The war movie is a classic Hollywood genre. These films allow us to visit battlefields from the safety of our couches and fight alongside heroic figures. War movies are often epic in scope, blending drama with explosive action. Many of them paint a harrowing picture of war, reminding us of the horrors and violence that come with it. Others focus on the aftermath, on the effects and conflicts that linger long after the war is finished.
The war movie has evolved over the years, thanks to improvements in technology, production, and even acting. Just compare 1930’s All Quiet on the Western Front to its 2022 remake. The modern war movie feels hauntingly realistic; you can practically smell the flames and taste the gunpowder. But that doesn’t mean that the old war classics are bad films. Many of them still hold up as well-done, quality epics. Some are even better than the war movies you see today.
When compiling this list, we classified “old” as any war film over 30 years old, so basically anything that was released pre-1994. Sorry Saving Private Ryan, you’re not old enough just yet. But these 10 war classics, ranked by year of release, meet our criteria and still come across as great films.
10 Schindler’s List (1993)
- Release Date
- November 30, 1993
- Director
- Steven Spielberg
Because of its iconic black-and-white footage, Schindler’s List appears much older than it really is. And that’s part of the point. Director Steven Spielberg shot this film in black and white in order to evoke the World War II era. But with its 1993 release, Schindler’s List does meet our 30-year criteria for an “old” war movie. And while it doesn’t feature any epic battle scenes, make no mistake — this is a war movie.
Schindler’s List shows a different side of World War II, painting a harrowing, black and white picture of the concentration camps that claimed millions of innocent Jewish lives during the Holocaust. As tragic as its story is, there’s no denying Schindler’s List is a cinematic masterpiece. Its black and white cinematography is beautiful, especially when Spielberg purposefully throws in flashes of color — like the little girl in the red coat.
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The film is led by unbelievable performances, like Liam Neeson’s empathetic Schindler and Ralph Fiennes’ ruthless Nazi. And if that’s not enough, you also have John Williams’ emotional score, emphasizing the movie’s most heart-wrenching moments. There’s a reason why Schindler’s List is regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made, a designation that it still deserves 30 years later — and will continue to deserve far into the future.
- Release Date
- June 26, 1987
You can always expect something different from legendary director Stanley Kubrick, and his 1987 war film, Full Metal Jacket, is no exception. Most critics and audiences agree that the first half of this film is the better half. This portion of the movie takes us through the U.S. Marines’ boot camp training. It’s brutal, it’s rigorous, it’s mentally and physically exhausting. It’s a different kind of war than we’ve ever seen on screen. Even modern viewers will be able to identify younger famous actors, like Matthew Modine from Stranger Things and Vincent D’Onofrio, who delivers an iconic, twisted performance.
The second half of Full Metal Jacket takes us into the Vietnam War, which feels like something we’ve seen many times before. But as a whole, Full Metal Jacket still holds up as a great film that stands out from the countless other movies about the Vietnam War.
8 Platoon (1986)
- Release Date
- December 19, 1986
Since its release, Platoon has become a classic war film. It won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Oliver Stone. Platoon is notable for launching the careers of multiple stars, such as Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, Johnny Depp, and Forest Whitaker. This alone is enough for movie buffs today to appreciate it.
Some of Platoon does feel a little corny and dated. Some of the acting and dialogue is stale, and Dafoe’s death, although iconic, is so dramatic that it might make modern viewers chuckle, especially since this scene has been spoofed so many times. But as a whole, Platoon still packs a punch that’s as explosive as its war scenes.
7 Apocalypse Now (1979)
- Release Date
- August 15, 1979
Francis Ford Coppola’s epic masterpiece, Apocalypse Now, is the definitive Vietnam War movie. It dives into the madness of America’s most infamous war, highlighting the psychological horrors that stemmed from it. It’s gritty, it’s harsh, and it’s brutal. Apocalypse Now is filled with stuff that will still make movie buffs today nod with approval, such as its masterfully shot opening sequence, its unique soundtrack, and its immersive atmosphere.
Apocalypse Now is also led by iconic performances that still deliver today, such as an intense Martin Sheen, a disturbed Marlon Brando, and a young Laurence Fishburne.
6 The Deer Hunter (1978)
- Release Date
- March 9, 1978
- Director
- Michael Cimino
The Deer Hunter follows a group of close-knit friends, whose lives are upended by the Vietnam War. Interestingly, it doesn’t just focus on the battles and the bloodshed. It also shows its characters before and after the war. By the end of the film, we see how every character has changed — both those who were shipped off to Vietnam and those who were left waiting back home — all of them struggling to adjust to normalcy.
The Deer Hunter is widely regarded as one of the greatest war movies of all time, and that’s still very much the case. Sure, the pre-Vietnam scenes feel a little slow, boring, and outdated. But the war scenes are still visceral and intense. It’s impossible for your heart not to race at the Russian Roulette scenes, which have become iconic cinematic moments. And audiences will love seeing younger versions of Hollywood stars who are still relevant today, such as Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and Meryl Streep.
5 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- Release Date
- December 11, 1962
- Director
- David Lean
Lawrence of Arabia isn’t the sort of film that you can put into one genre. It’s got a little bit of everything and spans multiple genres, from epic to adventure to biopic to, of course, war. Widely regarded as a cinematic masterpiece, Lawrence of Arabia is one of the most influential films of all time — not just for war movies, but for all movies, including those in the fantasy and science fiction genres.
Lawrence of Arabia is a 3-plus hour epic that centers on T. E. Lawrence (Peter O’Toole), an English officer who strives to unite the divisive Arab tribes and lead them against the Turks. This movie definitely runs long and might bore modern viewers at times. And some of it does feel dated, especially the film’s blatant whitewashing. But even modern viewers, who are used to lots and lots of CGI, can appreciate Lawrence of Arabia’s epic scope and production, which includes battle sequences, on-location sets, and thousands of extras.
4 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- Release Date
- October 11, 1957
- Director
- David Lean
- Cast
- William Holden , Alec Guinness , Jack Hawkins , Sessue Hayakawa , James Donald , Geoffrey Horne
The Bridge on the River Kwai might make some modern viewers groan at first. Another long war epic? And this one is about soldiers building a bridge? But it’s hard not to get hooked as you get deeper and deeper into the movie. Yes, The Bridge on the River Kwai is partially about soldiers building a railway bridge. But unbeknownst to them, there’s another group of soldiers who very much want to detonate this bridge — and they’re all on the same team.
The story culminates in a heart-pounding, messy finale that has you wondering if these two groups will realize they’re on the same team and actually blow up the bridge. It’s a great film that stands the test of time. Star Wars fans will also enjoy spotting Obi-Wan Kenobi — I mean, Alec Guinness — among the cast.
3 From Here to Eternity (1953)
From Here To Eternity
- Release Date
- August 28, 1953
- Director
- Fred Zinnemann
- Cast
- burt lancaster , Montgomery Clift , Deborah Kerr , Donna Reed , Frank Sinatra , Philip Ober , Mickey Shaughnessy , Harry Bellaver
From Here to Eternity is a World War II romance that swept audiencegoers off their feet. It features a love affair that takes place just days before the Pearl Harbor bombing. It received 13 Academy Award nominations and won eight major ones, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor for legendary musician Frank Sinatra.
From Here to Eternity can still sweep modern viewers off their feet with its classic Hollywood romance. But modern viewers shouldn’t come here looking for an explosive, action-packed bombing of Pearl Harbor. Or a happy ending.
2 The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
The Best Years of Our Lives
The Best Years of Our Lives shows a very different side of war. There are no epic battle scenes in this movie. Rather, it focuses on the aftermath of war. When the bullets stop flying and the war comes to an end, what does a soldier’s life look like when he finally returns home? The Best Years of Our Lives follows three soldiers who struggle to adjust to the world and find their place in it after World War II.
The characters’ emotional battles more than compensate for the lack of battles in this movie, proving to be more powerful than any bomb or grenade. The Best Years of Our Lives won the Oscar for Best Picture, an honor that it still absolutely deserves. Even by today’s standards, The Best Years of Our Lives is a beautiful, emotional story that’s sure to tug at your heartstrings.
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1 All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
- Release Date
- August 24, 1930
- Director
- Lewis Milestone
- Cast
- Lew Ayres , Louis Wolheim , John Wray , Arnold Lucy , Ben Alexander , Scott Kolk , Owen Davis Jr. , Walter Rogers
All Quiet on the Western Front is the definition of a classic, old war movie. Released in 1930, it was only the third movie to win the Oscar for Best Picture. And almost 100 years later, it’s still deserved.
Much like its 2022 remake, All Quiet on the Western Front follows a group of young German soldiers, who are excited to fight in World War I and bring honor and glory to their country. But their enthusiasm quickly fades when they’re faced with the harsh and gruesome realities of the battlefield. The film’s ending paints a grim yet realistic view of war. It hammers home the notion that there’s no glory on the battlefield — a point that’s still relevant nearly 100 years later.