Movies enchant.
They open doors to adventure; they pave avenues of escape; they provide glimpses of history; they cause laughter or tears; they are impersonal or very personal.
The power of film applies to military movies.
So, get comfortable and enjoy a chronological and cinematic look at American history.
American Revolution
A look into American history at some of the history surrounding the fight for independence.
- The Howards of Virginia (1940)
- The Scarlet Coat (1955)
- The Devil’s Disciple (1959)
- John Paul Jones (1959)
- Valley Forge (1975)
- Revolution (1985)
- April Morning (1988)
- The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
- The Patriot (2000)
- Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor (2003)
Pre-Civil War
Often overlooked due the looming Civil War, one film neatly captures the fight for the independence of Texas.
- The Alamo (2004)
Civil War
The deadliest war in our history, a host of movies offer perspective.
- Gone with the Wind (1939)
- The Red Badge of Courage (1951)
- Horse Soldiers (1959)
- Glory (1989)
- Dances with Wolves (1990)
- Gettysburg (1993)
- Ride with the Devil (1999)
- Gangs of New York (2002)
- Gods and Generals (2003)
- Cold Mountain (2003)
- Lincoln (2012)
- Free State of Jones (2016)
World War I
The war to end all wars provides material for movies, some of which are silent.
- The Lost Battalion (1919)
- Wings (1927)
- All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
- Sergeant York (1941)
- African Queen (1951)
- Paths of Glory (1957)
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- The Blue Max (1966)
- Gallipoli (1981)
- A Very Long Engagement (2004)
- Flyboys (2006)
- The Red Baron (2008)
- Beneath Hill 60 (2010)
- War Horse (2011)
World War II
No conflict in our history has led to more movies; many are classics.
- Went the Day Well? (1942)
- Millions Like Us (1943)
- Casablanca (1943)
- The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel (1951)
- From Here to Eternity (1953)
- The Dam Busters (1954)
- Attack (1956)
- The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- Paratroop Command (1959)
- The Longest Day (1962)
- Ivan’s Childhood (1962)
- The Great Escape (1963)
- Von Ryan’s Express (1965)
- The Dirty Dozen (1967)
- Where Eagles Dare (1968)
- Hell in the Pacific (1968)
- The Devil’s Brigade (1968)
- Battle of Britain (1969)
- Patton (1970)
- Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)
- Force 10 from Navarone (1978)
- From Here to Eternity (1979)
- The Big Red One (1980)
- Das Boot (1981)
- Come and See (1985)
- Empire of the Sun (1987)
- Schindler’s List (1993)
- Stalingrad (1993)
- Tuskegee Airmen (1995)
- Life is Beautiful ((1997)
- Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- The Thin Red Line (1998)
- U-571 (2000)
- Hart’s War (2002)
- The Pianist (2002)
- Windtalkers (2002)
- Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
- Days of Glory (2006)
- Defiance (2008)
- Inglourious Basterds (2009)
- Son of Saul (2015)
- Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
- Dunkirk (2017)
Korean War
Often called the Forgotten War, movie makers – both here and in South Korea — have not forgotten.
- Fixed Bayonets! (1951)
- The Steel Helmet (1951)
- The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954)
- Sayonara (1957)
- Men in War (1957)
- Battle Hymn (1957)
- Pork Chop Hill (1959)
- All the Young Man (1960)
- Red Scarf (1964)
- The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
- Marine Battleground (1966)
- M*A*S*H* (1970)
- The Last Witness (1980)
- Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War (2004)
- Into the Fire (2010)
- The Front Line (2011)
- I Die Alone (2013)
Vietnam War & After
The second longest war in American history and one of the most divisive, these movies are instructive and varied.
- Hearts and Minds (1974)
- Rolling Thunder (1977)
- The Deer Hunter (1978)
- Coming Home (1978)
- Go Tell the Spartans (1978)
- Apocalypse Now (1979)
- The Killing Fields (1984)
- Heartbreak Ridge (1986)
- Platoon (1986)
- Hamburger Hill (1987)
- Full Metal Jacket (1987)
- Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
- The Iron Triangle (1989)
- Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
- Casualties of War (1989)
- Indochine (1992)
- Forrest Gump (1994)
- We Were Soldiers (2002)
- Rescue Dawn (2006)
- The Company You Keep (2012)
- Last Days in Vietnam (2014)
- The Post (2017)
Persian Gulf War
A lightening quick war, it led to some great films.
- Courage Under Fire (1996)
- The One That Got Away (1996)
- Thanks of a Grateful Nation (1998)
- Three Kings (1999)
- Bravo Two Zero (1999)
- Rules of Engagement (2000)
- Love from Baghdad (2002)
- Jarhead (2005)
Iraq, Afghanistan & Somalia
The longest war in the country’s history, it has left the screen open for some very popular films.
- Black Hawk Down (2001)
- Turtles Can Fly (2005)
- Generation Kill (2008)
- The Messenger (2009)
- The Hurt Locker (2009)
- Restrepo (2010)
- Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
- Act of Valor (2012)
- Lone Survivor (2013)
- American Sniper (2014)
- War Machine (2017)
- Thank You for Your Service (2017)
- 12 Strong (2018)
As they say in the movie industry, that’s a wrap.
