The US military has been the focus of some of Hollywood’s best movies, from naval aviators in Top Gun to special forces in projects like Delta Force and Executive Decision. One of the US’ most prestigious units, the Navy SEALs, has been the focus of a variety of films and TV shows, exploring everything from life in the forces to combat missions. While the former can be interesting, it’s the thick of battle that audiences love to see.
Navy SEALs remain one of Hollywood’s favorite military units, and for good reason. From the rescue of Captain Phillips to the assassination of Osama bin Laden, they’re effectively the face of America’s elite heroes. While the movie business takes different angles with its exploration of them, the best ones go hard on the action. Whether it’s a true story or a hard-hitting action movie, focusing on these elite soldiers rarely fails to impress.
10
Navy SEALs Tried To Be the Ultimate SEAL Movie
1990
Following the success of Top Gun, Hollywood released a variety of movies that focused on different units within the military, each hoping to serve as the definitive take on their respective branches. In 1990, Charlie Sheen and Michael Biehn starred in Navy SEALs, which blended the cheesy nature of its era’s action movies with a look at culture within the special forces. As their big mission draws near, the soldiers undergo training and try to make the most out of their lives at home, from marriage to their children.
Navy SEALs can best be thought of as the Young Guns of military movies, uniting some of the biggest rising stars of the ’80s in a cheesy action flick. Though it doesn’t have the depth of Saving Private Ryan or the cinematography or score of Top Gun, it remains an enjoyable special forces movie today — so long as the audience accepts it for what it is.
Navy Seals
- Release Date
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July 20, 1990
- Runtime
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113 minutes
- Director
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Lewis Teague
- Writers
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Chuck Pfarrer
9
Under Siege Is Die Hard On A Battleship
1992
Under Siege focuses on a former Navy SEAL turned chef, Casey Ryback, as he’s forced to rescue the crew of the last active-duty US battleship from a band of terrorists. In typical Die Hard style, he fights his way through the ship, picking off every bad guy he comes across to try and prevent the capture of the vessel’s weapons. With the aid of a model and what crewmen he can find, he uses his SEAL training to save the day.
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Under Siege stands out as one of the better Steven Seagal movies, in no small part thanks to its shameless rip-off of Die Hard’s story taken to epic extremes. From Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey playing cartoonish villains to one of the genre’s toughest heroes in Ryback, the movie is a classic for all the right reasons — and shows Navy SEALs aren’t to be messed with.
Under Siege
- Release Date
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October 9, 1992
- Runtime
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103 Minutes
- Director
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Andrew Davis
- Writers
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J. F. Lawton
8
Act of Valor Stars Real Navy SEALs
2012
Act of Valor begins when a terrorist kills a CIA officer, taking another hostage in the jungles of Indonesia, spurring a Navy SEAL response. The story follows the Bandito Platoon of SEAL Team 7 as they embark on a worldwide mission to rescue the officer and capture or kill the terrorist responsible. From high altitude parachute jumps to thrilling shootouts, the movie tries to land the audience in the eyes of real SEAL operators.
Act of Valor is a unique gem in the genre for its use of real Navy SEALs as the stars of the movie, casting them in a series of fictional missions to showcase their skills. For its genre, the movie features some stunning shots and combat sequences, giving the audience an unparalleled level of realism.
Act of Valor
- Release Date
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February 24, 2012
- Runtime
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111 minutes
- Director
-
Mike McCoy, Scott Waugh
7
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi Highlights A Tragic True Story
2016
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi recounts the events of the 2012 attacks on the US’ embassy in Libya, and the response of an elite team of contractors to protect it. Under siege from waves of militants, the operators dig in, forced to take on overwhelming odds with little support. The veracity of Michael Bay’s accounting of the true story has been heavily disputed, leaning on the controveries surrounding it, but it makes for a great action movie — and one that highlights real tragedy.
13 Hours doesn’t technically feature characters who are active duty SEALs, but the private contractors shown are former operators, as well as some Delta veterans too. One of the points made in the movie is that of the soldiers’ enduring loyalty to their country, despite having turned private sector, costing the lives of four men.
13 Hours
- Release Date
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January 14, 2016
- Runtime
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144 Minutes
- Director
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Michael Bay
- Writers
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Chuck Hogan, Mitchell Zuckoff
6
The Rock Is An Unofficial Bond Movie
1996
The Rock begins when a renegade platoon of US Marines steals a batch of deadly nerve gas, taking tourists hostage on Alcatraz Island, using it as a base of operations. Blackmailing the government, the soldiers, led by General Hummel, threaten to deploy the gas if their demands are not met. In response, Washington authorizes a SEAL mission, with the aid of an imprisoned SAS veteran and FBI chemical specialist, to find and neutralize the weapons.
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The Rock’s use of Navy SEALs isn’t as core to its story as other movies, but it does a fantastic job of demonstrating the heroism of its operators. Seeing their story unfold can be a bit deflating, but it works to set the stage for its story brilliantly, forcing Mason and Goodspeed to work together to save the day themselves.
5
Zero Dark Thirty Is The Definitive Counter-Terrorism Movie
2013
Set in the aftermath of 9/11, Zero Dark Thirty focuses on a CIA analyst, Maya, as she works to track down Osama bin Laden. Placing a fictional hero at the heart of the true story, the movie builds towards the mission of SEAL Team Six to infiltrate the terrorist’s compound and assassinate him. However, it’s ultimately Maya’s experiences navigating the world of intelligence that is the focus of the story.
Zero Dark Thirty cast Chris Pratt in one of his first action roles as SEAL operator, while Jessica Chastain plays the role of Maya perfectly. The film is effectively the definitive account of post-9/11 America and its counter-terrorism operations, using Maya as a stand-in for the intelligence community’s efforts. When the final mission plays out, the audience are shown a detailed, realistic example of what SEALs do, recounting the operation as told by its soldiers.
Zero Dark Thirty
- Release Date
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December 19, 2012
- Runtime
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157 Minutes
- Director
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Kathryn Bigelow
- Writers
-
Mark Boal
4
G.I. Jane Explores The Future Of Women In Combat
1997
G.I. Jane focuses on military analyst Jordan O’Neil as she’s selected to test for the Navy SEALs by a US Senator, who hopes her success will allow the entry of women into combat roles. With her unit resentful of her presence, she is faced with brutality at every step of the way, particularly from the team’s Master Chief, John Urgayle. Despite the attempt to demoralize her, the mistreatment only pushes her to perservere — eventually leading to her joining a combat mission.
G.I. Jane is one of the most inspirational military movies of its decade, playing on the idea of a soldier proving themselves worthy when the odds are stacked against them. Casting Demi Moore in one of her best roles, the movie’s final mission sees O’Neil’s training and grit reach its fullest potential, trying to offer a glimmer of hope for women in combat roles at a time when it didn’t exist.
G.I. Jane
- Release Date
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August 22, 1997
- Runtime
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125 minutes
- Director
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Ridley Scott
- Writers
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David Twohy, Danielle Alexandra
3
Tears of the Sun Is An Underrated Bruce Willis Movie
2003
Tears of the Sun takes place in the midst of a fictionalized Nigerian civil war, and follows a team of Navy SEALs, led by Lt. Waters, as they head in to rescue a group of missionaries. With a genocide taking place around them, the team decide to bring as many refugees with them as possible, disobeying orders to leave civilians behind. As a brigade of troops close in on them, they realize they’re being hunted for a reason — and make a last stand against overwhelming odds to get the people to safety.
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Tears of the Sun plays on the idea of a team of cynical, jaded soldiers rediscovering their humanity, giving Bruce Willis one of his best roles in the process. For people who want a Navy SEAL movie that feels like a Call of Duty mission, this film is one of the best choices there is, and its brilliant acting from its cast seals it as one of its decade’s best action-war movies.
2
American Sniper Explores America’s Deadliest Sniper
American Sniper tells the true story of the US military’s deadliest sniper, Chris Kyle. From signing up after watching 9/11 unfold on TV to his operations in Iraq, the film covers the full span of his career as a SEAL, alternating between combat and how it affects him mentally. When his fellow soldiers are targeted by a trained sniper on the opposing side, he takes to the rooftops to try and kill him before more men can be shot.
American Sniper isn’t just a look at Kyle’s time in combat, but also the effects of PTSD, showing how it causes a rift with his family. Bradley Cooper turned in one of the best performances of his career in the role of Chris Kyle, exploring everything from his love life to his training. For people who want a comprehensive look at life as a SEAL, it doesn’t get better than this Clint Eastwood-directed film.
American Sniper
- Release Date
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December 25, 2014
- Runtime
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132minutes
- Writers
-
Jason Hall
1
Lone Survivor Is An Emotional True Story
Lone Survivor tells the true story behind the failed Operation Red Wings, a special forces mission during the Afghanistan War that cost the lives of nineteen men — and the capture of Navy SEAL operator Marcus Luttrell. However, before they can reach him, he spends much of his time missing in the sanctuary of an Afghan family, who are forced to fight to try and keep the Taliban at bay.
Lone Survivor was given the Hollywood treatment, adding drama to the story to keep the audience engaged. Setting aside the question of accuracy, the movie makes for the most gripping Navy SEAL movie to date, one that moves from an epic shootout to an emotional rescue mission. The movie makes a point of highlighting the losses of the operation, as well as the heroism of some of the Afghan people in aiding Luttrell — and keeps its audience hooked until the big rescue in one of the best modern war movies there is.
Lone Survivor
- Release Date
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December 25, 2013
- Runtime
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121 minutes
- Director
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Peter Berg
- Writers
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Peter Berg
