The 50 greatest war films of all time

Fall in for TONY's list of mighty military movies.

By David Fear, Joshua Rothkopf and Keith Uhlich Thu May 26 2011

War films: Click to the next image to see our 50 greatest war films of all time
War films: Inglourious Basterds (2009)
War films: Ride with the Devil (1999)
War films: Twelve O'Clock High (1949)
War films: Hell in the Pacific (1968)
War films: In Which We Serve (1942)
War films: Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)
War films: Ballad of a Soldier (1959)
War films: The Red Badge of Courage (1951)
War films: The Great Escape (1963)
War films: The Sun (2005)

War films: Click to the next image to see our 50 greatest war films of all time

What better way to honor the sacrifice of Memorial Day than with a ranked list of cinematic greatness? TONY Film has slogged through its own basic training to arrive at the 50 ultimate war movies—and not merely the ones with the biggest battle scenes (though expect plenty of ammo). Rather, here are the most profound statements, pointed and patriotic alike, on the distinctly human condition of fighting. We offer the list to you, our readers, along with our sharpest salute. Why not put on your war face and sound off, in the comments section below?

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Quentin Tarantino makes the WWII film his own: violent, verbose and endlessly entertaining. There's plenty of bloodshed, but this gloriously demented pulp fiction is more about the destructive power of words. In QT's universe, the right turn of phrase—especially when tripping from the malevolently multilingual tongue of Nazi commandant Hans Landa—can kill both body and spirit.—Keith Uhlich

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Ride with the Devil (1999)

You wouldn't expect anything less complex from director Ang Lee (The Ice Storm, Brokeback Mountain), whose oblique take on the Civil War—specifically guerrilla fighting in Missouri—thrilled critics and mystified crowds. A pre-Spidey Tobey Maguire anchors the movie in sympathy, while Jeffrey Wright electrifies as a liberated slave.—Joshua Rothkopf

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Twelve O'Clock High (1949)

Gregory Peck had already arrived as a magnetic onscreen presence by the time this minutely detailed WWII Air Force drama gave him his most ambitious role to date, as a stern disciplinarian whose leadership transforms a bomber unit into a well-oiled machine. The ultimate praise: The movie was required viewing at military-service academies for decades—Joshua Rothkopf

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Hell in the Pacific (1968)

Two soldiers—one American, the other Japanese—are marooned on an uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean during the height of WWII and must work together to survive. Director John Boorman crafts a potent existential parable out of their plight (Jean-Paul Sartre would be proud) while also allowing the great Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune to rage with crowd-pleasing gusto.—Keith Uhlich

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In Which We Serve (1942)

Let's give it up for wit-of-all-trades Nol Coward, who wrote, codirected (with David Lean), starred in and even composed the score for this veddy British WWII naval tale, about a shipwrecked crew and their valiant efforts to carry on with stiff upper lips.—Joshua Rothkopf

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Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)

John Wayne was born to the swagger of a certain kind of war film, neither especially negative nor devoid of a soldier's vulnerability. This celebratory recreation of the title's WWII Allied triumph accommodates plenty of heart-thumping jingoism but also the fatalism of sniper fire.—Joshua Rothkopf

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Ballad of a Soldier (1959)

A delicate Russian-made tribute to that nation's staggering sacrifice during WWII, Grigori Chukhrai's drama concerns a teenage infantryman's journey back home for a six-day break, a reward for taking out two German tanks. He marvels at the rape of the land—and also connects with a beautiful girl. It's a film about the value of the fight.—Joshua Rothkopf

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The Red Badge of Courage (1951)

The verdict is still out what could have been the full edit of this Civil War picture, which was drastically cut to under 70 minutes after poor test screenings. Given the talent of the director—John Huston, whose next film was The African Queen—we're inclined to believe he was onto something special with Stephen Crane's classic. Enough of Huston's noirish vision remains.—Joshua Rothkopf

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The Great Escape (1963)

Made at the peak of Hollywood's studio system and a flawless example of robust mainstream entertainment, John Sturgess's protoblockbuster turned Steve McQueen into a marquee idol—he gobbles up the lens even before he jumps the barbed-wire fence of his WWII POW camp on a motorcycle. Amazingly, the story is a real-life one.—Joshua Rothkopf

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The Sun (2005)

In the final days of WWII, twitchy Japanese Emperor Hirohito (Issei Ogata in a spectacularly oddball performance) holes himself up in an underground bunker while Douglas MacArthur and his troops inch closer to the palace. Russian director Alexander Sokurov's haunting character study is a dreamy and disquieting look at an enigmatic man sliding from power.—Keith Uhlich

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(25 ratings)

P.S. Forgot to add the best one of all: 'Lawrence of Arabia'. How in God's name can Starship Troopers or the Dirty Dozen be above that?

Jonathan Bywater Mon Jul 23 2012
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First, let me just say I'm ok with Starship troopers being up there. It was a great movie, and if you don't agree, you clearly lack the intellect to understand what made that movie so great. However, you left off plenty of great war movies. "Tora Tora Tora" is an absolutely fantastic film, one of the greatest war films of all time. You also left off "Life is Beautiful" and "Schindler's List". I did discover some great new movies to watch, so I must thank you for that, but lots of these movies could be left off, and replaced with better movies.

Lawrence Mon Jul 23 2012
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Cross of Iron? It's as good as All Quiet on the Western Front....or in the same category at least.

Vinny Sat Jul 21 2012
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The Human Condition, Downfall, Wooden Crosses, Napoleon, Dr. Strangelove, Stalag 17, The Charge of the Light Brigade, A Walk in the Sun, Spartacus, Braveheart, The Longest Day, The Battle of Algiers, Das Boot, Fires on the Plain, Rome, Open City, Is Paris Burning?, Lawrence of Arabia, Alexander Nevsky, Henry V, Chimes at Midnight, Run Silent, Run Deep, The Burmese Harp, A Bridge Too Far, Ran, Kagemusha, The Train, Go Tell the Spartans, The Big Parade, The Sand Pebbles, Breaker Morant, Battleship Potemkin, Glory--and, of course, the best of them all: Band of Brothers. You guys don't see many movies, do you?

Sparky Fri Jul 20 2012
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Seriously, Starship Troopers... What on earth r u smoking... This list sucks donkey junk... Just wasted 15min of my life...

Rob1 Fri Jul 20 2012
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no battle of midway, no TORA, TORA, TORA! no longest day no flags of our fathers no letters from iwo jima I never heard of a great deal of these movies this list sucks

frank Thu Jul 19 2012
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What about The Longest Day,A Bridge To Far,Saints and Soldiers,Enemy At The Gates,Red Tails,The Great Raid,Flags Of Our Fathers, The Scarlet and the Black, Battle Of Britain, The Lost Battallion , The Blue Max,Flyboys,The Sand Pebbles,Glory or Gettysburg?Just to name a few.

Matt O'Day Fri Jul 13 2012
Rated as: 2/5
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What about "We Were Soldiers"

Jim Thu Jul 12 2012
Rated as: 2/5
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Saving Private Ryan at 17? Thats just a massive insult to a masterpiece

Sam Thu Jul 12 2012
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How about PASSCHENDAELE?!

magnum calibre Wed Jul 11 2012
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