Filmmakers often love to return to history to craft some of the most defining stories ever made on the big screens. However, there is one time period that has been often returned to in the world of movies: World War II. It shaped history to come, changed our perspective on humanity, and has inspired many to this very day to make changes. Obviously, because of the nature of World War II, many movies explore the darkest sides of humanity possible. But because of how popular World War II is, there are just many movies out there that cover it. So, we’ve compiled a list of the top ten best World War II movies ever made:
10. Jojo Rabbit
Jojo Rabbit is a comedy-drama about World War II that was written and directed by Taika Waititi. It was adapted from Christine Leunen’s 2008 novel, Caging Skies. Jojo Rabbit is one of the more unique World War II movies for its take on the war through a comedy lens, which does seem off-putting, but the movie does have an interesting premise nonetheless.
Johannes “Jojo” Betzler is a ten-year-old Hitler Youth member who finds out that his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in her artic. Throughout the movie, Jojo grapples with questioning his beliefs all while dealing with his imaginary friend — Adolf Hitler.
9. Inglorious Basterds
Inglorious Basterds is a 2009 film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. The movie tells an alternate history story of two plots to assassinate Nazi Germany’s leadership — one planned by Shosanna Dreyfus, a young French Jewish cinema proprietor, and the other by the British; however, it is ultimately conducted by a group of Jewish American soldiers led by First Lieutenant Aldo Raine.
Inglorious Basterds was praised for its acting and was one of Tarantino’s best performing films until Django Unchained in 2012. It’s got a comedic spin to it as well and features a cast of amazing actors.
8. Das Boot
Das Boot is a 1981 West German war film that tells the story of the German submarine, U-96. The movie is an adaptation of a 1973 German novel of the same name. The film follows the crew of the U-96 as they set out on a hazardous patrol in the Battle of the Atlantic.
The crew must contend with storms, dwindling supplies, and intensive battles at sea. It was praised for its directing and is considered a fantastic movie, with a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.
7. The Bridge on the River Kwai
A bit of an older title, but still golden, The Bridge on the River Kwai is a 1957 film that deals with the Pacific curtain of the war. British POWs are ordered by their Japanese captors to construct a bridge that is considered important. The POWs are at first very eager to sabotage the bridge and try to stall its construction. However, their commanding officers order them to work on the bridge without delay. The POWs must grapple with the morality of performing the work and potentially aiding the enemy.
6. The Thin Red Line
The Thin Red Line is a 1998 movie that tells the story of World War II from an American perspective. In 1942, Private James Witt is a U.S. Army fugitive who is living peacefully with locals in a small South Pacific island. However, he is discovered by his commanding officer, Sergeant Welsh. Witt must resume his active duty training for the Battel of Guadalcanal. Once Witt and his unit land on the island, they mount an assault on the Japanese troops stationed there.
The Thin Red Line deals with life-or-death, morality, and the pain of war and violence. It received lots of praise and was nominated for several Academy Awards.
5. Come and See
Likely one of the most difficult to watch on this list, Come and See is a 1985 Soviet anti-war film, which gives a very different perspective to World War II compared to many on this list. The movie tells the story of a young boy named Florya who’s village is invaded in Byelorussia by German forces. Florya joins a group of Resistance fighters and meets a girl named Glasha, who accompanies him back to his village.
When Florya returns, he finds that his family and fellow villagers have been massacred. The remainder of the film tells the story of his harrowing survival and the descent to despair that many in World War II faced.
4. Casablanca
Casablanca tells a different story about World War II, and it was actually released while the war was still ongoing, in 1942. The movie tells the story of an American expatriate who must choose between his love for a woman or helping her Czech resistance leader husband escape from the Vichy-controlled city of Casablanca to continue his fight against Germany.
Casablanca went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture and has been considered historically significant by the United States government. Plus, since the movie was made during World War II, you can’t get more of a raw idea of cinema then than from this movie.
3. Dunkirk
Dunkirk is a powerful movie that was directed by Christopher Nolan (Inception) and was released in 2017. It tells a story set in 1940 about the German invasion of France and the beaches of Dunkirk. Allied forces were trapped in Dunkirk and were slowly and methodically evacuated from the beach. The harrowing evacuation would later become a heroic mission that led to the safe escape of 330,000 Allied troops.
The movie won several awards and grossed $527 million in the box office.
2. Schindler’s List
Schindler’s List was directed by Steven Spielberg and told the story of a businessman named Oskar Schindler, who arrives in Krakow in 1993 to make his fortune. After Schindler joins the Nazi party, he staffs his factory with Jewish workers. When the SS begins taking and exterminating Jews in the Krakow ghetto, Schindler arranges to have his workers protected to keep his factory open. However, he quickly realizes that his doing so has also saved innocent lives.
Since it’s a Spielberg film, you can imagine just how powerful the movie was. Additionally, it was shot fully in black and white in order to approach the film like a documentary.
1. Saving Private Ryan
Saving Private Ryan is one of the most well-known World War II movies told from the American perspective. Starring Tom Hanks, Saving Private Ryan tells the story of a group of American soldiers who are tasked with rescuing a soldier by the name of Private Ryan.
Saving Private Ryan was so realistic in its depiction of the war and D-Day, that many veterans reported needing support after viewing the film.
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