Top 10 War Movies You Need to Watch in 2024

This list was originally shared in the Takes feed over the weekend. You can watch the video version on Substack or YouTube.

For those who don’t subscribe to the Takes feed, we’ve included this curated list of the top ten war movies in the Bulwark Goes to Hollywood feed. If you enjoy film analysis and historical narratives, this is a must-watch.

Upcoming Podcast Episode

Mona Charen and I will be recording an episode of her podcast dedicated to the classic film A Man for All Seasons. The movie is available to watch for free on YouTube, with ads included.

Top Ten War Movies

Below is the curated list of the top ten war movies:

1. Saving Private Ryan (1998) – Directed by Steven Spielberg, this WWII masterpiece is renowned for its intense opening D-Day sequence.
2. Apocalypse Now (1979) – Francis Ford Coppola’s Vietnam War epic, inspired by Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness.
3. Full Metal Jacket (1987) – Stanley Kubrick’s brutal portrayal of Marine Corps training and the Vietnam War.
4. Platoon (1986) – Oliver Stone’s semi-autobiographical account of his experiences in Vietnam.
5. The Thin Red Line (1998) – Terrence Malick’s poetic take on the Guadalcanal Campaign during WWII.
6. Das Boot (1981) – Wolfgang Petersen’s gripping submarine drama set during WWII.
7. Paths of Glory (1957) – Stanley Kubrick’s anti-war classic starring Kirk Douglas, set during WWI.
8. 1917 (2019) – Sam Mendes’ visually stunning WWI film shot to resemble a single continuous take.
9. Dunkirk (2017) – Christopher Nolan’s immersive retelling of the Dunkirk evacuation during WWII.
10. Black Hawk Down (2001) – Ridley Scott’s intense depiction of the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu.