- 11 hours ago
Did Disney make a colossal mistake with Jimmy Kimmel, even with his return? The entertainment titan is facing significant controversy, leading to a dramatic drop in its stock value. What does this mean for the House of Mouse's future?
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most impactful war films
00:15that aren't just set during a conflict, but also focus on battles and or combats.
00:2130. Stalingrad
00:30This movie is great at making you feel lost in World War II, but it's even better at making
00:45you feel cold. Stalingrad follows German soldiers during a bitter period of fighting. The film
00:50asks you to confront serious moral questions, with desperate men doing terrible things.
01:00Their view of the war and fighting slowly deteriorates over time, with morale at an
01:07all-time low. The platoon struggles to stay loyal with ruthless leaders and dwindling supplies.
01:13It's a visceral experience that's just nothing short of brutal.
01:20While the story depicts a different side of the conflict, it still includes plenty of unforgettable
01:29images.
01:3029. Gallipoli
01:33Back in Mel Gibson's early career, he made this war film with director Peter Weir. The story explores the
01:52Australian point of view during World War I, combining adventure and tragedy. The young men
01:58grow up fast in this grounded depiction of combats.
02:01So I want you to go out there this morning, and short of actually killing them, show them the stuff
02:07the infantry is made of!
02:10Archie and Frank join up unaware of the true sacrifice war might entail. Weir showcases the
02:17Gallipoli campaign, warts and all, with astonishing visuals to sell each battle. It all builds to a
02:23climax that's incredibly heartbreaking. In showing a distinct perspective of the Great War, this film
02:30provides an engaging glimpse into early 20th century warfare.
02:34The thing I can't stand about you, mate, is you're always so bloody cheerful.
02:4428. The Battle of Algiers
02:48Rather than focusing on a typical battlefield, this movie takes an in-depth look at urban warfare.
03:00It's a stirring depiction of the Algerian war from both sides. While the French forces take drastic
03:06measures, their guerrilla targets fight back with civilian lives on the line. It's a shocking
03:12exploration of occupation, revolts, and violence.
03:15Walking away from the movie, you'll likely have a strong opinion about the true cost of war. You don't
03:33need to understand the conflict to feel the weight of it all. As tensions grow, the FLN makes major
03:39decisions to win back territory. The director, Gillo Panticorvo, makes you feel like you're watching a
03:45gripping documentary with piercing drama.
03:4827. The Dirty Dozen
03:59It's a squad filled with the ultimate anti-heroes. A group of ragtag prisoners become commandos,
04:06training for a deadly mission in enemy territory.
04:0928. Lee Marvin's gruff Major Reisman helps them become an elite fighting force in an entertaining
04:27journey. With an anti-establishment streak, this movie likes to keep you on your toes. Some war games and
04:34exercises lead to the big mission everyone has been waiting for.
04:37You let my 12 men act as an independent unit attached to the opposing force,
04:44and they'll knock out Breed's headquarters and catcher's entire staff.
04:50That I'd like to see. In the best part of the movie, the Dirty Dozen mixes spy work,
04:55tension, and then some exciting action. The legendary cast is put to good use here,
05:00with audiences wondering who will survive.
05:0926. Bravehearts
05:11I am William Wallace. William Wallace is seven feet tall.
05:15Yes, I've heard. He kills men by the hundred. And if he were here, he'd consume the English with
05:23fireballs from his eyes, and bolts of lightning from his arse.
05:26For this Oscar-winning film, director and star Mel Gibson turns one of Scotland's heroes into a screen
05:34legend. Braveheart charts the 13th century war for Scottish independence. With the courageous
05:40spirit of William Wallace, Scottish forces fight against King Edward I.
05:45The dramatized plot includes several historical faceoffs and notable names. With its epic storytelling,
06:03the movie traces the hard-fought journey through many battlefields. Wallace's spirit extends from
06:09incredible charges to sword-fights. All the while, the hero's singular mission leads him to his famous
06:16last word.
06:26Gibson's work is arguably the reason many non-Scots know this story now.
06:3225. Blackhawk Down
06:34From the beginning, Ridley Scott's film feels like an urgent and enthralling piece of work.
06:52Blackhawk Down follows the events surrounding the Battle of Mogadishu, with political tensions in
06:57Somalia. American forces face a tense mission that not everyone survives. You might recognize many famous
07:04actors in this eclectic ensemble. Guided by Scott's skilled direction, the cast play a group of fierce
07:19soldiers. They fight to defend each other against overwhelming odds in one compelling scene after
07:25another. From a helicopter standoff to the final battle, the nail-biting conflict plays out in well-staged
07:32action. 24. Patton
07:47This movie might be best known for its iconic opening. Right off the bat, this film puts General George
07:53S. Patton front and center. George C. Scott portrays the ornery officer in a career-defining role.
08:09Through speeches and battle scenes, the full depth of the character comes through. He's a brilliant
08:15military mind that can't always control himself. While watching this movie, you might wonder how
08:25he kept his job. It's a rare look into a complicated man during one of America's finest hours. You also
08:31get to see Scott at the top of his game, delivering a commanding performance in the midst of a pivotal
08:37conflict. 23. The Last of the Mohicans
08:46You call yourself a patriot and loyal subject to the crown? Do not call myself subject to much at all.
08:53Better known for his crime movies like Heat, Michael Mann also did solid work in this book
08:58adaptation. He takes the James Fenimore Cooper tale and makes it believable. With Daniel Day-Lewis as
09:14the hero, The Last of the Mohicans takes viewers to the 18th century with lots of authentic period
09:20details. Hawkeye finds himself caught up in the French and Indian War. While the era might not
09:36seem fascinating to some, Mann stages terrific action scenes with an artistic flair. Day-Lewis heads up an
09:42impressive cast that includes Madeline Stowe and Wes Studi as the formidable Magwa. The unflinching
09:48battles across various settings build to a memorable cliffside duel.
09:5222. The Longest Day
09:55Before films like Saving Private Ryan, The Longest Day set out to depict the events of D-Day. This
10:10includes bringing in an all-star cast of Hollywood legends and soon-to-be icons like Sean Connery.
10:15It covers the operation from multiple perspectives, with glimpses into both the Allied and Axis
10:26response. This includes following everything from the paratrooper landings to the beaches of Normandy.
10:32It's a grand-scale adventure with epic sequences telling the stories of many heroic soldiers that
10:38helped to take back France.
10:56Steven Spielberg might have topped this project, but the latter still stands up as a thrilling experience.
11:0221. Come and See
11:05If there ever was a movie you could call anti-war, this would be it. Elam Klimov's harrowing film
11:12traces a rarely seen front of World War II.
11:26Flyora makes his way through Belarusian battlefields and villages, with the German occupying
11:32forces around the corner. He eventually comes face to face with pure evil.
11:42Klimov has no easy answers here, choosing to depict the crimes against humanity with a nightmarish
11:49gaze. The young actor Alexei Kravchenko gives an incredible performance as a boy that grows up too
11:55fast. Set pieces include the terrifying church sequence, featuring an uncensored take on the
12:01horrors of war. You definitely won't forget this experience anytime soon.
12:07No. 20. All quiet on the western front
12:21It speaks volumes that Eric Maria Remarque's 1929 novel, All Quiet on the Western Front,
12:39has such an outstanding batting average when it comes to cinematic adaptations.
12:44Three separate film versions of Remarque's piece have been lauded by cinephiles and critics.
12:49The first from 1930, a second in 1979, and the most recent in 2022.
13:05The source material remains the same, a harrowing account of wartime idealism that descends into
13:11disillusionment. All Quiet on the Western Front is told from the perspective of a German soldier.
13:17But make no mistake, none of these adaptations glorify war. Instead, the sentiment here is very much
13:25the opposite. The intense sights and sounds vividly bring home to the viewer the horrors of combat.
13:32Number 19. Glory
13:46Congratulations. I ain't sure I'm wanting this title.
13:52Here's a question. How much does historical accuracy mean when making a non-fiction film?
13:58Okay, now how about a war film specifically? Glory is one of those well-regarded efforts that's
14:07extremely well made and compelling. It's also been showcased often to students at the high school
14:12level, despite questions of inaccuracies with regard to its content.
14:17This, of course, takes nothing away from the impactful messages behind Glory,
14:32nor the quality of its performances. This dramatized tale of a real African-American
14:38regiment during the American Civil War succeeds on an emotional level, rather than a rational one.
14:44This is no insult. Glory is absolutely worth a watch.
14:57Number 18. Master and Commander, The Far Side of the World
15:02War films, though dealing with the past, will always be with us as society progresses into the future.
15:14Master and Commander, The Far Side of the World may not be a title that one immediately associates with
15:20this genre, but the Napoleonic setting is just one of the elements that helped make it unique.
15:26Their greed will be their downfall.
15:33England is under threat of invasion.
15:36And though we be on the far side of the world, this ship is our home.
15:39Russell Crowe presents a powerful performance as Jack Aubrey, a fictional British Navy man who rises in
15:45the ranks to Rear Admiral. His friendship with co-star Paul Bettany takes a central place within the
15:51film's narrative. But the action set pieces also ensure that Master and Commander, The Far Side of the
15:57World, retains a thrilling atmosphere.
16:06Number 17. Tora Tora Tora
16:09Perspective can be everything when it comes to crafting a well-actualized war epic. Tora Tora Tora
16:26from 1970 tells the story of Pearl Harbor by utilizing American and Japanese directors to each side's
16:34stories. This dedication to accuracy and impartiality ensures that Tora Tora Tora endures.
16:51It also remains a bold move for the time, since 1970 was only 25 years removed from the end of
16:58World War II. Tora Tora Tora could have easily descended into flag-waving and grandstanding,
17:04but the film instead mulls over the tragedy from all sides. The film ends up being more successful
17:10overseas than in North America, but don't let this dissuade you from exploring what Tora Tora Tora
17:17has to offer its audiences. Number 16. 1917.
17:40There will probably never be a shortage of World War II-era films presented to moviegoers,
17:46but more recent years have seen a welcome shift in focus. Author H.G. Wells may have
17:52erroneously claimed World War I to be the war that will end war, but this tragic conflict has
17:58seen a recent rise in serious-minded appraisals of this era. Sam Mendes' 1917 is one of the more
18:06successful and well-regarded of these entries. A big budgeted epic that nevertheless eludes pitfalls
18:13associated with the style. The narrative of two soldiers attempting to stop military doom is
18:34tense right from the jump. The special effects are gruesomely convincing, and the long-take
18:40cinematography is absolutely breathtaking. In other words, 1917 is highly recommended.
18:46He saved my life. I am glad you were with him.
19:01Thank you, Will.
19:01Number 15. The Deer Hunter
19:05The Deer Hunter takes a lot of time with its characters. In fact, director Michael Cimino's
19:15perfectionist tendencies are almost enough to exclude this film from our list due to a combat-focused
19:21criteria. Then we get to the actual wartime sequences. Male friendship is a central theme within
19:28the deer hunter, as is the trauma many soldiers face during combat. The scenes of Nick, Steven, and Mike as
19:42prisoners of the Viet Cong pull no punches with regard to dehumanization and psychological torture.
19:49The violence here is grim, a brutal reminder of the mental hurdles vets face when they return home
19:55and attempt to reintegrate into civilian life.
19:58Come on, Nicky, come home. Just come home. Home.
20:06Talk to me.
20:07Number 14. The Thin Red Line
20:11We're living in a world that's blowing itself to hell as fast as everybody can arrange it.
20:17In a situation like that, all a man can do is shut his eyes and let nothing touch him.
20:22Director Terrence Malick's flair for compelling visuals meets highbrow narrative artistry
20:27with this 1998 war film, The Thin Red Line. Malick adapted a 1962 source novel from James
20:34Jones for what proved to be his first directed film since 1978's Days of Heaven. The end results
20:41proved to be indulgent, a lengthy film that attempts to navigate character arcs while also pontificating
20:48upon the cycles of life and death via war.
21:07Malick is aided by a cast that seems game for the task, however, including Sean Penn, Jim Caviezel,
21:15Adrian Brody, and George Clooney. The Thin Red Line is perhaps not for Malickian newcomers,
21:21who should start with Bad Lance, but absolutely worth your time.
21:34No. 13. Letters from Iwo Jima
21:45Clint Eastwood managed to direct not one, but two separate war movies that were released back in 2006.
22:07Both films deal with the Battle of Iwo Jima from World War II, with flags of our fathers told from
22:13the Allied perspective and letters from Iwo Jima from the Japanese.
22:28Audiences can view both films as one whole story, but each film works as a standalone piece. Because of
22:35its Japanese perspective, Iwo Jima may be more challenging or enlightening for some Western viewers.
22:42Critics found it compelling and thought-provoking, and the film garnered a Best Picture Oscar nomination,
22:48as well as three others.
23:02No. 12. The Hurt Locker
23:04Catherine Bigelow became the first woman to ever win a Best Director Oscar thanks to her efforts on the
23:21war film The Hurt Locker. Bigelow's action thriller follows a bomb disposal unit stationed in Iraq during
23:27the Iraq war, and the smoldering tensions that arise between new squad leader William James and his crew.
23:43Jeremy Renner leads the cast as James, and it's these performances of Renner and his co-stars Anthony
23:50Mackey and Brian Garrity that really make The Hurt Locker shine as one of the best war films in recent memory.
23:56Every time we go out, it's life or death. You roll the dice,
24:04and you deal with it. You recognize that, don't you?
24:09Number 11. La Grande Illusion
24:20As Maya Angelou wrote, we are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike. This humanistic sentiment is one
24:38that's central to 1937's La Grande Illusion. Director Jean Renoir and his co-screenwriter Charles Spock
24:46ensure that their characters receive a lot of light and shade to counterbalance the darkness of war.
24:53La Grande Illusion celebrates similarities between soldiers on both sides of its World War I setting,
25:00and does so while simultaneously showcasing the inevitable violence of combat.
25:05The film's pacifist message, combined with its heavy thematic critiques of fascism,
25:11also saw La Grande Illusion seized by officials in Nazi Germany.
25:28Number 10. Dunkirk
25:35Director Christopher Nolan will probably never be accused of doing anything in half measures.
25:44Fans braced themselves for greatness when it came time for the filmmaker to tackle a World War II
25:49era setting. Thankfully, 2017's Dunkirk did not disappoint, utilizing sound and mood to create an
25:57unpredictable atmosphere of tension and dread. This isn't a dialogue-heavy film, but instead one that
26:11focuses upon the body language and facial expressions of its cast. Cillian Murphy, Finn Whitehead, Tom
26:17Glyn Carney, and even Harry Styles all bring their A-game to the table. Dunkirk is a loud film, one that
26:25should preferably be viewed on a powerful home theater system, or in a real theater setting.
26:33Number 9. Full Metal Jacket
26:47What side was that, Private Pyle? Sir, left side, sir!
26:51Are you sure, Private Pyle? Sir, yes, sir!
26:54What side was that, Private Pyle? Sir, right side, sir!
26:58Stanley Kubrick's unique and occasionally idiosyncratic style of filmmaking is set on full
27:04display here with 1987's Full Metal Jacket. The basic training setup of the film's first half
27:11takes a heavy turn around the film's halfway point, effectively setting the stage for war.
27:16This is where Full Metal Jacket spends its second half, as these former trainees are now soldiers deep
27:41in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive. It's somewhat episodic and chaotic in execution,
27:48but also indicative of what was going on in war cinema from the 70s and 80s.
27:53The everyday horrors and unpredictability of combat are effectively laid out here,
27:58in Kubrick's incomprehensibly influential style.
28:02You want to waste her? Go on.
28:07Waste her.
28:15Number 8. The Bridge on the River Kwai
28:17What have I done?
28:21The British-American co-production has not only garnered praise from war film buffs since its original
28:27release back in 1957, but the National Film Registry, which selected the Bridge on the River Kwai for
28:34preservation for its cultural significance in the Library of Congress in 1997.
28:39Perhaps the men don't work well without their own officers to direct them.
28:43My officers will direct them. Your officers will walk beside them.
28:48That's for Colonel Nicholson to decide. As he pointed out, it's against the rules.
28:51Do not speak to me of rules!
28:54Director David Lean helms a story of British prisoners of war who are assigned to a Japanese
28:59prison camp in Burma and are put to work constructing a bridge connecting Bangkok and Rangoon.
29:05This, despite Geneva Conventions stating that officers are exempt from such work.
29:11The result is a film of world-class acting and memorable set pieces.
29:24It's a film of world-class acting and a film of world-class acting and a film of world-class acting.
29:34Number 7. The Great Escape
29:35Eddie, have you thought, how are you going to get rid of this dirt?
29:38Eddie, have you thought, how are you going to get rid of this dirt?
29:38Yes, I have. Usual places.
29:41Hadn't anticipated three tunnels, but we'll manage.
29:43Even if you've never seen 1963's The Great Escape, it's more than likely you've heard or hummed the
29:50movie's main theme, a jaunting and infectious march composed by Elmer Bernstein.
29:55Steve McQueen
30:03Steve McQueen stars as the leader of a group of World War II POWs who are intent on digging
30:08an escape tunnel from their German concentration camp prison. McQueen's charisma is undeniable here,
30:15as is the impressive stunt work on display in the film, particularly during a death-defying
30:20motorcycle scene. This sequence has gone on to become the stuff of war movie legend,
30:25and has earned The Great Escape a spot on our list.
30:29Do you think it was worth the price?
30:32It depends on your point of view, Henley.
30:37Yes.
30:39Number 6. Platoon
30:41There are times since, I've felt like a child born of those two fathers.
30:46War is hell. And very few 80s films capture the realism of frantic combat better than films like
30:56Oliver Stone's Born on the Fourth of July and Platoon. In the latter, Charlie Sheen, Tom
31:02Barringer, and Willem Dafoe stars Soldier Station during the Vietnam conflict in a platoon full of
31:09wildly varied personalities and levels of morality.
31:13Stay out of this class. This ain't your show. You ain't a fighting squad, you piece of shit!
31:20Stone's purpose in writing the film was to offer a stark contrast to the Vietnam portrayed in 1968's
31:26The Green Berets, starring John Wayne. In fact, Platoon utilized the director's own first-hand
31:33experiences as an infantryman for inspiration. The results are harrowing and haunting, making Platoon one
31:39of the finest war movies ever made.
31:58Number 5. Paths of Glory
32:01I'm depending on you, Colonel. All France is depending on you.
32:07Filmmaker Stanley Kubrick may be known among his fans for his infamous 1987 Vietnam-era picture
32:13Full Metal Jacket, but the director actually worked in the war movie genre much earlier with this 1957
32:20tale of a French battalion during World War I.
32:23Kirk Douglas stars as the troops' commanding officer, who attempts to defend his men against charges of cowardice
32:29due to their failure of what's essentially a mission of self-destruction.
32:33The case made against these men is a mockery of all human justice.
32:39Gentlemen of the court, to find these men guilty
32:43will be a crime to haunt each of you to the day you die.
32:49Stanley Kubrick's filmography is crowded with classics, but the anti-war flick Paths of Glory
32:55may be one of the director's more underrated efforts.
32:58I apologize for not revealing my true feelings.
33:02I apologize, sir, for not telling you sooner that you're a degenerate, sadistic old man.
33:07And you can go to hell before I apologize to you now or ever again!
33:12Number 4. Das Boot
33:15Onza Boot
33:18Fans may remember seeing this film as either a theatrical release or a TV miniseries depending
33:29on where they lived, but Das Boot has continued to earn fans on home video over the years.
33:35The film was directed by Wolfgang Petersen and follows the crew of a German U-boat
33:40during World War II.
33:58Das Boot was notable for capturing not only the thrill and danger of battle, but also the dullness that
34:04came to define the often long stretches of downtime in between sporadic conflict. Add to this the
34:11memorable score by Klaus Doldinger and you have one unique war film for the ages.
34:16Do you know what? They sit in a casino and fire our perdition!
34:27You're dead, camaraderie!
34:29Number 3. Lawrence of Arabia
34:32He was the most extraordinary man I ever knew.
34:35Did you know him well?
34:37I knew him.
34:38Don't let the nearly 4-hour runtime of 1962's Lawrence of Arabia dissuade you from catching
34:45this masterpiece for the first time. Director David Lean crafted a true classic with this
34:50dramatized adaptation of T.E. Lawrence's diplomatic experiences in World War I.
34:56Lawrence of Arabia features a stellar cast including Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif, and Alec Guinness.
35:03In their eyes we are not soldiers but rebels. And rebels, wounded or whole, are not protected by the
35:10Geneva code and are treated harshly. How harshly?
35:15Yep, Obi-Wan Kenobi himself co-stars in this sprawling and breathtaking epic. A film full of
35:21action and visceral thrills. There's emotional depth to the picture too, however, as well as an
35:27all-time Hall of Fame score from composer Maurice Jarre. Lawrence of Arabia is the real deal.
35:33There was something about it I didn't like. Well, naturally. No, something else.
35:41I see. Well, that's all right. Maybe be a warning. No, something else.
35:48What then? I enjoyed it.
35:52Number 2 Apocalypse Now
35:54The word epic doesn't even begin to describe this massive film from director Francis Ford Coppola and
36:12co-screenwriter John Milius. Apocalypse Now is a dark and violent thrill ride that follows Martin Sheen as
36:19Captain Benjamin Willard, a detached military man in search of a mission. That mission turns out to
36:25be an assassination attempt on a reclusive renegade colonel by the name of Kurtz. Marlon Brando's
36:31magnetic performance as the mentally unhinged Kurtz may not appear until the film's final sequences,
36:37but its immense power continues to haunt viewers to this day, as one of the best war film performances
36:43ever committed to celluloid.
36:52Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified
36:57about our latest videos. You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
37:02If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
37:06Number 1 Saving Private Ryan
37:12Stand out of your weapons, keep those actions clear, and we'll see you on the beach.
37:18Realistic violence is a staple of war films, but not everyone was ready for the astonishing level of
37:24grit director Steven Spielberg put on screen in Saving Private Ryan. The film's opening sequence alone,
37:30which details the invasion of Normandy on June 6th, 1944, is a visceral gut check that places the
37:37audience directly in the middle of combat. Spielberg's film also focuses on people, however,
37:43specifically a squad whose mission is to find Private James Ryan, whose three brothers have
37:48to perish during the conflict. This balance of action and emotion, along with its immense critical
38:10and commercial success, more than justifies saving Private Ryan's top position as the greatest war movie
38:17ever.
38:37Did we forget another amazing war film? Let us know in the comments below!
38:42Americans traditionally love to fight. All real Americans love the sting of battle.
Recommended
1:03
|
Up next
1:55:27
1:54:20
27:39
2:08
21:07
5:05
1:42:22
1:49
2:07
1:26
1:40
1:39
10:52
31:48
2:04
2:23
11:39
Be the first to comment