The Hands-Down Best War Movies Of 2022

Netflix's attempt to adapt the legendary anti-war novel by Erich Maria Remarque seemed to be a daunting task, but it is clear that director Edward Berger was up to the challenge. "All Quiet on the Western Front" is a German-produced war film that depicts the horrors endured by a German soldier towards the end of World War I. It stars Felix Kammerer as Paul Bäumer, a 17-year-old warrior on the frontlines of France who is stuck in the endless war machine of a senseless conflict. The film also sports a fantastic supporting cast of actors such as Albrecht Schuch, Devid Striesow, and Daniel Brühl (known for his work in "Inglorious Basterds" and the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Helmut Zemo).

Fans of literature will know that "All Quiet on the Western Front" is considered of the most famous and greatest pieces of anti-war writing ever made, so it was essential for the creators of this adaptation to take that message seriously. It could easily have been transformed into a spectacle that undermined the themes of the story, but luckily this was not the case. Critics have fawned over Berger's interpretation of the text and its anti-war message while managing to maintain a compelling human story as well. "All Quiet on the Western Front" scored a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes with multiple reviewers praising its cast, writing, and aesthetic production of a timeless classic.

You may not have heard of this one, but it's definitely a movie worth checking out if you love non-stop action and thrilling stories involving black ops soldiers working outside the lines. Tarik Saleh's "The Contractor" stars Chris Pine as James Harper, a former Green Beret who is forced into private contracting work after being ejected from the military for drug use. After becoming a mercenary, he is pulled into a larger plot involving terrorism, intelligence groups, and betrayal along the way.

"The Contractor" is unique among other war movies on this list because it is not focused on a specific historical conflict, but rather on the clandestine operations that go on behind the scenes of the modern world. According to The Washington Post, nearly 53,000 contractors were hired by the U.S. military for deployment in the Middle East in 2019 compared to only 35,000 actual troops, with upwards of $370 billion in defense budget spending going towards these defense groups. So, in many ways, "The Contractor" is an interesting portrayal of what modern warfare actually looks like in today's world by fully embracing the role of hired guns as soldiers. Despite an unflattering 45% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, this film stands out as having a more unique premise than most.

Not all war movies need to show intense combat or firefights. Some only require a focus on the individuals (both human and animal) who are subjected to battle for the sake of their country, like "Dog," which is dedicated to the budding relationship between a U.S. army ranger and a military Belgian Shepherd who once belonged to a wartime friend.

"Dog" — also considered one of the best comedy movies of 2022 — is co-directed by Channing Tatum and Reid Carolin (both making their directorial feature debuts), while Tatum also stars as a war veteran named Jackson Briggs who suffers from PTSD after sustaining a serious brain injury in combat. He is tasked with taking a military dog, Lulu, to her owner's funeral and then eventually to a designated location to be put down.

The actor told Yahoo! Entertainment in an interview that the idea for "Dog" was closely inspired by his own late pit bull Catahoula mix, which was also named Lulu, who was diagnosed with cancer. The film was also influenced by the stories of real-life military K-9s who serve in active duty roles alongside their human comrades. Overall, "Dog" proved to be a critical hit by clinching a 77% Rotten Tomatoes score with critics and an even higher 89% with audiences who loved the touching story and conscientious portrayal of veterans.

"Devotion" is another entry on our list that combines two familiar elements of war movies: the 1950s and aerial combat. This film is directed by J.D. Dillard and stars both Johnathan Majors and Glen Powell (who also features in "Top Gun: Maverick") as two enlisted members of the United States Navy during the Korean War. They play hot shot pilots named Jesse Brown and Tom Hudner who go on to become some of the most highly celebrated pilots in Navy history thanks to their fearless actions during this conflict.

Using the Korean War as a backdrop, this film seeks to explore the nuances and friendship of two pilots who become reliant on each other during each mission. Brown and Hudner serve as one another's wingmen, which in pilot terms means they support each other in combat in pairs of two. This is a dynamic that also comes up a lot in the other big dogfight-heavy war film of the year, "Top Gun: Maverick," but in "Devotion," it is more focused on camaraderie than competition.

"Devotion" proved to be a surprise hit and received a 77% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics and an impressive 96% from audiences. Additionally, Katie Walsh of the Los Angeles Times noted in her review how powerful the film's story of wartime brotherhood felt for audiences, writing, "Tonally, 'Devotion' remains steady, never going for over-the-top emotion or sensation, simply seeking to express something authentically moving and human."

"Sniper: The White Raven" is a fascinating movie that depicts Ukrainian resistance against Russian aggression soon before a real-life invasion began in February 2022. Directed by Maryan Bushan, this film tells the story of Mykola (Pavlo Aldoshyn), a former pacifist turned icy warrior who is forced to defend the Donbas region of Ukraine from foreign invaders by becoming an elite sniper.

For obvious reasons, "Sniper: The White Raven" has gained significant attention worldwide for its depiction of Ukrainian resistance and heroism in the face of a threat that became all too real for the small nation. Interestingly, this movie began filming in the fall of 2020, well before Russia launched its attack on its southern neighbor. "Sniper: The White Raven" also features many actual Ukrainian military operatives in the film, such as members of the National Guard of Ukraine and the Rapid Response Brigade.

Thanks in no small part to Western support for Ukraine's fight against Russia, The Guardian applauded the film for its "noble attempt to honor the resilience of Ukrainians." On the other hand, some reviewers such as Tim Cogshell of FilmWeek noted that the story "is nationalistic, it's propaganda, it has a point of view."

Set further back in history than any other war film on this list is Petr Jákl's "Medieval" which takes place during the Hussite Wars of the early 14th century. "Medieval" is a Czech-produced film in English that stars big-name actors such as Ben Foster and Michael Caine as Jan Žižka and Lord Boresh respectively, who were involved in the religious conflict within Bohemia at that time.

For some historical context, the Hussite Wars were a series of conflicts preceding the protestant reformation where religious differences within what would become the modern-day Czech Republic fought against the forces of the Holy Roman Empire. This lesser-known event is deeply ingrained in Czech history and culture, so this film is a rare opportunity to see the devastating war that unfolded because of this event.

While portraying a unique piece of military history can be admired, "Medieval" failed to impress critics and garnered a meager 41% Rotten Tomatoes score overall. However, William Bibbiani of The Wrap argued that for what the film lacked in story cohesion, it made up for in exciting medieval battle scenes, writing, "'Medieval' struggles as a work of historical fiction, but when the action mounts, it's immersive and exciting."