The war movie is one of the oldest genres in film history, and has been used as both a way to document and comment on wars and conflicts since the advent of the camera. War movies made during the wars that they’re about often fall into the trappings of propaganda, but sometimes transcend that and become fascinating historical documents or exhilarating action-dramas worth remembering.
In the list below, we’ve collected 12 war movies — some propaganda pieces, some fictional narratives, and some documentaries — that were made and released during the wars they’re about. Note that these aren’t necessarily the best war movies ever made, as most of the truly great ones were made years after the war they depict; rushed into production without much time to reflect on the current conflict, many of these movies don’t reach their full potential. That said, there are a handful of stand-out examples of the genre that work the contemporary war situation to their advantage.
12 The Battle of the Somme (1916)
The Battle of the Somme is a British documentary film about the beginning of the Somme offensive, a battle that ultimately would rage on for nearly five months and result in over a million casualties. The film was shot and released before the battle had been completed, however, and has a very strong propagandist slant, meaning it does not very accurately portray the horrors of the deadly battle it depicts.
That being said, the documentary film is generally considered to be an important historical document, as it was among the first motion pictures to capture the trench warfare of World War I.
11 Went the Day Well? (1942)
Went the Day Well? is yet another British war film, though it was shot and takes place during the Second World War, and is only propaganda in part. It is a narrative feature about a small, isolated English village that becomes overrun by German paratroopers dressed up like British Royal Engineers.
Though it certainly was intended to inspire the citizenry of Great Britain to be ever vigilant and ready to tumble with Nazi spies at all times, the film notably avoids many of the trappings of other propaganda films that present an inaccurate, sanitized depiction of war. It is actually a very well-made and highly suspenseful thriller, with more than a few scenes of surprisingly ruthless violence.
10 Falling Hare (1943)
Falling Hare is a classic Merrie Melodies cartoon that pits Bugs Bunny against a mischievous gremlin bent on wrecking an airplane. This hilarious short film hails from the golden age of American animation, and takes place during World War II. Although it’s not a feature film and does not depict any historical battles, it provides one of the first motion picture portrayals of gremlins, the popular folkloric creatures that became closely associated with World War II aircraft and machinery.
9 The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943)
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp is a beloved war film about a veteran general trying to whip his squad into shape during World War II. Bookended by scenes set during World War II, the film eventually flashes back and takes us through the man’s amazing life, including his experiences in previous wars, romances, and a lifelong friendship with a German soldier.
Directed by hot-shot British directing duo Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell (commonly referred to as “The Archers”), The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp is a heartfelt, rousing, and dazzling adventure that outdoes just about every other World War II film made during the war.
8 The Most Beautiful (1944)
The Most Beautiful is a documentary-style narrative film about the daily lives of a group of female factory workers in Japan during World War II. The film is notable for being the second feature ever directed by legendary filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. Although it's not one of his masterpieces from his hot-streak “middle period” of the ‘50s and ‘60s, this early effort sowed the seeds of the class-conscious humanist drama themes that would define his post-war output.
It fits pretty solidly into the propaganda film mold, but don’t let that dissuade you from checking it out – The Most Beautiful provides a rarely seen and highly valuable Japanese woman’s home front perspective to World War II.
7 Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)
One of the best war movies of the 1940s, Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo tells the thrilling true story of the U.S. Army Air Forces’ first retaliatory air raid against Japan. Surprisingly gritty and realistic, this aerial actioner boasts solid characters and lots of exhilarating action. With a cast stacked with great talent, including Spencer Tracy and Van Johnson, plus fantastic special effects blended seamlessly with actual aerial footage from the war, the film is a must-see for wartime aviation enthusiasts.
6 The Story of G.I. Joe (1945)
The Story of G.I. Joe is a classic World War II movie about the true story of American journalist Ernie Pyle, who documented the experiences of a small squad of soldiers as they fought their way across the European front. Atypical for a movie from its time, The Story of G.I. Joe is unflinching in its portrayal of the horrors and chaotic violence of war. With a stellar cast loaded with Hollywood legends, including Burgess Meredith and Robert Mitchum, plus top-notch directing from Wings director William A. Wellman, this gripping war epic is one of the best to come out during the war.
5 The Steel Helmet (1951)
One of the many fantastic war movies from acclaimed director (and World War II veteran) Samuel Fuller, The Steel Helmet is an intense, small-scale thriller that focuses on a lost U.S. sergeant in the Korean War. Helped to safety by a young Korean orphan, the sergeant eventually joins up with a small platoon of soldiers, and they make an explosive last stand against the enemy in the shelter of an abandoned temple.
The movie takes time to flesh out its cast of characters, making each one relatable in their own way. The final battle sequence more than makes up for the lack of action in the first two-thirds, and is one of the most exciting “last stands” in war movie history.
4 The Green Berets (1968)
The Green Berets is a controversial war movie co-directed by and starring legendary actor John Wayne. Although The Duke starred in a number of great war movies, this one set during the early days of the Vietnam War was one of his rare critical duds. Heavy-handed with its pro-war politics (a very unpopular opinion both at the time and today) and stiffly directed by 1968 standards, The Green Berets, though commercially successful, just didn’t do it for most critics.
As Roger Ebert described in his 1968 review of the film, “At this moment in our history, locked in the longest and one of the most controversial wars we have ever fought, what we certainly do not need is a movie depicting Vietnam in terms of cowboys and Indians. That is cruel and dishonest and unworthy of the thousands who have died there.”
3 The Little Girl of Hanoi (1974)
The Little Girl of Hanoi is a Vietnamese drama film about a young girl trying to locate her family after her city was completely destroyed by a U.S. bombing. A fascinating contrast to Western media depicting the Vietnam War, this film provides both well-crafted drama and important historical documentation from a side of the conflict rarely seen by many.
Though it could be easily written off as a one-sided propaganda piece a la The Green Berets, the film is much better than that and should be used as a learning tool in attaining a more well-rounded perspective on one of the most devastating wars in human history. The film is widely available on YouTube with English subtitles.
2 The Hurt Locker (2008)
A must-watch movie from a prominent female director, The Hurt Locker is Kathryn Bigelow’s phenomenal thriller about an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team in the Iraq War. Full of intense action and stunning cinematography, this modern war movie revitalized the genre.
As Screen Rant explains, “Director Kathryn Bigelow is in complete command of her craft here, with The Hurt Locker subsequently winning six Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Picture; beating out some of the year’s most popular movies including Inglourious Basterds, Avatar, The Blind Side, Up and District 9.”
1 Restrepo (2010)
Restrepo is a great documentary film about and made during the War in Afghanistan. Directed by photographer Tim Hetherington and journalist Sebastian Junger, this gritty documentary is un-narrated and intended to capture the everyday lives of the soldiers on the front lines. Although some criticize it for its lack of message or commentary, others praise it for its candid images that speak for themselves. Either way one looks at it, it’s hard to deny that it’s a fascinating historical document.
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