An intrinsic part of popular culture, war movies have featured some of the biggest stars in Hollywood since the earliest days of cinema. From emotionally impactful war movies that stick with the viewer forever to offerings that feature the most horrific depictions of war imaginable, the genre has played host to some of the silver screen’s most celebrated and instantly recognizable faces, from Laurence Olivier to Idris Elba. Thankfully, this is a status quo that shows no sign of letting up any time soon.
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From the best war films of all time to more recent genre offerings, war movies have a habit of flashing an A-lister when audiences least expect it. These roles can even precede the individual in question hitting the big time, leading to a delightful sense of realization when the sense of recognition eventually hits home. In others, it can be a well known individual who is virtually unrecognizable when they aren’t playing their most famous character. In any case, the genre features a considerable number of major actors in roles that many fans will have forgotten.
10 Johnny Depp
Platoon (1986)
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10/10 Platoon RDramaWar
Platoon is a war drama directed by Oliver Stone, featuring Charlie Sheen as a young soldier experiencing the harrowing realities of Vietnam. Released in 1986, the film chronicles his moral struggle within a divided platoon, led by the contrasting characters of Willem Dafoe and Tom Berenger. Platoon offers a raw depiction of the harsh conditions and ethical dilemmas faced by soldiers, contributing to its critical acclaim and multiple Academy Awards.
Director Oliver Stone Release Date February 6, 1987 Cast Tom Berenger , Willem Dafoe , Charlie Sheen , Keith David , Forest Whitaker , Francesco Quinn , Kevin Dillon , John C. McGinley Writers Oliver Stone Runtime 120 Minutes Main Genre War Expand
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Based on director Oliver Stone’s real-life experiences of the Vietnam War, 1986’s Platoon is regarded as one of the most accurate and influential films depicting the conflict ever made. The film boasts an ensemble cast at the top of their game, with Willem Dafoe and Tom Berenger both receiving nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor off the back of their masterful roles as Elias and Barnes, respectively.
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Platoon also happens to feature one of cinema’s most instantly recognizable faces in the briefest of cameo appearances. Pirates of the Caribbean star Johnny Depp plays Private Lerner, a background character who is last seen in the back of a medevac helicopter after being wounded in battle. In an alternate universe, Depp’s role in Platoon could have been his breakout performance, but the actor’s screen time was vastly reduced after most of his scenes and dialogue were cut in the final take.
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9 Guy Pearce
The Hurt Locker (2008)
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The Hurt Locker RThrillerWarDrama
From director Kathryn Bigelow comes The Hurt Locker, the 2008 oscar winning war thriller film that follows Jeremy Renner as Sergeant William James and his bomb disposal team as they navigate beyond enemy lines during the Iraq War. The movie explores the trauma and stresses the soldiers face as they attempt to disarm active explosives on the field, with the repercussions beginning to take their toll on the squadmates.
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*Availability in US Director Kathryn Bigelow Release Date July 31, 2009 Studio(s) Summit Entertainment Cast Jeremy Renner , David Morse , Guy Pearce , Anthony Mackie , Ralph Fiennes , Christian Camargo , Evangeline Lilly , Brian Geraghty Runtime 131 minutes Distributor(s) Summit Entertainment Writers Mark Boal Expand
The toast of the 82nd Academy Awards, Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker took home six of the nine Oscars that the film was nominated for, including the prestigious accolades of Best Director and Best Picture. Chronicling the exploits of a proficient bomb disposal expert and his team during the Iraq War, Bigelow’s ensemble cast is led by Marvel Cinematic Universe star Jeremy Renner.
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The American plays Staff Sergeant William James, brought in after the demise of Bravo Company’s previous explosives expert. Killed by an improvised explosive device during the film’s adrenaline-soaked opening sequence, the late Staff Sergeant Matthew Thompson is played in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it bow from Memento and L.A. Confidential star, Guy Pearce. The Australian actor features for all of 10 minutes before his untimely death and is swiftly forgotten as Renner takes the reins in assured fashion.
8 John Krasinski
Jarhead (2005)
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7/10 Jarhead RWarBiographyDrama
Jarhead is a war drama directed by Sam Mendes, based on Anthony Swofford’s memoir about his experiences as a Marine sniper during the Gulf War. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Swofford, the film explores the psychological challenges faced by soldiers amidst the monotony and anticipation of combat. The movie also features performances by Peter Sarsgaard and Jamie Foxx, capturing the often-overlooked emotional turmoil of military life in a desert war.
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*Availability in US Director Sam Mendes Release Date November 4, 2005 Cast Jake Gyllenhaal , Jamie Foxx , Lucas Black , Scott MacDonald , Peter Sarsgaard , Mingo Lo , Kevin Foster , Brian Geraghty Runtime 125 Minutes Writers William Broyles Jr. , Anthony Swofford Main Genre War Expand
Known for his breakout role as Jim Halpert in the seminal comedy mockumentary The Office, John Krasinski has come a long way since his early days in Scranton. In addition to landing the titular role of Jack Ryan in Amazon Prime’s live action television series based on the iconic Tom Clancy character, the American became a household name after his masterful work in 2018’s A Quiet Place and the movie’s 2020 sequel.
A classical literature graduate from Dartmouth, Harrigan finds himself roped into writing exceedingly pornographic love letters on behalf of his superior officers.
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What many fans may not know is that Krasinski featured in a minor role in one of the 2000s most underrated war films, in the same year that he made his first appearance as Jim on The Office. Appearing for less than a minute, the actor plays Corporal Harrigan in Sam Mendes’ Jarhead, widely regarded as one of Jake Gyllenhaal’s best movies. A classical literature graduate from Dartmouth University, Harrigan finds himself roped into the demeaning task of writing exceedingly pornographic love letters on behalf of his superior officers.
7 Bryan Cranston
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
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19 9.6/10 Saving Private Ryan RWarDrama
Tom Hanks stars as Captain John Miller in Steven Spielberg’s 1998 WWII film. Saving Private Ryan tells the story of Miller’s command of a company of soldiers who risk their lives in an attempt to extricate Private James Ryan from the fighting in Europe, in order to spare his family from losing all of their sons after Ryan’s brothers are killed in the war. Matt Damon, Edward Burns, and Tom Sizemore also star.
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*Availability in US Director Steven Spielberg Release Date July 24, 1998 Studio(s) DreamWorks Distribution Cast Tom Sizemore , Adam Goldberg , Vin Diesel , Tom Hanks , Edward Burns , Matt Damon Runtime 169 minutes Distributor(s) DreamWorks Distribution , Paramount Pictures Writers Robert Rodat Main Genre War Expand
Contentiously the greatest war film of all time, 1998’s Saving Private Ryan is littered with fleeting appearances from big-name actors from start to finish. Paul Giamatti, Nathan Fillion, and Ted Danson are just a few of the Hollywood big-hitters that pop up in minor roles across the course of Steven Spielberg’s WWII epic, but the movie’s highlight cameo appearance belongs to Breaking Bad star and Academy Award-nominated actor, Bryan Cranston.
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Cranston received his sole Academy Award for Best Actor nomination to date for his bow in 2015’s
Trumbo.
The man charged with bringing “Heisenberg” to life features in the film’s early goings as an unnamed, one-armed colonel in the war department. In a cameo that doubles as one of Cranston’s most underrated performances, the Malcolm in the Middle star is the one who makes the case for bringing James Ryan home safely after the tragic news of his brothers’ deaths gradually filters home.
6 Léa Seydoux
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
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9/10 Inglourious Basterds RDramaWarAdventure
In Nazi-occupied France, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as “The Basterds” execute a mission to terrorize the Third Reich. Simultaneously, a young Jewish cinema owner plots to kill Nazi leaders attending a premiere at her theater. Both plans converge in a high-stakes showdown filled with action and revenge.
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*Availability in US Director Quentin Tarantino Release Date August 21, 2009 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Cast Brad Pitt , Diane Kruger , Mélanie Laurent , Christoph Waltz , Eli Roth , Michael Fassbender , Daniel Brühl , Til Schweiger Runtime 153 minutes Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers Quentin Tarantino Main Genre War Expand
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One of French cinema’s most prolific and accomplished performers, Léa Seydoux has featured in numerous high-profile Hollywood offerings to complement her work in her home country. A frequent collaborator with Wes Anderson, Seydoux is also credited with supporting roles in the wildly successful Mission Impossible and Dune franchises, in addition to two appearances as Bond girl, Madeleine Swann.
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Léa Seydoux James Bond film appearances |
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|---|---|
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Movie |
Year |
|
Spectre |
2015 |
|
No Time to Die |
2021 |
Given the actress’ impressive list of credits, it’s hardly surprising that one of her more minor film roles is often overlooked, even if it is in one of the most influential war movies of all time. Seydoux features in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it instance in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, playing one of Monsieur LaPadite’s trio of daughters in the film’s opening sequence. The actress features in one of the most unforgettable character introductions of all time for Christoph Waltz’s Hans Landa, as the Colonel comes calling in search of fugitive Jews.
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5 Anthony Starr
The Covenant (2023)
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Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant RActionDramaWar
Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant is an action-packed war drama film that follows two men caught in the middle of Afghanistan trying to extract themselves from the conflict safely. After Sergeant John Kinley and his interpreter Ahmed are ambushed, Ahmed saves John’s life. However, upon learning that Ahmed and his family will be left behind despite promises from the United States to bring them back, John returns to the battlefield and save his family before the pursuing Taliban catch them.
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*Availability in US Director Guy Ritchie Release Date April 21, 2023 Distributor(s) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Cast Jake Gyllenhaal , Dar Salim , Antony Starr , Alexander Ludwig , Sean Sagar , Bobby Schofield , Emily Beecham , Jonny Lee Miller Runtime 123 Minutes Studio(s) STXfilms , Toff Guy Films Writers Ivan Atkinson , Marn Davies , Guy Ritchie Expand
An action war drama from Snatch director Guy Ritchie, The Covenant follows an American soldier and his Afghan interpreter, played by Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim respectively. The 2023 movie chronicles the pair’s trials and tribulations fighting the Taliban against the backdrop of the War in Afghanistan, a series of events that eventually forces Gyllenhaal’s John Kinley into enlisting the assistance of a private military contractor by the name of Eddie Parker.
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Almost unrecognizable at first glance thanks to his dark hair and a thick beard, Parker is played by none other than Antony Starr; the man behind current television’s most compelling and formidable villain in The Boys’ sadistic superhero, Homelander. The New Zealander steps into the minor role of Parker for the film’s final act, sending in the cavalry to save the day when all appears to be lost.
4 Harrison Ford
Apocalypse Now (1979)
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9.5/10 Apocalypse Now RDramaWarMystery
In Francis Ford Coppola’s classic Vietnam War film, loosely based on Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness, an army Captain is tasked with assassinating a rogue Colonel who has created a cult-like compound in the Cambodian jungle and is currently waging his own war outside the army’s purview. Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando star as Captain Willard and Colonel Kurtz respectively, with an ensemble cast that includes Robert Duvall, Laurence Fishburne, and Dennis Hopper.
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*Availability in US Director Francis Ford Coppola Release Date August 15, 1979 Studio(s) United Artists Cast Marlon Brando , Martin Sheen , Robert Duvall , Frederic Forrest , Sam Bottoms , Laurence Fishburne Runtime 147 minutes Distributor(s) United Artists Writers Joseph Conrad , John Milius , Francis Ford Coppola , Michael Herr Main Genre War Expand
A seminal offering from Francis Ford Coppola and one of the best war films of the 1970s, Apocalypse Now chronicles a covert mission to assassinate a renegade Special Forces officer set during the Vietnam War. Coppola’s 1979 outing features an eye-watering ensemble cast, boasting iconic names in the vein of Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, and Martin Sheen in the film’s most prominent roles.
Ford’s character is named after Coppola’s friend and legendary filmmaker George Lucas, who had been attached to direct
Apocalypse Now
before getting bogged down with his work on
Star Wars
.
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As such, it’s understandable that such big-hitters overshadow a fleeting appearance from one of cinema’s greatest action movie stars. Said action hero happens to be none other than Star Wars, Blade Runner, and Indiana Jones star Harrison Ford. The American cultural icon appears in the early goings of Coppola’s picture as Colonel G. Lucas, an Army intelligence specialist who gives Sheen’s Captain Willard his orders to assassinate Brando’s mysterious Colonel Kurtz.
3 Judy Greer
Three Kings (1999)
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Three Kings RActionComedyWar
Three Kings, directed by David O. Russell, is a war film set during the aftermath of the Gulf War. The story follows four American soldiers, played by George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, and Spike Jonze, who embark on a treasure hunt to steal Iraqi gold. As they venture into hostile territory, they are confronted with unexpected moral dilemmas and the harsh realities of war.
Director David O. Russell Release Date September 27, 1999 Cast George Clooney , Mark Wahlberg , Ice Cube , Spike Jonze , Cliff Curtis , Nora Dunn Runtime 114 minutes Writers John Ridley , David O. Russell Main Genre Adventure Expand
As one of Hollywood’s most accomplished character actresses and comedians, Judy Greer boasts an impressive body of work. From multiple appearances in blockbuster franchises such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe to supporting roles in a diverse range of prominent television shows like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the American thespian is credited with more than 150 appearances across film and television.
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|
Judy Greer’s Marvel Cinematic Universe appearances |
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|---|---|
|
Movie |
Role |
|
Ant-Man (2015) |
Maggie Lang |
|
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) |
Maggie Lang |
|
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) |
War Pig |
Among those appearances is an easily missable role in one of the best war films of the 1990s. Greer makes a fleeting appearance in 1999’s Three Kings, a lauded black-comedy war film chronicling a gold heist during the 1991 uprisings in Iraq. One of George Clooney’s best movies, Three Kings sees the Up in the Air star flanked by fellow A-listers in Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube. Greer plays Cathy Daitch in the movie, a journalist who trades sex for stories from Clooney’s Special Forces Major Archie Gates in the film’s early stages.
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2 Billy Boyd
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
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Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World PG-13ActionAdventureDrama
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a historical drama directed by Peter Weir, featuring Russell Crowe as Captain Jack Aubrey. The film is set during the Napoleonic Wars and follows Aubrey as he navigates his ship, HMS Surprise, through treacherous waters in pursuit of a French privateer. Based on Patrick O’Brian’s series of novels, the film explores themes of leadership, strategy, and naval warfare.
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*Availability in US Director Peter Weir Release Date November 14, 2003 Cast Russell Crowe , Paul Bettany , Billy Boyd , James D’Arcy , Edward Woodall , Chris Larkin , Max Pirkis , Jack Randall Runtime 138 Minutes Writers Patrick O’Brian , Peter Weir , John Collee Main Genre Adventure Expand
Scotsman Billy Boyd may not possess the most extensive filmography, but what the actor’s credit list lacks in length, it more than makes up for in prestige. Boyd is primarily known for his work on what is arguably the most successful and beloved movie franchise of all time, in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Scottish actor plays the role of hobbit Peregrin “Pippin” Took, constant companion to Dominic Monaghan’s Meriadoc “Merry” Brandybuck and a member of the Fellowship of the Ring.
The Scotsman can be seen in a minor role in 2003’s
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
as the
Surprise’s
coxswain, Barrett Bonden.
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Much like many of his cast mates from Jackson’s trilogy, Boyd found himself forever typecast following his bow as the mischievous hobbit, but still managed to squeeze in a fleeting appearance in one of the finest historical war films of the 2000s. The Scotsman can be seen in a minor role in 2003’s Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World as the Surprise’s coxswain, Barrett Bonden.
1 George Mackay
Defiance (2008)
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Defiance RActionDocumentaryDramaHistoryThrillerWar
Defiance is a historical drama directed by Edward Zwick, starring Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber. Released in 2008, the film follows the true story of the Bielski brothers, who led a group of Jewish partisans in Belarus during World War II, aiming to protect their community from the Nazis. Together, they build a hidden village in the forest, providing refuge and mounting resistance efforts against their oppressors.
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*Availability in US Director Edward Zwick Release Date December 31, 2008 Cast Daniel Craig , Liev Schreiber , Jamie Bell , Alexa Davalos , Allan Corduner , Mark Feuerstein Runtime 136 minutes
Previously known for his work in the likes of Private Peaceful, How I Live Now, and True History of the Kelly Gang, George Mackay gained international recognition for his role in Sam Mendes’ acclaimed 2019 war offering, 1917. Cast in the leading role as Lance Corporal Will Schofield in one of the best British war films ever made, Mackay earned rave reviews for his take on the young English soldier, with his haunting performance highlighted as one of the masterful movie’s strongest elements.
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Related 1917’s Ending Explained
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More than a decade before his breakout role as Schofield, Mackay featured in another prominent war offering boasting an ensemble cast. Aged 16 at the time of the film’s production, the 1917 star also starred in 2008’s Defiance, in what was just his third feature film appearance. Mackay plays the minor role of Aron Bielski, the youngest brother from a family of Partisan rebels who saved Jews in Belarus during WWII. The war film also sees Hollywood big hitters Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, and Jamie Bell feature as Bielski’s elder siblings.