The Best Military Movies of All Time

Since the beginning of cinema, the military/war genre has been a mainstay. People enjoy military movies because they often have a mix of action and incredible characters, and they provide an insight into a world that many of us will never see. We love to learn about the past while also understanding the motivations behind heroes and villains. Plus, many of these films are also helmed by incredible directors, and they have great actors who really bring us into the world and give us a reason to stay. There have been many of these films over the years, and today, we’ll talk about the best military movies of all time in no particular order.

There have been countless war movies over the last several decades, so to narrow down the best of the bunch, 24/7 reviewed various metrics. We looked at the box office, audience, and critical opinions and considered the films that resonate to this day. We used several sources to find this data, including the Internet Movie Database, Box Office Mojo, Rotten Tomatoes, and several entertainment magazines, including Time and Variety. We’ve come up with selections that we believe give the genre the respect it deserves, and we’re excited to present this amazing list. After this, check out our list of the best World War II movies ever made.

Platoon

• Starring: Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, Tom Berenger
• Worldwide Gross: $138,545,632
• Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score: 89% Fresh
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 93%

In what is often considered one of the best military movies of all time, a young man leaves his university to enlist in the military to fight in the Vietnam War in 1967. While in the country, they reach a village and must decide what to do next. The main plot of the movie revolves around the young recruit as he is caught in the middle of two Sergeants who think differently about war and the enemy in that place. The movie is praised for telling the necessary truths of the Vietnam War. It also showed in incredible realism what it was like daily for the soldiers who fought there.

Saving Private Ryan

• Starring: Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore
• Worldwide Gross: $482,351,251
• Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score: 94% Fresh
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 95%

The title says it all. In one of the best war movies, a group of American soldiers lands on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. After the fight, they go behind enemy lines to find a paratrooper (Private Ryan) after his brothers have been killed in action. This movie, directed by Steven Spielberg, shows the gritty reality of war. The opening scene, where they storm the beach, is incredibly gripping and shows just what our soldiers were up against. Unlike other war movies that often glorify war, “Saving Private Ryan” shows the constant danger and fear of battle. In addition to the action, there’s also spectacular acting with co-stars including Vin Diesel, Paul Giamatti, and more.

Inglourious Basterds

• Starring: Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth
• Worldwide Gross: $321,492,577
• Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score: 89% Fresh
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 88%

One of the more recent films to be considered to be of the best military movies of all time is “Inglourious Basterds,” which was directed by Quentin Tarantino. The movie takes place during the first year of Germany’s occupation of France. An officer, Lt. Aldo Raine, assembles a rag-tag team of Jewish soldiers who are looking to take revenge on the Germans and take down the entire Third Reich. The movie is violent and full of great dialogue. It shows the battle from the point of view of the soldiers and the Germans and does so masterfully. The acting in the film is phenomenal. There are even full segments that are acted with all of the characters speaking German. This is a movie that will be considered a classic.

Full Metal Jacket

• Starring: Matthew Modine, R. Lee Ermey, Vincent D’Onofrio
• Worldwide Gross: 46,361,894
• Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score: 90% Fresh
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 94%

A common trend that makes these military movies so great is the fantastic directors behind them, and the work that acclaimed director Stanley Kubrick did on this film is no exception. The movie is about an American Marine who goes into the Vietnam War and sees firsthand how war can affect his fellow soldiers. Fans and critics like the movie because it has many unique characters, from the class clown to the hardened soldier who demands respect. The movie is quirky at times, but that just makes it more memorable. The film also has a great musical score and spectacular camera work.

Hacksaw Ridge

• Starring: Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Teresa Palmer
• Worldwide Gross: $180,563,636
• Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score: 84% Fresh
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 91%

This unique military film, directed by Mel Gibson, follows the war experience of real-life American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss. The twist in the movie and in real life is that Doss is a pacifist who doesn’t believe in guns. Still, after his heroics during the Battle of Okinawa, he was the first man in U.S. history to get the Medal of Honor without shooting a single shot. In addition to being a true story, the film is also gripping due to its realism and violence. Doss saved many soldiers’ lives without violence, and he did it without fear. The movie is also directed very well, and it simply shows a different side of war.

Dunkirk

• Starring: Fionn Whitehead, Barry Keoghan, Tom Hardy
• Worldwide Gross: $530,432,122
• Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score: 92% Fresh
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 81%

Yet another great director helms one of the best recent war movies with “Dunkirk.” Director Christopher Nolan shows another side of battle. This time, it’s from the perspective of allied soldiers from France, the British Commonwealth and Empire, and Belgium as they try to evacuate after being surrounded by the German Army. This relatively short film is filled with great character development, stirring action, and incredible dialogue. While the movie is about the military, it’s also about the primal urge to survive during a tough conflict. The movie also featured thousands of extras, which made the war scenes that much more realistic.

Apocalypse Now

• Starring: Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall
• Worldwide Gross: $104,884,840
• Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score: 97% Fresh
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 94%

The film “Apocalypse Now” constantly finds itself in the category of the best military movies of all time. It’s a masterpiece directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and it’s a grim tale of an American Army officer who must assassinate a renegade Special Forces Colonel who is dangerous because he sees himself as a god. In addition to being a realistic depiction of war, the movie is also gripping because it shows a man’s journey into madness, which can be all too common when soldiers experience horrific sights and feelings during battle.

Fury

• Starring: Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Michael Peña
• Worldwide Gross: $217,785,032
• Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score: 76% Fresh
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 84%

“Fury” is a bit of a unique military movie because it comes from the point of view of a tank commander, which we don’t see that often. During the film, he has to make tough decisions during the heat of battle. Like many of the other films on this list, this is considered one of the best military movies of all time because it’s incredibly authentic. It has a handful of action scenes, and the acting showcases the stress and chaos that soldiers experience during war. You can feel the tension in every scene, and it’s very engaging.

The Thin Red Line

• Starring: Jim Caviezel, Sean Penn, Nick Nolte
• Worldwide Gross: $98,126,565
• Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score: 80% Fresh
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 80%

This was the noteworthy film of 1998, and it continues to be one of the best movies about war. The movie is based on an autobiographical novel by James Jones, and it centers around a large cast of soldiers who are dealing with the conflict of Guadalcanal during World War II. People like the movie because of the drama, the tropical setting, and the realism. This movie is also quite famous due to its large cast. In addition to the main actors above, there were many big actors in smaller parts, including George Clooney, John Cusack, and Adrien Brody.

The Hurt Locker

• Starring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Guy Pearce
• Worldwide Gross: $49,259,766
• Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score: 97% Fresh
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 84%

One of the most underrated movies on this list, “The Hurt Locker,” is also considered to be one of the best military movies of all time. This is another unique viewpoint of the military because it focuses on an army bomb squad Sergeant who has a rebellious way of handling his work. This is also one of the few war movies about the Iraq War. However, like several of the other movies, it actually has an anti-war message and shows that many people die in war even though they don’t deserve it.

Come And See

• Starring: Aleksey Kravchenko, Olga Mironova, Liubomiras Laucevicius
• Worldwide Gross: $20,929,648
• Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score: 90% Fresh
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 96%

Like “The Hurt Locker,” “Come And See” is considered to be an anti-war movie. It gets that point across by showing just how violent and horrible war can be. This movie also shows a different viewpoint of war. In this case, it’s a young boy who finds an old rifle and decides to join the Soviet resistance against the Germans during World War II. People like this movie because it shows battle in graphic detail, and it has a sympathetic protagonist, which isn’t often the case in this genre. The movie also has impressive music and sound design.

The Bridge on the River Kwai

• Starring: William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins
• Worldwide Gross: $27,200,463
• Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score: 96% Fresh
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 93

This movie is a great military film that shows the danger of battle but also the repercussions that can take place for prisoners of war. In it, British POWs are forced by their Japanese captors to build a bridge in Burma. While the work is hard, what they don’t know is that the allied forces are planning a raid to destroy it. The movie is such a classic that it won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Critics and audiences love the tension in this film, and the drama is perfect with incredible acting performances. it’s a beloved film to this day.

The Great Escape

• Starring: Steve McQueen, James Garner, Charles Bronson
• Worldwide Gross: $230,030
• Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score: 94% Fresh
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 95%

This is the quintessential war adventure film starring the great Steve McQueen and an all-star cast. They play allied prisoners of war in a German camp during World War II. Their objective is to help hundreds of prisoners escape, and they need a great plan to do it. People really like this film because it shows the heroics of men when they’re trapped in a corner and they live for freedom. This is almost like an “Ocean’s 11” film where strategy is key, and everyone needs to work together, and it’s a great film for the ages.

All Quiet on the Western Front

• Starring: Lew Ayres, Louis Wolheim, John Wray
• Worldwide Gross: $3,000,000 (rentals)
• Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score: 98% Fresh
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 89%

The original “All Quiet on the Western Front” from 1930 is considered one of the best military movies of all time. It’s based on a novel from 1929, and it’s considered an anti-war film because it depicts the horrors of war in a very realistic way. The movie is set during World War I, and it’s based on the perspective of a young German soldier who is excited to join the war effort, but his excitement quickly wanes when he sees the true devastation that takes place day after day. Fans of the film really enjoy the realism and set pieces. There have been two remakes of this film, but neither quite captures the glory of the first.

The Dirty Dozen

• Starring: Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson
• Worldwide Gross: 45,300,000
• Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score: 81% Fresh
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 90%

In “The Dirty Dozen,” an Army Major is presented with 12 convicted murderers that he must train and lead on a secret mission to assassinate German officers. This is considered an adventure film, and there’s plenty of action along the way. People still enjoy this film to this day because of the unique characters that were not like those in traditional military films. Plus, the movie was also extremely violent. While that caused a bit of controversy with many viewers, others liked how realistic the film could be.

Patton

• Starring: George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Michael Strong
• Worldwide Gross: $61,749,765
• Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score: 91% Fresh
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 93%

“Patton” is easily one of the best military movies of all time because it follows the exploits of real-life General George S Patton Jr. as he found success during his military career. The general was portrayed perfectly by actor George C. Scott, who gave the character real authenticity while showing how he wouldn’t take no for an answer. The movie was so realistic and appreciated that it won Best Picture at the 1971 Oscars after being nominated for eight awards. Audiences still love the Patton movie today because it provides the perfect balance of drama, action, and a bit of comedy.

1917

• Starring: Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Colin Firth
• Worldwide Gross: $384,579,982
• Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score: 89% Fresh
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 88%

If you only watch one film about World War I, this thrilling and scary flick is the one to see. The plot of the movie involves two soldiers who are tasked with delivering a message that an attack must be called off. If it isn’t, hundreds of soldiers could be killed. During their harrowing travels, they come across the many horrors of the war, including fighter planes, trench warfare, and a charge along the front lines. The movie is known for its drama but also because the entire film was made with one long, continuous shot. It’s a beloved movie for many reasons, and it’s easily one of the best military movies of all time. The fact is that this list is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to great war movies. Many of them have been nominated for Academy Awards, and you can check out every movie that won Best Picture at the Oscars.