War films offer a powerful window into human endurance, strategic complexities, and the profound impact of conflict. For history buffs and general audiences alike, these movies provide a unique perspective on pivotal moments in history, from true stories of heroism and sacrifice to intense modern warfare thrillers and sweeping epic battles of the classics. They often serve as vital cinematic records, honouring the past while exploring universal themes.
To guide your viewing, we’ve assembled a list of the top 20 war movies, all meticulously ranked by their IMDb scores. This selection ensures you’ll discover highly regarded films that truly capture the essence of conflict across different eras. Whether you’re seeking historical accuracy or compelling drama, prepare to stream some of the most impactful war films available.
What are the best war movies for histroy buffs?
Want to know how we compiled this list? Our selection of the top 20 war movies is primarily based on their IMDb ratings, a widely recognised indicator of a film’s quality and audience reception. This ensures we present you with highly acclaimed titles that resonate with a broad viewership.
Beyond the rating, we provide a comprehensive overview for each movie. You’ll find details such as its original title, the year it was released, the director, and the main cast. We also include information on the streaming service it’s on in Australia, any significant awards won, and its age rating. A concise synopsis accompanies each entry, giving you a clear picture of what to expect before you hit play.
Warfare
War •Action •Adventure •Drama
Overview
A platoon of Navy SEALs embarks on a dangerous mission in Ramadi, Iraq, with the chaos and brotherhood of war retold through their memories of the event.
Director
Alex Garland
Duration
95 minutes
Inglourious Basterds
War •Drama •Mystery •Thriller
Overview
In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as “The Basterds” are chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis. The Basterds, lead by Lt. Aldo Raine soon cross paths with a French-Jewish teenage girl who runs a movie theater in Paris which is targeted by the soldiers.
Director
Quentin Tarantino
Cast
Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth, Michael Fassbender
Duration
153 minutes
First Blood
Action •Adventure •Thriller •Mystery •War
Overview
When former Green Beret John Rambo is harassed by local law enforcement and arrested for vagrancy, the Vietnam vet snaps, runs for the hills and rat-a-tat-tats his way into the action-movie hall of fame. Hounded by a relentless sheriff, Rambo employs heavy-handed guerilla tactics to shake the cops off his tail.
Director
Ted Kotcheff
Cast
Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Brian Dennehy, Bill McKinney, Jack Starrett
Duration
93 minutes
Dunkirk
War •Drama •History •Action •Thriller •Adventure •Mystery
Overview
The story of the miraculous evacuation of Allied soldiers from Belgium, Britain, Canada and France, who were cut off and surrounded by the German army from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk between May 26th and June 4th 1940 during World War II.
Director
Christopher Nolan
Cast
Fionn Whitehead, Tom Hardy, Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy
Duration
102 minutes
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
Action •War •Comedy •Adventure
Overview
Taking place during World War II, the British Army assigns a group of competent soldiers to carry out a mission against the Nazi forces behind enemy lines… A true story about a secret British World War II organization; the Special Operations Executive. Founded by Winston Churchill, their irregular warfare against the Germans helped to change the course of the war, and gave birth to modern black operations.
Director
Guy Ritchie
Cast
Henry Cavill, Eiza González, Alan Ritchson, Henry Golding, Alex Pettyfer
Duration
120 minutes
Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant
War •Action •Thriller •Mystery •Adventure •Drama
Overview
During the war in Afghanistan, a local interpreter risks his own life to carry an injured sergeant across miles of grueling terrain.
Director
Guy Ritchie
Cast
Jake Gyllenhaal, Dar Salim, Antony Starr, Alexander Ludwig, Jonny Lee Miller
Duration
123 minutes
Recon
War •Mystery •Thriller
Overview
Four American soldiers in WW2, after witnessing the vicious murder of an innocent civilian at the hands of their platoon Sergeant, are sent on a reconnaissance/suicide mission led by a local partisan.
Director
Robert Port
Cast
Alexander Ludwig, RJ Fetherstonhaugh, Mitch Ainley, Chris Brochu, Christopher Crema
Duration
91 minutes
Over There
History •War •Drama •Action •Adventure •Documentary
Overview
In November of 1918 as World War I was ending, a unit of American soldiers goes behind enemy lines to find a lost platoon of African American soldiers.
Director
Steven Luke
Cast
Ron Perlman, Billy Zane, Jordan McFadden, Bates Wilder, Cody Fleury
Duration
28 minutes
Spitfire
Documentary •War •History
Overview
A feature documentary about the people and the planes that helped win World War War II. Through people personally connected to the events, the film investigates the story of how the Spitfire, its stable-mate, the Hawker Hurricane and its great adversary, the Messerschmitt 109 came into being during the huge advances in aviation in the interwar period—and then how the pilots fared in combat, three miles up in the skies over Europe, Africa and Asia.
Director
David Fairhead
Cast
Charles Dance, Mary Ellis, Geoffrey Wellum
Duration
96 minutes
I’ll Find You
War •Music •Musical •Romance •Drama
Overview
Inspired by stories of Polish musicians from the 1930s and 40s. Two young lovers, Robert, a Catholic opera singer, and Rachel, a Jewish violin virtuoso, dream of one day performing together at legendary Carnegie Hall. When they’re torn apart by the German invasion of Poland, Robert vows to find Rachel, no matter what the war may bring. His search leads him on a life-threatening journey through the heart of Nazi Germany, to a reckoning that Rachel may be lost to him forever.
Director
Martha Coolidge
Cast
Adelaide Clemens, Leo Suter, Stephen Dorff, Ursula Parker, Sebastian Croft
Duration
115 minutes
Persian Lessons
War •Drama
Overview
Occupied France, 1942. Gilles is arrested by SS soldiers alongside other Jews and sent to a camp in Germany. He narrowly avoids sudden execution by swearing to the guards that he is not Jewish, but Persian. This lie temporarily saves him, but Gilles gets assigned a life-or-death mission: to teach Farsi to Head of Camp Koch, who dreams of opening a restaurant in Iran once the war is over. Through an ingenious trick, Gilles manages to survive by inventing words of “Farsi” every day and teaching them to Koch.
Director
Vadim Perelman
Cast
Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, Lars Eidinger, Jonas Nay, Leonie Benesch, Alexander Beyer
Duration
127 minutes
The Last Full Measure
War •Drama
Overview
The incredible true story of Vietnam War hero William H. Pitsenbarger, a U.S. Air Force Pararescuemen medic who personally saved over sixty men. Thirty-two years later, Pentagon staffer Scott Huffman investigates a Congressional Medal of Honor request for Pitsenbarger and uncovers a high-level conspiracy behind the decades-long denial of the medal, prompting Huffman to put his own career on the line to seek justice for the fallen airman.
Director
Todd Robinson
Cast
Sebastian Stan, Christopher Plummer, William Hurt, Ed Harris, Samuel L. Jackson
Duration
111 minutes
The Last Time I Saw Archie
Comedy •War •Romance
Overview
Two Air Force friends have fun during their enlistment.
Director
Jack Webb
Duration
98 minutes
Wonder Woman
Action •Adventure •Fantasy •Sci-fi •War
Overview
An Amazon princess comes to the world of Man in the grips of the First World War to confront the forces of evil and bring an end to human conflict.
Director
Patty Jenkins
Cast
Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen, David Thewlis
Duration
135 minutes
American Sniper
War •Drama •Action •Adventure
Overview
U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle takes his sole mission—protect his comrades—to heart and becomes one of the most lethal snipers in American history. His pinpoint accuracy not only saves countless lives but also makes him a prime target of insurgents. Despite grave danger and his struggle to be a good husband and father to his family back in the States, Kyle serves four tours of duty in Iraq. However, when he finally returns home, he finds that he cannot leave the war behind.
Director
Clint Eastwood
Cast
Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Kyle Gallner, Cole Konis, Ben Reed
Duration
127 minutes
Hannibal Brooks
Comedy •War •Action •Adventure
Overview
A POW in World War II is put to work in a Munich zoo, looking after an Asian elephant. The zoo is bombed by the Americans and the director of the zoo decides it is not safe for his Asian elephant Lucy to remain there. So he sends Brooks to safety with Lucy. They escape and go on the run in order to get to Switzerland.
Director
Michael Winner
Duration
102 minutes
The Horse Soldiers
Romance •War •Western •Drama
Overview
A Union Cavalry outfit is sent behind confederate lines in strength to destroy a rail supply center. Along with them is sent a doctor who causes instant antipathy between him and the commander. The secret plan for the mission is overheard by a southern belle who must be taken along to assure her silence.
Director
John Ford
Cast
John Wayne, William Holden, Constance Towers, Judson Pratt, Hoot Gibson
Duration
120 minutes
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
Action •Adventure •Fantasy •Thriller •War •Drama •Mystery
Overview
A man named Farmer sets out to rescue his kidnapped wife and avenge the death of his son — two acts committed by the Krugs, a race of animal-warriors who are controlled by the evil Gallian.
Director
Uwe Boll
Cast
Jason Statham, Leelee Sobieski, John Rhys-Davies, Ron Perlman
Duration
127 minutes
Red Dawn
Action •Adventure •Mystery •Thriller •War
Overview
A city in Washington state awakens to the surreal sight of foreign paratroopers dropping from the sky—shockingly, the U.S. has been invaded and their hometown is the initial target. Quickly and without warning, the citizens find themselves prisoners and their town under enemy occupation. Determined to fight back, a group of young patriots seek refuge in the surrounding woods, training and reorganizing themselves into a guerrilla group of fighters.
Director
Dan Bradley
Cast
Chris Hemsworth, Josh Peck, Josh Hutcherson, Isabel Lucas, Adrianne Palicki
Duration
93 minutes
Eye in the Sky
Thriller •War •Drama •Action •Mystery •Adventure
Overview
A UK-based military officer in command of a top secret drone operation to capture terrorists in Kenya discovers the targets are planning a suicide bombing and the mission escalates from “capture” to “kill.” As American pilot Steve Watts is about to engage, a nine-year old girl enters the kill zone, triggering an international dispute reaching the highest levels of US and British government over the moral, political, and personal implications of modern warfare.
Director
Gavin Hood
Cast
Helen Mirren, Aaron Paul, Alan Rickman, Barkhad Abdi, Jeremy Northam
Duration
98 minutes
Frequently asked questions
For history buffs, a war movie often offers more than just action; it provides insights into historical events, military strategies, or the human experience during conflict. You’re likely looking for films that strive for a degree of authenticity and accuracy, explore specific periods, or depict the broader societal impact of war, beyond just the battles themselves.
Historical accuracy in war movies varies considerably. Some filmmakers dedicate significant effort to research, aiming to depict events, uniforms, and equipment as precisely as possible. Others take creative liberties to enhance narrative or emotional impact. We encourage you to enjoy the film, but perhaps do a quick fact-check if you’re interested in absolute historical precision.
Not exclusively. While our list certainly includes films depicting well-known historical conflicts and epic battles, it also features movies that explore modern warfare thrillers or deeply personal true stories set during wartime. The aim is to offer a diverse range of cinematic experiences within the war genre that will appeal to various historical interests.
Absolutely. Many streaming platforms host a wide array of war documentaries, offering detailed, non-fictional accounts of conflicts, historical figures, and significant events. While this article focuses on fictionalised war films, expanding your search to documentaries will provide even more depth for your historical interests. DocPlay, for instance, offers the best documentaries from around the world.
Our curated list spans a broad spectrum of historical periods, allowing you to explore conflicts from different eras. You’ll find films covering the World Wars, as well as more modern conflicts and classic depictions of ancient or medieval battles. This diversity ensures there’s something to suit your particular historical interest.
The IMDb rating provides a widely accepted, audience-driven measure of a film’s quality and appeal. By using this metric, we offer a trustworthy and objective ranking that reflects the general consensus of film viewers. It’s a reliable way to identify critically and popularly acclaimed war movies for your viewing pleasure.
It’s quite possible. Movies are distributed across various streaming services in Australia, and what’s available can change over time. While we’ve noted where each film is currently streaming, having subscriptions to a few major platforms will give you the best access to this comprehensive list and many other great films.
War movies often portray intense and sensitive subject matter, including violence and mature themes. We’ve included the age rating for each film on our list, which you should consult before viewing, particularly if watching with younger audiences. It’s important to consider the content and its suitability for viewers.
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