War films are quite a niche subject, but many movie buffs would agree that they are also an important source of education. While audiences do not wish to travel back to these times, they enjoy learning about these conflicts through a rich cinematic lens. Plus, these films often tell stories outside the main conflict, enriching fans’ knowledge of military impact and strategy.

However, some films prefer to use a much narrower scope and tend to focus on one individual. This could be a decorated veteran or an outsider who helped increase the war effort. Regardless of the muse, war films that focus on real people allow viewers to learn about the unsung heroes of military history.

A US Olympian Defies the Odds in WWII

Unbroken

Written by the Coen brothers and directed by Angelina Jolie, Unbroken tells the riveting story of Louis Zamperini. At the start of the film, Zamperini is a talented track star who is set to dominate the Olympics. But after a tragic plane crash during the Second World War, he’s forced to keep himself alive even when faced with the brutality of nature. The film also shows his time during a POW camp, showcasing the plethora of hardships this man had to face.

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Unbroken is an unbelievable film that doesn’t shy away from showcasing the utter horrors of war. It’s easy to praise Jolie’s role as a director and as she handled such a powerful story with incredible grace. A sequel was released in 2018, Unbroken: Path to Redemption, which showcases more of Zamperini’s story.

Unbroken

Release Date

December 25, 2014

Runtime

138 minutes

Director

Angelina Jolie

Writers

Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, Richard LaGravenese, William Nicholson

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A Controversial General Gets the Hollywood Treatment

Patton

Patton tells the story of U.S. General George S. Patton, a very strict man who was tasked with getting his troops in order. Despite his influence in WWII, Patton was heavily criticized for his tough nature. Yet, this film aims to show him in a more respectable light and highlight the need for men like him in times of conflict.

George C. Scott portrays the protagonist and does an excellent job of exemplifying his grit and passion for America. While Patton may seem a tad obscure to international audiences, Francis Ford Coppola does a great job of simplifying the man’s story without taking away from his influence and power. Overall, Patton tells the story of a war hero who wasn’t afraid to say exactly what was on his mind.

Patton

Release Date

April 2, 1970

Runtime

172 Minutes

Director

Franklin J. Schaffner

Writers

Ladislas Farago, Omar N. Bradley, Francis Ford Coppola, Edmund H. North

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A Secret Genius Was Behind Britain’s Success In WWII

The Imitation Game

First released in 2014, The Imitation Game tells the gripping story of Alan Turing. Blessed with supreme intelligence, Turing and a group of other mathematicians crack the German enigma code, giving them prime access to a their military secrets during WWII. The Imitation Game feels more like a spy thriller than a conventional war film, so it’s bound to have viewers on the edge of their seats.

While the film places a lot of emphasis on Turing’s achievements, it also explores the harmful treatments he received due to his sexuality. The film details his struggle with chemical castration and government-mandated hormonal therapy. Despite these struggles, Turing helped to save the lives of 14 million people and shortened the war by two years.

The Imitation Game

Release Date

November 28, 2014

Runtime

114minutes

A Rebel Fights for Scottish Independence

Outlaw King

Outlaw King tells the story of Robert the Bruce, a notorious warrior who was crowned King of Scotland back in 1306. Yet, when he’s forced into exile by the English, Robert and his allies hold a ferocious war to ensure that he can reclaim his throne. The film focuses on a three-year period between 1304 and the Battle of Loudoun Hill in 1307.

While Chris Pine is usually recognized for playing James T. Kirk and Jack Ryan, the actor does a fantastic job of replicating Robert the Bruce’s undiluted passion. The film is not very historically accurate, but it makes up for its falsehoods with its stunning scenery and fight scenes. Thus, many fans praise Outlaw King for bringing an important part of Scottish history to life.

Outlaw King

Release Date

November 9, 2018

Runtime

137 Minutes

Director

David Mackenzie

Writers

David Mackenzie, James MacInnes, Bathsheba Doran, Mark Bomback, David Harrower

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A Talented Musician Struggles to Cope in the Midst of the Holocaust

The Pianist

Most movie buffs recognize The Pianist as being the reason that Adrien Brody won an Academy Award at such a young age. However, few people take the time to immerse themselves in the heartbreaking story of Władysław Szpilman. The film explores how a Polish pianist was forced to seek refuge in German-occupied Warsaw after losing contact with his family.

The Pianist is not an easy film to watch and doesn’t struggle to tug on the viewer’s heartstrings. However, it has also been praised for its realistic depictions of war, especially concerning Polish Jews. However, the film offers a triumphant ending that truly exemplifies Szpilman’s bravery during such a horrible time.

The Pianist

Release Date

March 28, 2003

Runtime

150 Minutes

Director

Roman Polanski

Writers

Ronald Harwood, Wladyslaw Szpilman

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Six Men Signify a Turning Point in the War

Flags of Our Fathers

While Flags of Our Fathers is by no means Clint Eastwood’s most successful film, it’s undoubtedly one of his most compelling. The war epic follows five Marines and a Navy corpsman who helped to raise the flag on the beaches of Iwo Jima. Although the film focuses on this monumental moment, it also explores the private lives of these men and how they struggled to cope after the war.

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It’s hard to ignore the film’s box office failure, especially since it only earned $65.9 million on a $90 million budget. But it’s also important for fans to understand that Flags of Our Fathers is a companion piece to Eastwood’s other film, Letters from Iwo Jima. When taken into consideration, a lot of fans and critics agree that Eastwood did a spectacular job of portraying this event from two very different perspectives.

Flags of Our Fathers

Release Date

October 20, 2006

Runtime

135 Minutes

Writers

William Broyles Jr., Paul Haggis, James Bradley, Ron Powers

A British Army Officer Struggles to Leave His New Comrades Behind

Lawrence of Arabia

While it’s often seen as one of the best films ever made, many people don’t realize that Lawrence of Arabia was inspired by a real British Army Officer named T.E. Lawrence. The film showcases Lawrence’s experience in Greater Syria during the First World War. While he understands the importance of the war effort, he can’t help but sympathize with his newfound comrades and even joins the Arab Revolt.

Although this film may seem incredibly dated to some, it offers an important message about loyalty and the concept of home. Lawrence of Arabia managed to earn a ton of awards during its time and even has a spot in the National Film Registry. Aside from its powerful themes, this is a must-watch film for those who want to delve deeper into the art of vintage filmmaking.

Lawrence of Arabia

Release Date

December 11, 1962

Runtime

228 minutes

Director

David Lean

Writers

Robert Bolt, Michael Wilson

A Famous Writer Supports an Intelligence Unit

Age of Heroes

Ian Fleming is best known for creating the character of James Bond as well as a collection of related spy novels. However, many people are unaware that he had a huge impact on intelligence during the Second World War and helped to form a commando unit called 30 Assault Unit. As such, Age of Heroes explores the formation of this integral unit as well as their mission to parachute into occupied Norway.

Those who have seen this film will know that it received dire reviews from the press, mostly because of the poor acting. However, it’s important that viewers see the true value of this film. Fleming is obviously regarded as the ultimate spy and worked to form multiple units throughout the Second World War. Yet, Age of Heroes follows the men who actually acted on Fleming’s orders and quickly realize that conflict is not as glamorous as James Bond implies.

Age Of Heroes

Release Date

May 6, 2011

Director

Adrian Vitoria

Writers

Ed Scates, Adrian Vitoria

A Prolific Scientist Works on a Stomach-Churning Project

Oppenheimer

It would almost be blasphemous to mention biographical war films without paying tribute to Oppenheimer. The 3-hour epic follows the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a theoretical physicist who played an integral role in developing nuclear weapons that would later be used in World War II. Although the film uses a nonlinear narrative, viewers will instantly be captivated by the scientist’s intense story.

While the film dominated the box office as well as the awards season, the reason it sits at the halfway point on this list is that it may be a tad too long for some viewers. Christopher Nolan doesn’t skim over any part of the story and uses an array of impressive effects to really express the gravity of these weapons. But with a running time of 180 minutes, it isn’t ideal for those who just want to kick back and enjoy an easy watch.

Oppenheimer

Release Date

July 21, 2023

Runtime

150 Minutes

A Marine Develops a Special Relationship With Her Comrade

Megan Leavey

While it’s by no means the most action-packed war movie, Megan Leavey shines a light on the most underrated aspect of the military. The protagonist is a US Marine as well as an experienced Military Police K9 Handler. Alongside her furry friend Rex, the pair complete two deployments in Iraq together and undergo a wealth of trauma. But when Rex becomes seriously ill, Leavey must fight to keep him in her life.

Unfortunately, Megan Leavey was released the same weekend as the 2017 The Mummy reboot, so it flew under a lot of people’s radars. However, this heartwarming true story focuses on the sacrifices animals make in order to aid their human counterparts. As such, this film doesn’t feel the need to rely on expensive fight scenes and instead intrigues audiences with its emotive storytelling techniques.

Megan Leavey

Release Date

June 9, 2017

Runtime

116 minutes

Director

Gabriela Cowperthwaite

Writers

Pamela Gray, Annie Mumolo, Tim Lovestedt

A Translator Blows the Whistle on the UK and US Governments

Official Secrets

Katharine Gun, a translator for GCHQ, discovers that American and British Intelligence are trying to blackmail the U.N. Security Council into voting in favor of the Iraq War. As such, she releases the memo to the press and puts her life and her work on the line to stop the world from going to war once again. Official Secrets is an unbelievable story and focuses on how an ordinary woman came face to face with some of the biggest leaders of the West.

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Starring Keira Knightley, Matt Smith, and Matthew Goode, this film was praised for its accuracy and its ability to stay true to its source material, The Spy Who Tried to Stop the War. Although Knightley is best known for playing key love interests and damsels in distress like Elizabeth Swan, she really shows her talent for dramatic acting in this role. Overall, Official Secrets offers fierce criticism of the Iraq War and showcases the people who tried endlessly to nip it in the bud.

Official Secrets

Release Date

August 30, 2019

Director

Gavin Hood

Writers

Sara Bernstein, Gregory Bernstein, Gavin Hood, Marcia Mitchell, Thomas Mitchell

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A CIA Operative Has Her Identity Compromised

Fair Game

Starring Naomi Watts and Sean Penn, Fair Game tells the story of Valerie Plame, a CIA agent who has her identity compromised by her own government. After her husband publishes a piece for The New York Times criticizing George W. Bush for taking unfair military action against Iraq, Plame discovers that her identity has been leaked to the press. Thus, Fair Game explores Plume’s journey to clear her name as well as her battle to repair her marriage.

Alongside a stellar cast, this film also welcomes a range of superb talent behind the camera. Not only was it directed by Doug Liman, who directed The Bourne Identity, but it was written by Jez Butterworth, who is best known for his provocative plays. Even with its immensely fast pace, Fair Game develops deep into government conspiracies and explores how they impact the lives of ordinary people.

Fair Game

Release Date

May 20, 2010

Runtime

108 minutes

Director

Doug Liman

Writers

Jez Butterworth

An American Lawyer Is Forced to Make a Crucial Decision

Bridge of Spies

Set during the height of the Cold War, Bridge of Spies explores the troubling story of James Donovan. The lawyer defends a KGB Spy named Rudolf Abel in court but is later asked to create a deal that would exchange Rudolf with a US pilot. Since the native pilot, Francis Powers, was caught in the USSR, Donovan is forced to choose between one of his own or a useful prisoner.

Bridge of Spies was directed by Steven Spielberg, so fans can expect a moving tale with a lot of compelling scenes. Tom Hanks also received a lot of praise for his role as Donovan, allowing him to lose the shackles of a long-running comedy career and focus more on gripping dramas. While the film doesn’t really touch on Abel’s true identity, it does focus on America’s influence on military intelligence during this time.

Bridge of Spies

Release Date

October 16, 2015

Runtime

142 Minutes

Director

Steven Spielberg

Writers

Joel Coen, Matt Charman, Ethan Coen

A Trio of Scientists Get a Head Start in the Space Race

Hidden Figures

Hidden Figures explores the careers of three black scientists named Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Katherine Globe Johnson as they support NASA during the Space Race. However, none of these women had it easy, and they certainly had to climb their way up the corporate ladder as they helped John Glenn go up into space. While it may not be the most conventional war film, it helps to showcase a more unusual side to the Cold War.

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While this is the ultimate feel-good film, it doesn’t shy away from showcasing the racist abuse that these women had to confront every day. But Hidden Figures does so much more than discuss NASA, it details how these women managed to secure such high levels of intelligence in such a divided country. As such, this is a perfect film for those who want to learn about the more nuanced aspects of war history.

Hidden Figures

Release Date

December 25, 2016

Runtime

127 Minutes

A Businessman Is Recruited by MI6

The Courier

Greville Wyne is a successful engineer and businessman who was asked by MI6 to communicate with Oleg Penkovsky. Not only is the Brit asked to travel back and forth to Eastern Europe on a regular basis, but he’s required to transport top-secret information to the Soviet Union. As such, The Courier explores how an ordinary man got washed up in the grim world of espionage.

Unfortunately, the release of this film was halted by COVID-19 so it didn’t get the praise that the production companies were hoping for. But it’s packed with a stellar cast, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Jessie Buckley, and Merab Ninidze, all of whom offer very passionate performances. While it doesn’t break the mold exactly, The Courier sits at the top of this list because it’s based on a compelling story that is rarely shared by the mass media.

The Courier

Release Date

March 19, 2021

Runtime

111 minutes