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The Greatest Movie Depicting the Civil War Is Not ‘Gone With the Wind’

The Greatest Movie Depicting the Civil War Is Not ‘Gone With the Wind’

Updated: by

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25. Seraphim Falls (2006)

Courtesy of Destination Films

24. Free State of Jones (2016)

Courtesy of STX Entertainment

23. Sommersby (1993)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

22. The Keeping Room (2014)

Courtesy of Drafthouse Films

21. The Conspirator (2010)

Courtesy of Roadside Attractions

20. The Beguiled (2017)

Courtesy of Focus Features

19. Santa Fe Trail (1940)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

18. Ride with the Devil (1999)

Courtesy of The Criterion Collection

17. C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America (2004)

Courtesy of IFC Films

16. Cold Mountain (2003)

Courtesy of Miramax

15. They Died with Their Boots On (1941)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

14. The Red Badge of Courage (1951)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

13. Major Dundee (1965)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

12. How the West Was Won (1962)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

11. The Horse Soldiers (1959)

Courtesy of United Artists

10. The Beguiled (1971)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

9. Dark Command (1940)

Courtesy of Republic Pictures (I)

8. Gettysburg (1993)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

7. Lincoln (2012)

Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

6. Friendly Persuasion (1956)

Courtesy of Allied Artists Pictures

5. Dances with Wolves (1990)

Courtesy of Orion Pictures

4. Shenandoah (1965)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

3. The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

2. Gone with the Wind (1939)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

1. Glory (1989)

Courtesy of Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment

25. Seraphim Falls (2006)
24. Free State of Jones (2016)
23. Sommersby (1993)
22. The Keeping Room (2014)
21. The Conspirator (2010)
20. The Beguiled (2017)
19. Santa Fe Trail (1940)
18. Ride with the Devil (1999)
17. C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America (2004)
16. Cold Mountain (2003)
15. They Died with Their Boots On (1941)
14. The Red Badge of Courage (1951)
13. Major Dundee (1965)
12. How the West Was Won (1962)
11. The Horse Soldiers (1959)
10. The Beguiled (1971)
9. Dark Command (1940)
8. Gettysburg (1993)
7. Lincoln (2012)
6. Friendly Persuasion (1956)
5. Dances with Wolves (1990)
4. Shenandoah (1965)
3. The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
2. Gone with the Wind (1939)
1. Glory (1989)

The American Civil War began on April 12, 1861, a war fought between the Union states of the North and the Confederate states of the South. It was the deadliest war in the history of the nation. By the time it concluded four years later on April 9, 1865, it had claimed the lives of more than 600,000 people, both military and civilian, and had laid destruction to many towns and cities where battles were waged.

It is a battle that still piques the interest of many people, which has resulted in numerous films chronicling the Civil War as early as the 1900s when the film industry was first getting its start and public memory of the conflict remained fresh. Some of the nation's best works of historical literature revolve around the Civil War, and not surprisingly, some of them have been turned into memorable motion pictures. (These are the 14 biggest battles of the Civil War.)

The first feature-length film was the 1915 epic "The Birth of a Nation" — originally "The Clansman" – and while a technical milestone, its racist portrayal of African Americans and glorification of the Ku Klux Klan ignited riots and stoked controversy still. Yet the film revealed cinema's power to reshape collective memory of the war by lionizing the losing Confederate cause at the expense of reality and racial justice.

To determine the greatest Hollywood films depicting the Civil War, 24/7 Tempo used an index that averaged ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer critics' scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, weighing all ratings equally. Only movies that deal directly with the American Civil War were considered. Documentaries were not included.

The Civil War was a battle that separated the country – the blue of the Union and all who supported it, versus the grey of the Confederacy, and everyone who backed them. Much like the country is divided again today, with the looming presidential election and the will-he-or-won't-he run for re-election question of President Biden.

Here are the greatest Hollywood films depicting the Civil War.

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