Even after nearly 80 years, the impacts and enduring legacy of World War II remain relevant. The continuous production of films and documentaries centered on the war underscores the sustained public fascination and ongoing intrigue with this historical period.
To determine the 50 best WWII movies of all time, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of Sept. 1, 2023, weighing all ratings equally. Documentaries were not considered.
Among the 50 films cataloged on World War II, nine were released in the 21st century, reflecting the enduring contemporary fascination with this pivotal historical epoch. The latest addition, unveiled in July 2023, centered around the biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer, titled “Oppenheimer,” — the recent big winner at the Golden Globes.
Prominent 21st-century World War II films include noteworthy titles such as “Dunkirk” from 2017, “Hacksaw Ridge” from 2016, and “The Imitation Game” from 2014. These examples underscore the enduring appeal, as filmmakers and audiences alike remain captivated by narratives from this significant period in history. (And these are the best movies about World War I.)
Here are the 50 best World War II movies of all time
50. Kelly’s Heroes (1970)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (47,288 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (31,247 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 78% (23 reviews)
- Directed by: Brian G. Hutton
49. The Tin Drum (1979)
Source: Courtesy of New World Pictures
Source: Courtesy of New World Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (24,569 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (5,000 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (25 reviews)
- Directed by: Volker Schlöndorff
48. Decision Before Dawn (1951)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (2,611 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 72% (345 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (6 reviews)
- Directed by: Anatole Litvak
47. Empire of the Sun (1987)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (127,582 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (60,320 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 76% (56 reviews)
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
46. Three Came Home (1950)
Source: Archive Photos / Getty Images
Source: Archive Photos / Getty Images
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (1,817 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 72% (857 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (8 reviews)
- Directed by: Jean Negulesco
45. Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (6,059 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (732 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (5 reviews)
- Directed by: Mervyn LeRoy
44. The Americanization of Emily (1964)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (5,000 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (2,545 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (14 reviews)
- Directed by: Arthur Hiller
43. The Dirty Dozen (1967)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (69,957 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (41,423 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (49 reviews)
- Directed by: Robert Aldrich
42. The Enemy Below (1957)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (10,548 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (4,631 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (7 reviews)
- Directed by: Richard Powell
41. Hope and Glory (1987)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (13,126 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (5,815 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (21 reviews)
- Directed by: John Boorman
40. From Here to Eternity (1953)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (45,202 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (14,909 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (62 reviews)
- Directed by: Fred Zinnemann
39. Foreign Correspondent (1940)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (19,743 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (6,923 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (42 reviews)
- Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
38. Attack (1956)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (5,031 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (1,362 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (8 reviews)
- Directed by: Robert Aldrich
37. Dunkirk (2017)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (595,440 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (69,228 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (461 reviews)
- Directed by: Christopher Nolan
36. To Hell and Back (1955)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (5,588 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (5,043 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (5 reviews)
- Directed by: Jesse Hibbs
35. Where Eagles Dare (1968)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (55,522 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (27,681 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (23 reviews)
- Directed by: Brian G. Hutton
34. The Guns of Navarone (1961)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (47,868 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (20,768 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (24 reviews)
- Directed by: J. Lee Thompson
33. Mister Roberts (1955)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (15,533 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (6,729 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (26 reviews)
- Directed by: John Ford & Mervyn LeRoy
32. Jojo Rabbit (2019)
Source: Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (339,208 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (6,542 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (422 reviews)
- Directed by: Taika Waititi
31. The Longest Day (1962)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (56,678 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (42,945 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (23 reviews)
- Directed by: Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton, Bernhard Wicki
30. The Human Condition I: No Greater Love (1959)
Source: Courtesy of Brandon Films
Source: Courtesy of Brandon Films
- IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (8,341 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (500 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 71% (14 reviews)
- Directed by: Masaki Kobayashi
29. Mrs. Miniver (1942)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (16,937 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (6,084 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (42 reviews)
- Directed by: William Wyler
28. The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (4,762 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (4,447 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (5 reviews)
- Directed by: Mark Robson
27. Lifeboat (1944)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (27,765 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (9,430 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (28 reviews)
- Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
26. The Caine Mutiny (1954)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (26,715 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (7,564 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (25 reviews)
- Directed by: Edward Dmytryk
25. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (158,118 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (341,132 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (204 reviews)
- Directed by: Clint Eastwood
24. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (467,761 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (55,854 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (280 reviews)
- Directed by: Mel Gibson
23. The Man Who Never Was (1956)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (4,773 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (1,745 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (6 reviews)
- Directed by: Ronald Neame
22. The Train (1964)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (15,508 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (4,310 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (15 reviews)
- Directed by: John Frankenheimer
21. Sahara (1943)
Source: Archive Photos / Getty Images
Source: Archive Photos / Getty Images
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (8,432 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (4,891 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (10 reviews)
- Directed by: Zoltan Korda
20. The Imitation Game (2014)
Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (717,585 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (104,116 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (285 reviews)
- Directed by: Morten Tyldum
19. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (1,333,240 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (776,325 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (332 reviews)
- Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
18. Conspiracy (2001)
Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office
Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (22,064 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (2,500 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (7 reviews)
- Directed by: Loring Mandel
17. Underground (1995)
Source: Courtesy of Solopan
Source: Courtesy of Solopan
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (56,946 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (20,821 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (35 reviews)
- Directed by: Emir Kusturica
16. Patton (1970)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (98,585 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (43,344 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (49 reviews)
- Directed by: Franklin J. Schaffner
15. The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (15,120 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (2,500 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (33 reviews)
- Directed by: Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger
14. Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (78,648 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (8,681 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (23 reviews)
- Directed by: Stanley Kramer
13. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (211,273 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (54,763 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (61 reviews)
- Directed by: David Lean
12. Stalag 17 (1953)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (54,031 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (13,214 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (37 reviews)
- Directed by: Billy Wilder
11. Rome, Open City (1945)
Source: Courtesy of Arthur Mayer & Joseph Burstyn
Source: Courtesy of Arthur Mayer & Joseph Burstyn
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (26,963 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (5,000 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (47 reviews)
- Directed by: Roberto Rossellini
10. Oppenheimer (2023)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (419,000 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (10,000 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (462 reviews)
- Directed by: Christopher Nolan
9. To Be or Not to Be (1942)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (33,747 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (6,029 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (47 reviews)
- Directed by: Ernst Lubitsch
8. The Great Escape (1963)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (233,835 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (103,579 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (49 reviews)
- Directed by: John Sturges
7. Army of Shadows (1969)
Source: Courtesy of Rialto Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Rialto Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (23,960 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (5,000 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (76 reviews)
- Directed by: Jean-Pierre Melville
6. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
Source: Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures
Source: Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (60,985 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (10,855 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (91 reviews)
- Directed by: William Wyler
5. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution
Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution
- IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1,292,307 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (993,591 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (143 reviews)
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
4. The Pianist (2002)
Source: Courtesy of Focus Features
Source: Courtesy of Focus Features
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (770,832 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (253,429 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (184 reviews)
- Directed by: Roman Polanski
3. Casablanca (1942)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (542,975 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (357,759 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (124 reviews)
- Directed by: Michael Curtiz
2. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Source: Courtesy of GKIDS
Source: Courtesy of GKIDS
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (252,801 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (69,069 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (40 reviews)
- Directed by: Isao Takahata
1. Schindler’s List (1993)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 9.0/10 (1,359,268 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 97% (411,879 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (128 reviews)
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg