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: Black Book (2006)
War films: The Dirty Dozen (1967)
War films: Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983)
War films: The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
War films: Germany Year Zero (1948)
War films: Gallipoli (1981)
War films: The Deer Hunter (1978)
War films: All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
War films: Three Kings (1999)
War films: Paisan (1946)

War films: Black Book (2006)

Black Book (2006)

Pervy Dutch director Paul Verhoeven is better known for Basic Instinct and Showgirls, but war movies are his true métier. In this deliciously plotted WWII survival tale (a comeback of sorts for the Hollywood exile), a hotcha Jewish singer becomes a spy, a freedom fighter and a bed partner of Nazis. Talented Carice van Houten commits fully.—Joshua Rothkopf

Watch now on iTunes Buy on Amazon

The Dirty Dozen (1967)

It's become one of the most beloved "dad movies" of all time—but maybe Father knows best. The murderous "dozen," conscripted for a suicide mission on the eve of D-Day, includes a shifty-eyed psychopath (John Cassavetes), a religious fanatic and woman-beater (Telly Savalas), and a slow-witted "General" (Donald Sutherland). They get the job done.—Joshua Rothkopf

Watch now on iTunes Watch now at Amazon Instant Video

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983)

Can it be that between The Man Who Fell to Earth and this quietly powerful film, David Bowie is the most underrated actor of his generation? The art-pop star effortlessly embodies the guilty conscience of a WWII British prisoner of war, striking up a complex friendship with camp sergeant Ryuichi Sakamoto (also the composer of the movie's gorgeous score).—Joshua Rothkopf

Watch now on iTunes Watch now at Amazon Instant Video

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Hark! Is that the "Colonel Bogey March" we hear? In David Lean's rousing WWII epic, American POW William Holden plots a daring escape from a remote Japanese prison, while captured British colonel Alec Guinness and camp commandant Sessue Hayakawa determinedly vie for power. The title bridge figures in one of the most suspenseful action sequences ever filmed.—Keith Uhlich

Watch now at Amazon Instant Video

Germany Year Zero (1948)

In the spirit of war photography itself, Roberto Rossellini focused on the ravaged aftermath of a city's destruction (here, actual locations in Berlin). Thus we have one of the purest records of the violence of World War II, an invaluable time capsule as well as a neorealist landmark.—Joshua Rothkopf

Buy on Amazon

Gallipoli (1981)

Peter Weir's tragic, superbly mounted tale of two professional sprinters who join the Australian army circa WWI sheds some light on the casualty-heavy Turkish campaign. Weir's facility with action scenes is fully evident, especially during the gut-wrenching climactic battle. The film also helped to put a young actor named Mel Gibson on the international stage.—Keith Uhlich

Watch now on iTunes Watch now at Amazon Instant Video

The Deer Hunter (1978)

Based on its most notorious scenes—games of Russian roulette, one of them with vicious Vietcong captors—this actorcentric POW movie (featuring an unhinged Christopher Walken) earns its place on our list. The metaphor is a provocative one: Many saw holding a loaded gun to one's head as an obvious parallel to the United States' entrance into the war itself.—Joshua Rothkopf

Buy on Amazon

All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

A pacifistic masterpiece that showed the horrors of WWI trench warfare to a curious if unprepared audience, this epic (based on Erich Maria Remarque's popular novel) also positioned the genre of the combat film as a Hollywood mark of pride: It was one of the first movies to earn a Best Picture Oscar.—Joshua Rothkopf

Watch now on iTunes Watch now at Amazon Instant Video

Three Kings (1999)

Production was reportedly hellish, with director David O. Russell and star George Clooney coming to physical blows. (Guys, it's a war movie.) But the ultimate payoff was rare: a combat film that achieved political profundity via off-the-wall comedy. Call it the lure of Saddam's gold.—Joshua Rothkopf

Watch now on iTunes Watch now at Amazon Instant Video

Paisan (1946)

The masterful second film in Roberto Rossellini's WWII trilogy—in between 1945's Open City and 1948's Germany Year Zero—is built out of six vignettes set during the Allied invasion of Italy, exploring stories about street urchins and soldiers, prostitutes and priests. There's not a dud in the bunch, and the director's clear-eyed appraisal of the moral havoc wrought in his homeland is particularly astonishing considering how recently the fighting had ceased.—Keith Uhlich

Buy on Amazon

50–41
40–31
30–21
20–11
10–1

Your rating
Name *
Email *
Comment *
* mandatory fields

Comments & ratings

(30 ratings)

Three kings is a better movie than the deer hunter and brigde on the river kwai.. really?

thislistsucks Yesterday
Rated as: 1/5
Report
1. Name *
2. Email *
3. Reason *
hands down the best war movie ever!

DAS Boot Yesterday
Rated as: 5/5
Report
1. Name *
2. Email *
3. Reason *
No Hamburger Hill either?? and WTF is up with Starship Troopers?? I clicked on this list cuz I thought it was serious

Jason About 3 days ago
Report
1. Name *
2. Email *
3. Reason *
wow!! who rated these?? Platoon #34?? Patton#32?? Both won best picture. No Black Hawk Down?? what a joke!!

Jason About 3 days ago
Report
1. Name *
2. Email *
3. Reason *
No Battle of Algiers!

Dean About 6 days ago
Rated as: 1/5
Report
1. Name *
2. Email *
3. Reason *
Black Hawk Down. C'mon son.

Sky.O About 7 days ago
Rated as: 5/5
Report
1. Name *
2. Email *
3. Reason *
No Black Hawk Down?

Peter Gozinya About 12 days ago
Report
1. Name *
2. Email *
3. Reason *
this details very valuable for us actualy

major dias gunarathne Sat Jun 1
Report
1. Name *
2. Email *
3. Reason *
The Cruel Sea. Best movie ever on the longest battle of the Second World War; Battle of the Atlantic. How it wasn't on this list is inexcusable.

Mike Thu May 30
Report
1. Name *
2. Email *
3. Reason *
When I saw that Starship Troopers was on the list, I just forgot about the opinion and what I was looking for on this list.

JC Wed May 29
Report
1. Name *
2. Email *
3. Reason *