the enveloping darkness .
17. Empire of the Sun (1987)
imperium of the Sunis one of two Steven Spielberg - directed films on this list , and for many fans , far from his masterfulSchindler ’s tilt , which is not on this particular lean . There is no denying the mastery ofSchindler ’s List , and here is our most honorable mention , but it also serve as a WWII go - to , while a film likeEmpire of The Sunconsistently fall through the cracks . The movie offer an fabulously unique linear perspective on WWII outside of the European campaign .
arrange in Japanese - occupied China , Christian Bale trifle James ( Jim ) Graham , who is tell from his parent in Shanghai . After live on on his own for some time , he is trance and sent to a confinement camp where he becomes one of the most pop prisoners . The film is generally based on the life and times of British author J.G. Ballard .
16. Enemy at the Gates (2001)
Enemy at the Gatesis a film based on a dead on target news report about the five - calendar month battle over the city of Stalingrad . Based on William Craig ’s 1973 nonfictional prose bookEnemy at the Gates : The Battle for Stalingrad , which describes the events surrounding the titular engagement in the winter of 1942 and 1943 . Hitler believes his German regular army is unvanquishable , while Stalin wants to write the metropolis which bear his name .
The film ’s primary character is a fictionalized interpretation of sniper Vasily Zaytsev , a Hero of the Soviet Union during World War II.Enemy at the Gatesincludes a climactic snipers ’ affaire d’honneur between Zaitsev and aWehrmachtsniper schoolhouse conductor , Major Erwin König . While the film is certainly not perfect , it ’s an entertaining take on the events surrounding a historical engagement .
15. Casablanca (1942)
mark during World War II , Casablancafocuses on an American exile who must choose between his passion for a charwoman and serve her and her husband , a Czech Resistance leader , get away from the Vichy - controlled urban center of Casablanca to continue his fight against the Nazis . Michael Curtiz ’s 1942 classic begins with a manful teller explain that right before World War II , refugee from Occupied Europe were dire to head for the hills to America . However , the common period of expiration was Lisbon , and there was often no prosperous way to get there , so many made the perilous journey to Casablanca , in Morocco ( Unoccupied France ) where people would do anything in their big businessman to procure exit visas to make their elbow room out .
The motion picture star Humphrey Bogart , Ingrid Bergman , and Paul Henreid and an ensemble cast of Claude Rains , Conrad Veidt , Sydney Greenstreet , Peter Lorre , and Dooley Wilson . Casablancawon several Academy Awards including Best Picture and consistently ranks near the top of lists of the great picture in history .
14. Fury (2014)
Furyis a 2014 World War II film written and directed by David Ayer , and starring a gifted casting of Brad Pitt , Shia LaBeouf , Logan Lerman , Michael Peña , Jon Bernthal , and Jason Isaacs . The film is set in 1945 as the Allies make their final get-up-and-go in the European Theatre . A conflict - hardened regular army serjeant-at-law nominate Wardaddy ( Brad Pitt ) overtop a Sherman armoured combat vehicle and her five - valet crew on a deadly mission behind foe communication channel . outnumber and outgunned , with a rookie soldier thrust into their platoon , Wardaddy and his manpower confront overwhelming betting odds in their heroic attempts to hit at the heart of Nazi Germany .
sound exciting right ? It ’s an adrenaline - filled drive through Nazi Germany during the final years of World War II.Furywas a achiever at the box berth as well as with critics , with praise being feed for the acting performances and raw depictions of the repulsion of war .
13. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Grave of the Firefliesis a 1988 Nipponese revive flick found on the 1967 semi - autobiographical short history of the same name by Akiyuki Nosaka . Set in the metropolis of Kobe , Japan , the film evidence the story of two sibling , Seita and Setsuko , and their desperate struggle to survive during the last months of the Second World War . After an American firebombing reprint the kid from their parents , teenager Seita is charged with read care of his four - year - honest-to-goodness sister Setsuko .
This witching film features a heartwrenching story that is convey to sprightliness by the masters of brio at Studio Ghibli . The pic received nigh - universal plaudit , with Roger Ebert calling it one of the good and most herculean war flick and in 2000 , include it on his inclination of great moving-picture show .
12. Life Is Beautiful (1997)
The 1997 Italian comedic - dramaLife Is Beautifulstars Roberto Benigni in the lead role as Guido Orefice , a Jewish Italian bookshop owner , who employs his eccentric personality to shield his boy from the horrors of impounding in a Nazi concentration camp . The film was partially inspired by the book , In the closing , I tick Hitlerby Rubino Romeo Salmonì and by Benigni ’s father , who spent two year in a German childbed camp during World War II .
Life Is Beautifulis a heartwarming account of beloved , courage , optimism , and intimate military posture in the face of horrific circumstances . The picture show was well receive by critics and was also a financial succeeder , despite criticisms of using the subject matter for comedic purposes . It win the Grand Prix at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival as well as three Academy Awards , include Best Actor for Benigni .
11. The Guns of Navarone (1961)
establish on the 1957 novel of the same name , The Guns of Navaroneis 1961 British - American World War II film direct by J. Lee Thompson . Inspired by the Battle of Leros during the Dodecanese Campaign of World War II , this striking film headliner Gregory Peck , David Niven , and Anthony Quinn , along with Stanley Baker , Anthony Quayle , Irene Papas , Gia Scala and James Darren in supporting roles . The picture ’s key game revolves around the efforts of an ally ranger unit to destroy a seemingly impregnable German fortress on the Greek Island of Navarone that jeopardize Allied naval ships in the Aegean Sea .
This exciting action - dangerous undertaking features some marvellous performance and an larger-than-life biz of cat-o'-nine-tails and computer mouse between the Nazis and the band of saboteurs charged with infiltrate their massive fort . The film was a huge success grossing $ 29 million at the global box office on a budget of $ 6 million which was pretty hefty for the clock time .
10. Dunkirk (2017)
Acclaimed movie maker Christopher Nolan take the reigns in this World War II thriller about the evacuation of confederative troops from the Gallic city of Dunkirk before national socialist forces can take hold . Tom Hardy , Kenneth Branagh , and Mark Rylance Colorado - star , with longtime Nolan partner Hans Zimmer providing the all - important score . eject in 2017,Dunkirkis singular in that it portray the evacuation from three linear perspective : land , ocean , and airwave . It features very lilliputian dialogue , as Nolan seek alternatively to create suspense from filming and euphony with the aid of Zimmer ’s expertise .
A powerful and stunning film , Dunkirkwould go on to receive eight Academy Award nominating address including Best Picture and Best Director . The cinema received glowing follow-up from critics with congratulations being given for the cinema ’s screenplay , direction , musical score , and cinematography . Some critic have calledDunkirkNolan ’s best film to escort and one of the best war pic ever made .
9. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
How about some pure historical fabrication on this list ? Quentin Tarantino took from a stack of non - fiction reference material to piece together another timbre offering . Inglorious Basterdsfeatures classic Tarantino narrative , which is often disjoint , yet eventually fit together to extend big satisfaction . Brad Pitt lead a squad of Jewish - American soldier as a war party in the European campaign , hell - bent on finding Nazi soldiers and torturing them before killing them .
Using the winning normal from films such asThe Dirty Dozen , and the original ( yet wholly different)The ignominious Bastards(1978 ) , Quentin hold up over - the - top in create a loveable , yet loathly villain , Col . Hans Landa ( and accordingly handing Christoph Waltz Hollywood superstardom ) . All the chronicle elements add up together in bloodlust fashion when the Basterds are able-bodied to deliver what accept history never could : a fierce final stage to the madman have it away as Adolf Hitler .
8. The Great Escape (1963)
The Great Escapeis three time of day well spent . That may vocalise like a material grind for a film made in 1963 , but every moment is needed to introduce the architectural plan , the plants , the performance and the payoff . And it does yield off . The film , starring screen legend Steve McQueen and James Garner , harbor up with relative beauty , and the storey is near insufferable to beat . Take a group of WWII prisoner of war and state them they ’re in an ineluctable camp , and what ’s going to chance ? Challenge accepted .
The chemistry between the cast members in this moving-picture show would make any 2016 music director envious . The actors enjoyed an immediate rapport and fight that translated to the projection screen . There is a tremendous amount of comedy in the first two acts of the film , and the third really delivers on the action and dangerous undertaking front — a cinema that put up a little something to everyone .
7. Letters From Iwo Jima (2006)
It ’s hard to mentionLetters From Iwo Jimawithout addressingFlags of Our Fathers . The two films tell the same narration from opposing perspectives . Clint Eastwood pop the question a consistent tonality to the existence he create in both of these film and did an honorable Book of Job telling the story of soldiers on both sides of the business line within the Pacific run . There was something very special aboutLetters From Iwo Jimaas it extend a humanity to the enemy that had never been captured well in a film before it .
It ’s ruffianly to point finger’s breadth at the unseasoned human race who fight down the war of dictatorial rule , particularly when these individuals were born into purity - shame culture . In such an environment , nationalism and nationalism go hand - in - hand with existence . And how could Eastwood go wrong puke Ken Watanabe as the commanding General Kuribayashi ? That guy can do anything .
6. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
You have to appreciate these motion picture that were in production within a decade of WWII ’s end . The Bridge on the River Kwaiwas all George Lucas needed to see to know Alec Guinness was his military man for Obi - Wan ( Ben ) Kenobi . When it came to command attending while on silver screen , Guinness was a gift to audience members . InBridge on the River KwaiGuinness plays Colonel Nicholson , a British POW in a Nipponese prisoner camp , who is command to conduct his fellow prisoners to build a railroad bridgework over a nearby river to service the Burma - Siam railroad .
Possessing no control over controvert military group , Nicholson defies his first instinct to undermine the project and convey nifty superbia in the grammatical construction of the bridge deck . The bridge becomes an compulsion , and unbeknown to the Colonel — and the prisoners under his statement — an Allied commission to demolish the bridge is well underway .
5. Come and See (1985)
So much Russian movie house was lose , and/or ignored by American hearing due to the Cold War , and the general condescension for the Soviet Union . amount and See , orIdi I Smotri , which literally translates to “ Go and Look , ” was a mid-1980s cinematic masterpiece proffer by Elim Klimov . The story follow a 13 - twelvemonth - old Belarusian son who finds an old rifle , take up the arming and embarks in the fight against invade German forces .
This flick is by far the most unsung ( to most ) on this lean , though it would be argued by WWII historians to be one of , if not the gravid . If you thoughtSaving Private Ryanadvanced storytelling in regards to show the horrors of war , Come and Seedid the same over a decade earlier . Using a child in the throe of struggle to suggest the evils of warfare is a muscular cinematic twist .
4. Schindler’s List (1993)
Released in 1993,Schindler ’s Listis plainly one of the greatest films of all meter . The moving picture won Best Picture as well as six more Oscars at the 66th Academy Awards , after all . Steven Spielberg ’s fantastic film about the real - life Oskar Schindler , a German businessman who pull through the lives of over 1,000 Polish Jews during the Holocaust by giving them job in his factories , is a heartrending , yet root on film .
to begin with prompt by covetousness , Schindler is deep affected after witness several Nazi atrocities . Despite being a wealthy and influential member of the Nazi Party , Schindler on the Q.T. makes plans to economize as many lives as he can , blowing his entire fortune in the outgrowth . The movie is powerful and excited , but also a severe monitor of the unspeakable evil that live not even a hundred ago . In the end , Schindler is still left feel fabulously ashamed of his actions , wishing he could have done more .
3. Das Boot (1981)
Wolfgang Petersen outdid himself out with this filmmaking attempt . Regarding the open matter and the source material , he execute a most perfect cinematic experience . There are those WWII film that you watch and say “ wow , ” and then there are those WWII films that you watch and your belly turns . offer the human view to an opposition is such an challenging labor , and then to take that element and puzzle them in a steel thermionic valve underneath the sea surface … ? This film is a genial dweeb .
For those unfamiliar , Das Bootis the tale of a finical German U - Boat crew who are put to the trial run day by day with demanding , daring and near impossible military mission trickling down from superiors , all the while handle with the fact that they ’re nothing more than spendable resource of the Third Reich . The tagline is beau ideal : “ 40,000 men were sent out on German uranium - gravy holder … 30,000 never render . ”
2. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
1998 was a slap-up yr for WWII motion-picture show . Two very different films were masterfully presented to keen popularity while offering two very dissimilar perspectives , elan , and tonalities . The first belonged to Steven Spielberg , who was awarded an Oscar for Best Director onSaving Private Ryan . Spielberg loves WWII storylines . The WWII classics developed and put out during his formative years were responsible for his passion of filmmaking , in summation to his forefather being a WWII veteran . Saving Private Ryanremains one of his finest career accomplishment .
Spielberg break cinematic ground in the process , implementing new techniques into contemporary filming , and though uncredited , he served to engraft the seed for the warfare - base FPS video recording games that begin with the firstMedal of Honor . The photographic film also gave nascency to the idea thatBand of Brotherscould be executed . Saving Private Ryanwill easily brook the exam of fourth dimension .
1. The Thin Red Line (1998)
For anyone who has been to film school , or studied filmmaking , the first things they ’ll learn you when you sit down in the classroom : film is avisualart . If you’re able to expertly tell a story without using words , you ’re working to advance the artwork of filmmaking . That ’s Terrence Malick . WithThe Thin Red Line , Malick left behind the WWII European campaign and focalize in on the Pacific and Guadalcanal . Told through disjoint personal stories and visual poetry , the film offers a coup d’oeil into the hearts , mind , and somebody of the soldiers .
Thoughts , inspiration , trueness , fear , doubts and finally , braveness : it is all on display . For most , Terrence Malick cinema are an acquired taste , and some remain quite experimental ; however , The slender Red Lineoffers one of the fine cinematic payoff in history . And the Hans Zimmer score … combined with the Melanesian choirs ? Incredible .
