A great way to get into a film is by choosing one that is filled with action, specifically fantastic battles. The battles themselves don’t have to be serious or bloody though, just entertaining. Battles in films are done with a purpose and are a great way to drive tension and mess with our emotions. Epic battles can leave us at the edges of our seats wondering who is going to win, and sometimes more importantly, how.
In this article, we aren’t limited to just battles and fights in medieval or historical films, but also within fantasy and science fiction movies. One of the funniest battle movies, with multiple fights, is “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.” In this action comedy, viewers watch as Scott Pilgrim, the main character, fights unique villains, which are just really Ramona Flower’s many exes.
Military movies often also have a lot of battles. They are generally based on a true story and can be hard to watch as they are sometimes filled with tragedy. (Click here for the best military movies of all time.)
That’s what makes watching battle and fight movies though so intense. When you get attached to a character, you don’t want to see them get hurt.
With hundreds and thousands of epic battles in films, it took some time to narrow down the most epic battles in movie history. To narrow this list down, 24/7 reviewed various websites and used metrics like audience scores, Tomatometer scores, and audience reviews. The sources we used to compile this list include Screen Rant, the Internet Movie Database, IMDb, and Rotten Tomatoes.
Omaha Beach Landing
- Movie: “Saving Private Ryan” (1998)
- Director: Steven Spielberg
“Saving Private Ryan” is on many top 10 lists. This epic warm movie was released on July 24, 1998, and is over two hours long. It stars incredible talent like Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, and Edward Burns. One of the most well-known scenes in this film, and epic battles in movie history is the Omaha Beach Landing battle. It’s the start of the film and is intense. The nerves are real as you watch Tom Hank’s hand shake on screen.
The Battle Of Earth
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- Movie: “Avengers: Endgame” (2019)
- Director: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
So many people were waiting with excitement for “Avengers: Endgame.” This fantastic Marvel film has one of the best epic battle scenes in history, the battle of Earth. This scene, which is near the end of the film, features many of Marvel fans’ favorites including Spiderman, Iron Man, Captain America, Black Panther, and the Guardians of the Galaxy.
All of this for a heartbreaking, but necessary end, Iron Man’s sacrifice. In theaters, audience members audibly gasped, and some even cried during the battle.
The Final Gunfight
- Movie: “The Wild Bunch” (1969)
- Director: Sam Peckinpah
“The Wild Bunch” tells the story of an aging gang of outlaws in 1913. It’s a dark and brutal movie, depicting violence from the start, with even deaths of innocent bystanders. Knowing this, you can imagine just how many intense battles are within the film, and one in particular makes our list. The final gunfight, also referred to as the Battle Of Bloody Porch, is a striking scene.
This film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and won the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cinematography.
The Battle of Endor
- Movie: “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi” (1983)
- Director: Richard Marquand
Star Wars film battles have always been a lot of fun to watch. The one to make our list is the Battle of Endor featured in “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi.” The Battle of Endor is scenic and hard to stop watching. The music in this scene only intensifies the fight.
Battle of the Bands
- Movie: “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” (2010)
- Director: Edgar Wright
Most people when they imagine epic battles in movies, they look for action, war, or crime movies, not romantic action comedies. And yet, the Battle of the Bands in “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” makes our list. During this epic battle, which is just one of many, Scott Pilgrim is attacked by Matthew Patel, an evil ex of Ramona Flowers.
Opening Scene of “Gladiator”
- Movie: “Gladiator” (2000)
- Director: Ridley Scott
Countless scenes of “Gladiator” could’ve made our list, but one that really stands out is the opening scene. During this opening scene, the tone of the film is established, but the fighting doesn’t begin until the iconic like, “On my signal, unleash hell.”
“Gladiator” is one of the most popular movies in the world. It was released on May 5, 2000, in the United States and stars Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, and Connie Nielsen. The budget for this film was $103 million, and the film earned a gross of $460.6 million worldwide.
Battle of Troy
- Movie: “Troy” (2004)
- Director: Wolfgang Petersen
One of the best war films of all time, also has an incredibly epic battle scene. “Troy” was released on May 14, 2004, in the United States and stars Orlando Bloom, Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, and Sean Bean.
The battle of Troy doesn’t take place in one scene, but throughout the film, which only adds to the battle’s interestingness. This film is based on two Ancient Greek epic poems.
The Battle Of Helm’s Deep
- Movie: “The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers” (2002)
- Director: Peter Jackson
There are so many epic battles and fights in the Lord of the Rings movies. One of these is the Battle of Helm’s Deep in “The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers.” This epic fantasy adventure film was released on December 18, 2002, in the United States.
The Battle of Helm’s Deep was massive and quite a sight to see as large groups of orcs and elves clashed.
The Battle of Stirling
- Movie: “Braveheart” (1995)
- Director: Mel Gibson
Another movie with an epic battle that is easy to get sucked into is “Braveheart,” specifically the Battle of Stirling. Braveheart is based on a true event, the First War of Scottish Independence.
The Battle of Stirling is unforgettable in the film. It’s hard to forget the passion behind the characters, and the striking blue faces splattered with blood.
“Anchorman” Brawl
- Movie: “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” (2004)
- Director: Adam McKay
Not all battle scenes are bloody or intense. Something, they are simply hilarious, like in the film “Anchorman.” Even without context, this scene is hilarious with so many things happening at once.
The news teams all fight at once with various objects. One character loses half his arm, while another runs around on fire. The only reason the battle ends is due to the police scaring everyone away.
Battle of Shiroyama
- Movie: “The Last Samurai” (2003)
- Director: Edward Zwick
Continuing our list of the most epic battles in movies is the Battle of Shiroyama in “The Last Samurai.” This battle though is loosely based on the real-life Battle of Shiroyama. This exciting action film was released on December 5, 2003, in the United States.
In this epic battle, samurai, who are easy to root for in this film, fought against Japanese imperial soldiers. While loosely inspired by the Battle of Shiroyama, there are a lot of differences. Still, it’s a lot of fun to watch.
The Battle Of Beruna
- Movie: “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” (2005)
- Director: Andrew Adamson
“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” is a fun movie based on the 1950 novel “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” This movie was released on December 8, 2005 in the United Kingdom. It stars William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes, and Georgie Henley.
So, what battle occurred in this film? The Battle Of Beruna is a beautiful battle scene shot in broad daylight. Not only is it beautiful, but also meaningful, with moments and iconic lines like:
“Are you with me?”
“To the death.”
Battle of Minas Tirith
- Movie: “Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2003)
- Director: Peter Jackson
Another Lord of the Rings film makes our list, the Battle of Minas Tirith in the last film of the trilogy, “Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.” The Siege of Minas Tirith, also known as the Battle for Minas Tirith, is a truly epic battle. There are so many moving parts to these scenes and different weapons. Gandalf bravely leads the battle.
The Final Battle
- Movie: “Glory” (1989)
- Director: Edward Zwick
“Glory” is an iconic and important film. It was the first film to ever portray black soldiers fighting during the Civil War for their freedom. “Glory” was released on December 15, 1989, in the United States. It stars incredible talent like Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, and Morgan Freeman.
The final battle can give you goosebumps and bring tears to your eyes, as you say goodbye to some of the main characters.
The Final Battle
- Movie: “Avatar” (2009)
- Director: James Cameron
Many of the best epic battles in movie history occur at the end of the film. This is also the case for “Avatar.” The final battle in “Avatar” is stunning to watch. There is so much going on that it’s hard to keep your eyes away from the screen.
“Avatar” is one of the highest-grossing films in the world. This sci-fi adventure film was released on December 18, 2009, in the United States and stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, and Stephen Lang.
The Battle Of Thermopylae
- Movie: “300” (2006)
- Director: Zack Snyder
Also on our list is The Battle Of Thermopylae in “300.” This film was released on March 9, 2007, in the United States and was super successful. “300” had a budget of $60 million, but grossed $456 million.
Technically, the battle lasts the entire film, it’s not just one singular fight. The Battle of Thermopylae is also real and was fought in 480 BC.
Battle of Midway
- Movie: “Midway” (2019)
- Director: Roland Emmerich
“Midway” doesn’t just have an epic battle scene, but is about an epic battle, the Battle of Midway. This independent film was released on November 8, 2019, in the United States. The budget for this film was $100 million, and it grossed $127.4 million. Some of the incredible actors in “Midway” are Ed Skrein, Patrick Wilson, Luke Evans, Woody Harrelson, and Mandy Moore.
The Tiger Tank Battle
- Movie: “Fury” (2014)
- Director: David Ayer
Another great movie with an epic battle scene is “Fury.” This American war film was released on October 17, 2014, in the United States and was well received. The budget for this film was around $60 to 80 million. “Fury” starred Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, and Michael Peña.
One of the best battle scenes in this film is the Tiger Tank Battle. The battle was intense with back and forth between the characters as they reloaded the tanks to shoot at the enemy.
Desert Battle
- Movie: “Mad Max: Fury Road”
- Director: George Miller
Nearing the end of our list is the dessert battle/scene in “Mad Max: Fury Road.” This movie was released on May 14, 2015, in Australia, and the United States a day later. The film stars Tom Hardy, Nicholas Hoult, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Hugh Keays-Byrne.
The dessert battle is a lot of fun to watch with the unique vehicles and costumes. The fighting is gory and tension rises as the vehicles close in on each other.
First Battle
- Movie: “War for the Planet of the Apes” (2017)
- Director: Matt Reeves
Last but not least is the first battle in “War for the Planet of the Apes.” This film is the third installment in the franchise and was released on July 14, 2017, in the United States. It stars Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, and Steve Zahn.
The battle scene is a masterpiece. The soldiers are quiet, nervous, and constantly looking over their shoulders.