Making a great war movie is no easy task, with many notable genre offerings receiving criticism for a number of different reasons. Besides bad reviews, there’s a myriad of factors as to why a war movie might not be successful, it happens to feature major historical accuracies or simply plays out in a manner that comes across more like military propaganda than an actual movie. In any case, the genre’s laundry list of offerings means that war movies that do not debut to both critical and commercial acclaim are far more likely to fade into cinematic obscurity.
With that being said, many outings of this ilk still happen to boast great battle scenes in what is otherwise a forgettable movie. Capturing an electrifying snapshot of the adrenaline-soaked aura associated with armed combat, these memorable sequences range in scope and location from intimate shootouts to full-on military offensives. From classic war movies to more modern contemporaries, the genre is littered with films that never quite got off the ground for one reason or another, but still feature award-worthy depictions of battle.
10
Pearl Harbor (2001)
The Japanese Surprise Attack
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Pearl Harbor
PG-13
ActionDramaRomanceWar
Two best friends and pilots find themselves caught in a love triangle with a dedicated nurse just as the catastrophic attack on Pearl Harbor plunges America into war. The events of December 7 dramatically change their lives, and the film tells a dramatized tale set during the event that marked the United States’ entry into World War II.
Release Date
May 25, 2001
Runtime
183 minutes
Cast
Ben Affleck
, Josh Hartnett
, Kate Beckinsale
, Cuba Gooding Jr.
, Tom Sizemore
, Jon Voight
, Colm Feore
, Alec Baldwin
Director
Michael Bay
Main Genre
Drama
Writers
Randall Wallace
Studio(s)
Touchstone Pictures
, Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Distributor(s)
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
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Boasting an ensemble cast including big names like Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, and Kate Beckinsale, 2001’s Pearl Harbor is often regarded as one of cinema’s more prominent “what if?” war movie stories. Despite grossing nearly $450 million at the box office, Michael Bay’s WWII movie depicting the Japanese attack on the titular location was widely panned by critics, garnering a measly 24% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earning six Razzie nominations across various categories.
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One of the most inaccurate war movies ever made, Pearl Harbor is laden down by wooden performances and contrived script writing, but the movie’s sole redemptive aspect is its stunning battle sequences. Michael Bay is decidedly not Martin Scorsese, but the man can direct a spectacular action sequence. The scene depicting the initial stages of the Japanese surprise aerial attack is particularly impressive, with Bay capturing the battle’s chaos, confusion, and appalling levels of destruction through his trademark adrenaline-soaked style of film making.
9
Flags Of Our Fathers (2006)
The Battle Of Iwo Jima
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6/10
Flags of Our Fathers
R
DramaActionAdventureWar
Flags of Our Fathers is a war film directed by Clint Eastwood, based on the book by James Bradley and Ron Powers. The movie recounts the Battle of Iwo Jima, focusing on the iconic photograph of the flag raising and the soldiers involved. Through a series of flashbacks, it delves into the personal and collective experiences of the men who became symbolic heroes, examining both their wartime actions and post-war lives.
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Release Date
October 20, 2006
Runtime
135 Minutes
Cast
Ryan Phillippe
, Jesse Bradford
, Adam Beach
, John Benjamin Hickey
, John Slattery
, Barry Pepper
Director
Clint Eastwood
Main Genre
Drama
Writers
William Broyles Jr.
, Paul Haggis
, James Bradley
, Ron Powers
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Bombing at the box office against a considerable budget of $90 million, Clint Eastwood’s WWII offering Flags of Our Fathers has faded into relative obscurity over the years; an unsurprising state of affairs when one considers the array of vastly superior movies that the director’s credits have to offer. Chronicling the Battle of Iwo Jima from the perspective of American forces, the 2006 war film received generally favorable reviews from critics.
|
War Movies Directed By Clint Eastwood By Year |
|
|---|---|
|
Heartbreak Ridge |
1986 |
|
Flags of Our Fathers |
2006 |
|
Letters from Iwo Jima |
2006 |
|
American Sniper |
2014 |
Much of this praise was directed towards the movie’s depiction of the brutal engagement, unflinchingly capturing the hellish conditions of the conflict in the Pacific in harrowingly authentic fashion. Eastwood’s efforts to bring the bloody chaos of Iwo Jima to life are entirely convincing. It’s an opinion that has been echoed by WWII historians, who have praised the accuracy of Flags of Our Fathers’ battle sequences.
8
Enemy At The Gates (2001)
The Doomed Soviet Charge
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Enemy At The Gates
R
WarDramaHistoryRomance
Enemy at the Gates is a war film directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, set during the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II. It follows a tense confrontation between a Russian sniper, Vassili Zaitsev, and a German sniper, Major König, as they engage in a strategic game of cat-and-mouse.
Release Date
March 16, 2001
Runtime
131 Minutes
Cast
Jude Law
, Joseph Fiennes
, Rachel Weisz
, Ed Harris
, Bob Hoskins
, Ron Perlman
, Eva Mattes
, Gabriel Thomson
, Matthias Habich
, Alexander Schwan
, Lenn Kudrjawizki
, Gennadi Vengerov
, Dan van Husen
, Ivan Shvedoff
, Sophie Rois
, Mario Bandi
, Hans Martin Stier
, Clemens Schick
, Hendrik Arnst
, Claudius Freyer
, Dietmar Nieder
Director
Jean-Jacques Annaud
Main Genre
War
Writers
Jean-Jacques Annaud
, Alain Godard
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Chronicling a deadly game of cat-and-mouse between two elite snipers during the Battle of Stalingrad, Enemy at the Gates received middling reviews; the movie only garnered a 54% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes upon release in 2001. However, Jean-Jacques Annaud’s picture still features some thoroughly captivating battle sequences, painting an intense and visceral picture of armed combat during WWII. Remarkably, the movie’s preeminent engagement takes place during the opening scenes, introducing Jude Law’s Vassili Zaitsev with a bang.
Depicting the mayhem of an enormous doomed Soviet offensive that only has enough weapons for every other man, the scene sees the charging Russian soldiers gunned down in horrifying fashion; first by German machine guns, and then by their own counterparts for cowardice upon retreating. The only knock against this spectacular sequence is its ludicrous levels of historical inaccuracy. The Soviets needed every man they could get during the conflict, meaning that machine gunners were never given orders to shoot retreating soldiers.
7
Tears Of The Sun (2003)
A Desperate Race For Safety
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Tears of the Sun
R
ActionDramaThrillerWar
Tears of the Sun is a military action film directed by Antoine Fuqua, featuring Bruce Willis as Lieutenant A.K. Waters. The plot centers on a U.S. Navy SEAL team sent into the Nigerian jungle to rescue Dr. Lena Kendricks, played by Monica Bellucci, amidst a brutal civil war. The mission evolves as Waters encounters moral dilemmas, challenging his orders and sense of duty.
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Release Date
March 7, 2003
Runtime
121 Minutes
Cast
Bruce Willis
, Monica Bellucci
, Cole Hauser
, Jimmy Jean-Lous
, Eamonn Walker
, Johnny Messner
Director
Antoine Fuqua
Main Genre
Action
Writers
Alex Lasker
, Patrick Cirillo
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Spearheaded by Die Hard star Bruce Willis, Antoine Fuqua’s Tears of the Sun follows a U.S. Navy SEAL team rescue mission against the backdrop of a modernized reimagining of the Nigerian civil war. While it’s arguably one of the better Navy SEAL movies out there, the 2003 outing was widely panned by critics for its over-reliance on played out action tropes, arguing that the movie never would have even gotten off the ground without the inimitable aura of action icon Willis.
…the visceral firefight sees the heavily outnumbered SEALs hold off an enormous offensive, hoping to buy time for a group of refugees to cross the border to safety.
Fortunately for battle scene aficionados, Tears of the Sun concludes with a riveting encounter to soften the blow associated with some of its more prevalent shortcomings. A showdown that sees many of the film’s core characters bite the dust, the visceral firefight sees the heavily outnumbered SEALs hold off an enormous offensive, hoping to buy time for a group of refugees to cross the border to safety. It’s legitimately nail-biting stuff as the audience frantically waits for air support to arrive, easily serving as the forgettable film’s most memorable sequence.
6
The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)
The Raid Succeeds
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9.1/10
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
Not Yet Rated
ActionComedyDrama
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a World War II film following a top-secret combat unit who were formed by Winston Churchill to hunt down Nazis. The film is directed by Guy Ritchie and based on the book The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: How Churchill’s Secret Warriors Set Europe Ablaze and Gave Birth to Modern Black Ops by Damien Lewis.
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Release Date
April 19, 2024
Runtime
120 Minutes
Cast
Henry Cavill
, Eiza González
, Alan Ritchson
, Alex Pettyfer
, Hero Fiennes Tiffin
, Babs Olusanmokun
, Til Schweiger
, Henry Golding
, Cary Elwes
, Henrique Zaga
Director
Guy Ritchie
Main Genre
Action
Writers
Paul Tamasy
, Eric Johnson
, Arash Amel
, Guy Ritchie
Studio(s)
Black Bear
, Jerry Bruckheimer Films
, Toff Guy Films
Distributor(s)
Lionsgate
Expand
Loosely drawn from a remarkable true story, Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare chronicles a heavily embellished account of Operation Postmaster. A plot to disable strategically vital Italian and German warships, the mission turns into a heist when it is discovered the vessels cannot be sunk. The movie received positive reviews but bombed at the box office, meaning that Ritchie’s riotous war action-comedy unfortunately appears destined for “forgettable” status.
|
Guy Ritchie & Henry Cavill Collaborations By Year |
|
|---|---|
|
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. |
2015 |
|
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare |
2024 |
|
In the Grey |
2025 |
This would be a crying shame, as the Henry Cavill-led movie features a number of electrifying action sequences. While these typically fall under the label of skirmishes rather than full-on battles, this cannot be said for the movie’s final engagement, depicting the eponymous group’s attempts to steal the ships from under the enemy’s nose. Ritchie channels his own unique brand of filmmaking into a spectacular smorgasbord of gunfire and explosions, producing a hair-raising battle sequence for the ages and a worthy sign-off for one of the genre’s recent hidden gems.
5
300: Rise Of An Empire (2014)
The First Naval Showdown
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8.3/10
300: Rise of an Empire
R
ActionDramaWar
Based on Frank Miller’s latest graphic novel, “Xerxes,” 300: Rise of an Empire follows greek general Themistokles’ attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war. The movie pits Themistokles against the massive invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes and the deadly Artemisia, the vengeful commander of the Persian navy.
Release Date
March 5, 2014
Runtime
102 minutes
Cast
Sullivan Stapleton
, Eva Green
, Lena Headey
, Hans Matheson
, Callan Mulvey
, David Wenham
Director
Noam Murro
Writers
Zack Snyder
, Kurt Johnstad
, Frank Miller
Studio(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Distributor(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
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While Zack Snyder’s 300 decidedly isn’t for everybody, there’s no denying the cultural impact of the 2007 epic war film. However, while the original is generally regarded as one of the best sword-and-sandals movies out there, the same cannot be said for 2014’s forgettable sequel, 300: Rise of an Empire. Producing a fictionalized depiction of the Battle of Artemisium, the novelty of the movie’s naval showdowns and Eva Green’s superb lead performance swiftly fade, leaving a largely run-of-the-mill historical war effort.
With that being said, the movie’s initial naval engagement between the Athenian and Persian fleets makes for electrifying viewing. The battle sequence’s borderline gratuitous use of stylized gore and slow motion makes for arresting viewing, a state of affairs aided by the extremely satisfying tactics Themistocles uses to defeat his enemies. The sight of Green’s villain smirking wickedly at the formidable nature of her new adversary serves as the icing on the cake for a great scene in a bang-average movie.
4
The Wild Geese (1978)
The Mercenaries’ Race For Freedom
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The Wild Geese
R
Action
The Wild Geese is a 1978 British film about a group of mercenaries hired to rescue an imprisoned African leader. Led by seasoned veterans, they face betrayal as their employer strikes a deal with the dictator they were sent to overthrow, leaving them to navigate their own survival and retribution.
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Release Date
June 28, 1978
Runtime
134 minutes
Cast
Richard Harris
, Roger Moore
, Hardy Krüger
, Richard Burton
, Stewart Granger
, John Kani
, Jack Watson
, Frank Finlay
, Kenneth Griffith
, Ronald Fraser
, Barry Foster
, Winston Ntshona
, Percy Herbert
, Ian Yule
, Glyn Baker
, Paul Spurrier
, Rosalind Lloyd
, David Ladd
, Jeff Corey
, Brook Williams
, Valerie Leon
, Leslie Schofield
, Jane Hylton
, Sydney Chama
, Ken Gampu
Director
Andrew V. McLaglen
Writers
Reginald Rose
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Boasting an all-star cast including Richard Burton, Roger Moore, and Richard Harris, 1978’s The Wild Geese concerns a daring mission to save a deposed leader of an unnamed African country from execution. While the movie received generally positive reviews, it was also extremely controversial. Filmed in South Africa during apartheid, Andrew V. McLagen’s picture was also dogged with accusations of racism; a likely contributor to its current obscure status.
…the vastly outnumbered mercenaries are forced into a visceral last stand that sees the majority of them bite the dust.
However, while it’s not enough to entirely settle the conscience of many viewers, it can’t be argued that the movie boasts a thrilling showdown to round off the story. Set upon by all sides as they desperately attempt to get their escape plane operational, the vastly outnumbered mercenaries are forced into a visceral last stand that sees the majority of them bite the dust. However, electrifying though this scene may be, it’s difficult to escape the problematic nature associated with the wider ensemble war outing.
3
Defiance (2008)
Zus Returns To Save The Day
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Defiance
R
ActionDramaHistoryWar
Defiance, released in 2008, depicts the true story of four Jewish brothers who evade Nazi capture in occupied West Belarus, Poland, during World War II. They join Soviet partisans and lead efforts to rescue approximately 1,200 Jews from the Polish ghettos, highlighting resistance and survival.
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Release Date
December 31, 2008
Runtime
137 minutes
Cast
Daniel Craig
, Liev Schreiber
, Jamie Bell
, Alexa Davalos
, Allan Corduner
, Mark Feuerstein
, Tomas Arana
, Jodhi May
, Kate Fahy
, Iddo Goldberg
, Iben Hjejle
, Martin Hancock
, Ravil Isyanov
, Jacek Koman
, George MacKay
, Jonjo O’Neill
, Sam Spruell
, Mia Wasikowska
, Mark Margolis
, Markus von Lingen
, Rolandas Boravskis
, Algirdas Dainavičius
, Aurelija Prasmuntaite
, Ina Frismanaite
, Ana Goldberg
Director
Edward Zwick
Main Genre
War
Writers
Edward Zwick
, Clayton Frohman
Expand
Based on real events, 2008’s Defiance follows the Bielskis; four Polish Jewish brothers who saved and recruited Jews in Belarus against the fraught backdrop of WWII. For viewers willing to look past a particularly disastrous attempt at an Eastern European accent from Daniel Craig, there’s an excellent viewing experience to be had here; Defiance is arguably one of the 2000s’ most criminally underrated war movies.
Defiance features 1917 star George Mackay in just his third feature film appearance as Aron, the youngest Bielski sibling.
Edward Zwick’s picture also features a notably memorable skirmish towards the movie’s conclusion, as the Bielski-led refugees find themselves under attack from a German platoon supported by a tank. A rousing score, immersive run-and-gun cinematography, and a terrifyingly authentic atmosphere of danger combine to produce a thrilling underdog scene for the ages. The moment’s crowning triumph even comes along with some feel-good aura, as Liv Schreiber’s Zus arrives with reinforcements to save the day at the last second.
2
Anthropoid (2016)
Jan Goes Down Swinging
A taut and gripping war movie based on a true story, 2016’s Anthropoid chronicles the daring assassination of high-ranking SS officer Reinhard Heydrich by a pair of exiled Czechoslovak soldiers, Josef Gabčik and Jan Kumiš, during WWII. It was an effort that would ultimately cost the duo their lives, with both men eventually committing suicide to avoid capture by German forces after they are betrayed and cornered in Prague’s Saint Cyrils and Methodious Cathedral.
…the defenders give a heroic account of themselves in a brutal firefight before a mortally wounded Kumiš commits suicide.
Anthropoid brings this epic last stand to life in stirring style, with Jamie Dornan’s Kumiš going out in appropriately defiant fashion as Cillian Murphy’s Gabčik listens helplessly from the basement. Hopelessly outnumbered by German forces, the defenders give a heroic account of themselves in a brutal firefight nonetheless, before a mortally wounded Kumiš commits suicide. Anthropoid arguably never received the attention it was due, a state of affairs that is perfectly exemplified by this thrilling battle.
1
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi
The Insurgents’ First Attack
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13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi
WarActionHistoryDrama
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, directed by Michael Bay, chronicles the 2012 attack on a U.S. compound in Libya. The film follows a security team as they navigate the chaos after an American Ambassador is killed, focusing on their efforts to protect those remaining amidst the violence.
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Release Date
January 14, 2016
Runtime
144 minutes
Cast
James Badge Dale
, John Krasinski
, Dominic Fumusa
, Max Martini
, Pablo Schreiber
, Matt Letscher
, Alexia Barlier
, David Costabile
, David Denman
, Payman Maadi
, Toby Stephens
, Demetrius Grosse
, David Giuntoli
, Freddie Stroma
, Christopher Dingli
, David Furr
, Wrenn Schmidt
, Ivy George
, Julia Butters
, Ben Youcef
, Elektra Anastasi
, Liisa Evastina
, Steffi Thake
, Kerim Troeller
, Kenny Sheard
Director
Michael Bay
Writers
Chuck Hogan
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As a director who arguably places an emphasis on spectacular action sequences over quality filmmaking, it comes as little surprise that Michael Bay has a penchant for producing less-than-memorable war movies. There is perhaps no greater example of this status quo than 2016’s 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, inspired by the true story of the 2012 militant attacks on the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya. Bay is actually considerably more restrained than usual, but still produces a largely forgettable war film that’s heavy on riveting action scenes, and not much else.
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13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi Ending Explained
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi tells the story of the soldiers who defended American bases during the 2012 attacks, but how accurate is it?
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The action scenes in question are still some of the more impressive offerings that the war genre has to offer. The movie’s crown jewel is widely regarded as the main conflict’s opening salvo, depicting the outbreak of a firefight between the six soldiers and a horde of militants. The explosive sequence captures the aura of confusion associated with the battlefield in a manner that is equal parts blockbuster and authentic. It’s such a great scene that it’s even inspired video games, with first-person shooter outing Call of Duty using the set piece as inspiration for its campaign mission, The Embassy.