50 Movies About World War 2 That Are Perfect For Every History Fan

Perhaps the most famous movie of the past several decades to be set during the WWII, Steven Spielberg used this R rated drama to put audiences right alongside the soldiers. At the time of its release, the adrenaline-pumping opening sequence became nothing less than a phenomenon, because nothing had ever so successfully made civilians understand what a soldier under fire has gone through. 

Featuring phenomenal effects that, at the time of release, were on the cutting edge, the film's intense visuals and an all-star cast of up-and-comers that would largely define the next decade-plus of film (Matt Damon, Vin Diesel, Ed Burns, Giovanni Ribisi and more) could be considered its heavy artillery — if it weren't for the heartbreaking, endearing, Oscar-nominated efforts of Tom Hanks, whose Captain is tasked with leading his men to find a young man (Damon) whose family has already paid the ultimate sacrifice for the country. While the events of the film following the opening assault are fiction, the real life inspiration behind the story is very real.

Based on the 1946 memoir of the same name, "The Pianist" documents the life of Polish-Jewish pianist/composer Wladyslaw Szpilman, who lived under the Nazi occupation of Poland. Far from the adrenaline filled scenes of combat that fuel most WWII films, Adrien Brody's Oscar-winning performance is characterized in somber, painful, often quiet moments of struggle as he does what he can to survive amongst a nation in ruins.

Beginning with the simultaneous invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, the Polish army quickly buckles under the combined attacks, with the nation falling under complete control of their enemies. Szpilman's home of Warsaw is soon transformed into a ghetto, with the Jewish population forced into subjugation and barred from most aspects of life. It is during this period that he witnesses some of the worst atrocities of the war at the hands of the occupying SS. The film continues, depicting the attempts to break the stranglehold on the city, eventual liquidation of the ghetto, and Szpilman's desperate bid to survive the war over the years.

Told from the perspective of a Russian civilian, this female-led film details the high cost of human life the war had on Russian soldiers defending their homeland and the immense suffering those left at home were forced to endure. 

The film begins with a young couple, Veronika and Boris, whose happy relationship is shaken to the core by the sudden declaration of war by Germany. Unable to see her love who has now been sent to the front, she vows to await his return. The dramatic escalation of the war and constant aerial bombardments eventually leave her both homeless and an orphan, subsequently forced to live with Boris's family. 

Her struggles continue after Boris's cousin Mark forces himself upon her, and eventually shames her into marrying him. The disturbing content of the film and its tragic ending make it one of the most dour films about the Second World War, yet its powerful message and filmmaker Mikhail Kalatozov's unique personal perspective make it one of the most worthwhile.

The best war films are those which understand that everyday people exist on both sides, and no conflict is black and white. Filmmaker Clint Eastwood embarked on an ambitious effort (particularly for a septuagenarian) with a pair of war films in the mid '00's, releasing the companion films "Letters from Iwo Jima" and "Flags of Our Fathers" that focused on the Japanese and American perspectives (respectively) during the battle of Iwo Jima.

The fighting over the island is remembered today as among the most difficult, pivotal  battles in Marine Corps history, as well as a stalwart defense by the Imperial Japanese in which the overwhelming majority fought to the death. "Letters" reflects these facts particularly effectively, with many scenes showcasing the tenacious fighting spirit by both sides, despite the Marines facing a well-fortified opponent and the Imperial Army knowing no reinforcements would be coming to their aid.

This Tom Cruise/Bryan Singer war thriller had him cast as, of all things, a German colonel serving in the ranks of the Nazis. This being Tom Cruise, of course, he wasn't all bad, as his Claus Stauffenberg had lost faith in the command of Hitler and other senior German military leaders and hatched a plot to assassinate the heads of the Reich, alter the future of Germany, and bring the war to an end.

The so-called "July 20 Plot," better known today as "Operation Valkyrie" in reference to the German emergency plan of the same name, involved an intended use of the German reserve army to seize control of the country, entailing the simultaneous assassination of both Hitler and Heinrich Himmler through the means of an explosive briefcase. 

As the film depicts, a tense back and forth between Stauffenberg and his co-conspirators nearly causes the assassination to never be attempted, however they ultimately decide to carry it out. The movie provides fascinating narrative backstory into how this bold assassination attempt was launched, and why it was never successfully realized.

As England faces off against Nazi Germany in the early days of the war, its seemingly uncrackable enigma machine remains a huge obstacle for the British military. Capable of communicating encrypted messages throughout the Third Reich, the opposition hopes to uncover its secrets and in turn gain a huge advantage. 

Working as part of a varied team trying to crack the code is Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), who begins to theorize and construct a machine capable of breaking it. But while his own detached demeanor draws the ire of his colleagues and threatens to derail the mission, it's hard to deny that his brilliance might just be the key to intercepting the enemy's most vital communications.

Although the film earned glowing reviews (and earned Cumberbatch an Oscar nomination), "Imitation" has since received some blowback for historical inaccuracies and not fully addressing Turing's homosexuality. Despite that, it effectively honors the man's contributions to the Allied war effort, and is greatly elevated by one of Benedict Cumberbatch's finest performances.

Another entry from Spielberg, "Schindler's List" predated "Saving Private Ryan" by five years, but makes an excellent companion piece.

An entirely different look at the war in Europe, this film is based on the real-life heroism of Oskar Schindler, a wealthy factory owner and member of the Nazi party operating in Krakow, Poland. As the war progresses and construction of the concentration camps are completed, the German high command enacts the last step of the final solution, with the violent liquidation of the Krakow ghetto being a turning point in Schindler's perception of the war.

Determined to save as many as possible from certain death, Schindler does whatever his wealth and status will allow, with the titular list being a number of Jews to be sent to one of his newly-constructed factories rather than the death camps. With striking visuals, incredible acting and one of the most important stories of the war to be told, "Schindler's List" is worthy of its distinction of the greatest war films of all time.

Starring Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood as Allied officers on a high stakes mission deep behind enemy lines, it's hard not to love this classic war thriller. 

After a senior U.S. Army general is captured by the Germans and held in a remote prison atop a mountain, the two leads are accompanied by a small team and sent to go undercover in enemy uniforms and infiltrate the compound. Parachuting into the remote German Alps as they make their way to the castle in which their target is being held, the mission quickly goes horribly awry, forcing our heroes to fight their way out if they want to survive.

Full of twists and turns, it soon becomes apparent that not everyone is who they say they are, nor does everyone have the same idea of their ultimate mission. While "Where Eagles Dare" is now over 50 years old, it still holds up as a great watch for any fans of war films — with a good bit of espionage thrown in for good measure.

Released in 1977, "Cross of Iron" is just as much about the war being waged on the Eastern Front as it is about the battles being fought within the German Army, particularly the divide between officers and their enlisted men. 

Jaded, battled-hardened Corporal Steiner (James Coburn) is at the heart of the story, as he becomes disillusioned with his leadership over the events of the film. Motivated only by a desire for personal glory, Steiner's corrupt Captain Stransky (Maximilian Schell) embodies everything Steiner despises about his leadership. Stransky, seeking nomination for the prestigious Iron Cross, is willing to do seemingly anything to assure it is achieved.

When Steiner refuses to corroborate a bogus application for the award, the divide between Stransky and Steiner reaches a boiling point. Amongst counterattacks by the Russians and the fog of war, Stransky makes a deadly decision in the hopes of exacting revenge on his uncooperative subordinate.

Inspired by multiple real-life escape attempts by Allied prisoners of war, this John Sturges classic was somehow only nominated for one Oscar (for editing), yet became a classic thanks to its thrilling sequences and incredible stunts — which also helped make Steve McQueen one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. 

Deep in German territory in the middle of the war, a large group of Allied prisoners begin to concoct a scheme to escape high security prison. Evading the suspicions of the prison guards and methodically tunneling to freedom proves hard enough, but they quickly realize once outside the prison walls that truly escaping the threat of the Germans is far more difficult.

Clever disguises, classic motorcycles, and heart-pounding deception powers the film, along with classic performances by one of the greatest casts ever assembled: McQueen, Coburn, Charles Bronson, Richard Attenborough, Donald Pleasence, and of course, James Garner as "The Scounger." Quite simply, it's one of the most exciting war films ever made.

Writer/director Samuel Fuller called upon some of his own real-life experiences in WWII for this film about the 1st Infantry Division of the U.S. Army (named after the distinctive insignia worn by them). Shot for a modest budget of $4 million and starring Lee Marvin and a fresh-from-"Star Wars" Mark Hamill, "The Big Red One" is stark, brutal and unrelenting.

The globetrotting epic takes viewers through many of the major campaigns of the European Theatre, through the eyes of a handful of American G.I.s. After fighting seemingly endless battles and losing countless lives over the years, the camaraderie shared between the surviving men only serves to isolate them from newcomers to their squad. As the war approaches its conclusion, so too does the time the men spend together, with a final scene bringing the entire film full circle with a poignant closing message. 

While the theatrical release is just under two hours long, the restored version (in excess of four hours) is well worth the watch if hardcore fans want to bask in Fuller's original vision.

Jack Palance, Lee Marvin, Buddy Ebsen and Eddie Albert star in this Robert Aldrich effort, one of the grittier films on the war, especially at a time of release that still leaned towards sweeping, romanticized efforts.

Depicting a U.S. Army Captain's downward spiral, and the grave effects it has on the men he's tasked with leading, "Attack!" unfolds in late 1944 as the Fragile Fox unit under the command of Captain Cooney (Albert) bungle an assault with deadly consequences. As the cracks in the unit reveal themselves, their cohesion is put to the test as the last major German offensive at the Battle of the Bulge puts Cooney's men in the crosshairs.

From writer/director Jean-Jacques Annaud comes this tale of a Russian and German soldier who turn the battlefield into their own game of manipulation, standoff and slaughter.

Despite sustaining the greatest number of losses during the war, it's not often viewers are exposed to films showing the Russian struggles during the Second World War. After a blatant violation of the already immoral German-Soviet nonaggression pact (which assured peace between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union), an aggressive assault by the combined arms of the German military made steady advances into Russian territory, finally coming to a halt at the city of Stalingrad. The battle, considered the single deadliest in human history with a combined two million deaths, is the setting for "Gates."

In a war defined by its inhuman acts of brutality, the defending Soviet Army here is shown to resort to the same barbarism as their invaders. Starring Jude Law, Ed Harris, Rachel Weisz, Ron Perlman, Joseph Fiennes and Bob Hoskins, the film may have received a mixed reception from critics and audiences (many unhappy with the disjointed central romance storyline) but it's still one worth watching.

Centered around the resistance to the Nazi occupation of Byelorussia, and particularly the life and exploits of Jewish partisan Tuvia Bielski, this Edward Zwick film tells a powerful tale about the human spirit.  

As portrayed by Daniel Craig, Bielski is shown leaving behind his former life, driven from his home and forced to take refuge in remote forests to avoid being discovered by Nazi death squads. He isn't the only one to have this idea, however, as increasing amounts of Jewish refugees boost his numbers by the day, amounting to a small but determined group of survivors. Relying on their wit and practical skills to get by, they at times go on the offensive against the occupying Germans and those who have sided with them.

Over time, the scattered group of partisans and civilians begin to form a makeshift settlement, which will persist until the war concludes. Despite mixed reviews, "Defiance" is worth checking out, if for no other reason than to see a rarely-depicted side of the war.

Set during the final days of the failed Warsaw Uprising, in which thousands of Polish resistance fighters attempted to liberate the city from Nazi occupation, "Kanal" shows the desperate plight of some of the last survivors as they try to escape certain death. With no option left but to flee into the city's sewers, the disorganized group of fighters are joined by a handful of civilians as they try to navigate the complex underground tunnels in the hopes of reaching freedom.

As they plod through the dark, maze-like sewers underneath the occupying German military, the group's cohesion begins to crumble and their numbers slowly dwindle. Succumbing one by one to injury and madness, the odds of any of them reaching the surface alive seem more improbable by the minute. Bleak, claustrophobic, and tragic, "Kanal" is a fitting film about a grim chapter of the war in Europe.

A biographic title focusing on the military service of Group Captain and British combat ace Douglas Bader, "Reach for the Sky" portrays him as a hero of the war in a film that would make the true-to-life figure much more recognizable. 

Joining the Royal Air Force long before WWII broke out, an acrobatic stunt gone wrong left Bader crippled, forcing amputation of both his legs. Barred from flying, Bader doubles down on learning how to use his prosthetic legs, trying to convince the Royal Air Force to let him fly again.

As the interwar period ends and a desperate need for pilots is soon realized, Bader once again applies, this time granted a command slot over a broken down, defeated squadron of pilots. While successful in both improving their combat effectiveness and leading successful missions over Nazi occupied France, when he is shot down over enemy territory Bader gets thrust into an entirely new struggle — to get home alive.

Written, directed and starring Roberto Benigni, once upon a time this film became an absolute phenomenon that led all the way to three Oscars. In the decades since, many have turned against its seemingly ill-advised desire to turn one of humanity's darkest chapter's into a comedy, but if you give it a chance, you'll see why it was able to cast a transcendent spell on late-'90s audiences.

The film follows the life of Guido Orifece (Benigni), an Italian Jew supporting his family during the ongoing war. After the collapse of fascist Italy and subsequent Nazi occupation, Orifece's family is one of many sent to the death camps. To shield his son from the true nature of the camp, Orifice tells him that their fellow prisoners are actually contestants in a game, with the prize being a tank. While such games protect his son's innocence in the face of untold atrocities, the rules Orifice tells his son to obey serve a dual purpose, keeping him alive and out of sight of the camp guards.

While it sounds near impossible to set a comedy during one of humanity's darkest chapters (just ask Jerry Lewis), especially in a way that doesn't come off as tasteless, "Life is Beautiful" excels at it.

Standing out from the competition, this WWII film might be a zombie flick produced by JJ Abrams, but that doesn't mean it isn't historically compelling.

Based on a story by Billy Ray ("Shattered Glass"), film asks and answers the burning question of what the war would have looked like if the Nazis counted the undead among their ranks during the Normandy landings. Stars Jovan Adepo, Wyatt Russell and Bokeem Woodbine are along for the wild ride.

Amidst the chaos and confusion of the airborne assault on Normandy, Allied soldiers push into enemy territory expecting to meet stiff resistance. What they don't expect, however, is the discovery of secret Nazi laboratories that have housed experiments resulting in an entirely new, dangerous enemy. In case the theatrical release poster didn't clue you in, the blood and gore filled "Overlord" easily earns its R rating.

Released just a few years after the conclusion of the war, this Gregory Peck classic flashes back to the earliest day of American involvement.

Following costly bombing raids of targets across Germany, a string of losses has left the 918th bomb group battered and demoralized. When outside forces investigate the leadership, they find that the group commander's careless attitude has spread to the rest of the air crews, leaving them ineffective. Newcomer General Savage (Peck) is tasked with improving combat effectiveness by restoring the group to its maximum strength, which proves to be an uphill battle.

Initially, the men rebuff his new command style, defined by harsh punishments; many of the pilots request to transfer out. When the time comes for those same pilots to carry out one particularly high stakes mission, however, their unity is put to the test alongside Savage's capability as a commander.

While most war films tell stories of battles won through sheer numbers and bravado, the conflict in "The Dam Busters" relies on scientific ingenuity to win the day. Based on a real life account of the film's main character (played by Richard Tood), it chronicles the exploits of the Royal Air Force's mission to destroy German dams, and the scientists who made it possible.

The real life figure of Barnes Willis (portrayed here by Michael Redgrave) is shown desperately trying to develop his theory of a bomb capable of bouncing on water. He theorizes that his invention would be key to dealing a devastating blow to the German war effort, thanks to its ability to knock out their industry — yet his superiors refuse to support the concept. 

Turning to a senior member of the same bomber forces that would use the new weapon, he finally gets the support he needs to make it a reality. After a number of setbacks and dangerous training runs to test the equipment, the high stakes assault is carried out — and the results may surprise you.

Notable for kickstarting the career of Christian Bale at age 13, the future star's first major role is as much a story about the wider war as it is a coming of age tale.  

"Empire of the Sun" serves as one of multiple films Spielberg has made with war as a backdrop, and was nominated for six Oscars, yet somehow stands today in the shadows of his other works. Nevertheless, it deserves to be seen.

Depicting the son of a wealthy family of British transplants living in Shanghai, the family's affluent lifestyle comes to a screeching halt as the Japanese invade and occupy the city. In the ensuing panic and evacuation, Jamie Graham (Bale) is separated from his family and imprisoned in an internment camp. While there, he learns how to survive, befriending a boy not much older than him on the outside who is training to become a Japanese pilot. Though the Japanese occupation is nearing an end, the imprisonment will leave him forever changed — if he can make it out alive.

While many war films focus on the lives of soldiers actively fighting across the world, not every hero on the WWII battlefield was eager to pick up a rifle and kill. "Hacksaw Ridge" explores the roots of one conscientious objector, decades before the term would be popularized in regards to Vietnam.

Andrew Garfield plays a combat medic who enlists in the Army after the attack on Pearl Harbor. While serving in the Pacific, he heroically saves the lives of 75 of his fellow soldiers without ever firing a shot — a feat of heroism that would sound like a flight of fantasy had it not been entirely true.

This Mel Gibson-directed film tells the tale of Desmond Doss (Garfield), with supporting turns by Sam Worthington, Teresa Palmer and Hugo Weaving. During his training and subsequent deployment to the Pacific, religious convictions made Doss the target of both verbal and physical abuse by his peers. But despite the demeaning environment and accusations of cowardice, his persistence and loyalty to faith paid off, both to the men he saved and himself, earning a Medal of Honor.

As you might expect, a film named after one of the greatest American generals in history would be entirely focused on his life, particularly during the conflict that made him so renowned. This bombastic winner of 7 Oscars (including best picture) also manages to be one of the greatest biopics ever made. 

Beginning with a rousing speech by the American general (which has become an iconic moment in American cinema) that transitions into his time in Africa battling German counterpart Erwin Rommel, audiences follow his military career through its major beats all the way until the end of the war. Just as important to the on screen battles, however, is an in-depth examination of the personal life of the man behind the uniform.

While he may have been one of the most skilled and revered generals in American history, it doesn't mean that he wasn't a controversial figure. Known for speaking his mind and getting himself into trouble, "Patton" reflects this by showing him frequently butting heads with his colleagues, and even speaking out against the country he fought to protect in the film's powerful closing sequence.

Far away from adrenaline-driven scenes of warfare action and atrocities, this Anthony Minghella classic tells an intimate love story with the world-consuming conflict as its backdrop. 

Dominating the Oscars with nine wins, Ralph Fiennes stars as the titular patient, recovering in a monastery in Italy from a brutal injury that has left him unable to even recall his own name.

Told almost entirely through flashbacks to the time before his injury, the Fiennes character recalls the events that led him to where he is now, beginning with an expedition in the late '30s to the Sahara. Once there, he began a love affair with one of his fellow explorers, complicated by her status as a married woman. As he recalls the subsequent events to the nurse caring for him, she develops feelings for a British soldier stationed at the monastery, which draws parallels to the patient's tragic story. 

Considered by some to be one of the best love stories ever put to film, "The English Patient" is a different type of war film, but one no less worthy of your time.

Nearly three hours in epic length and worth every moment, "A Bridge too Far" is a sprawling war epic featuring nearly every '70s male actor you could name and set during the late war operation Market Garden. It truly has to be seen to be believed.

As if being written by William Goldman and directed by Richard Attenborough weren't pedigree enough, the films features appearances by Sean Connery, Ryan O'Neal, Michael Caine, Laurence Olivier, Anthony Hopkins, James Caan, Robert Redford, Elliott Gould and an intense (if horribly cast) Gene Hackman as the Polish commander of a parachute brigade who possesses confusing marching orders and an even more perplexing accent. 

Early in the film, the multinational Allied offensive sets an intended goal of securing a path into German territory through the Netherlands by means of massive airborne assaults, followed by marching up roads to take command of key bridges. Expecting to meet little resistance (despite one soldier who presents early evidence to the contrary), the operation forges ahead, with disastrous consequences for the Allies. Now deposited behind enemy lines with rapidly diminishing supplies, "Bridge" hops back and forth between multiple storylines, depicting the soldier's desperate attempts to get the mission back on track.

A triumph in both set design and practical effects, some may find the sheer number of storylines the film simultaneously juggles to be too ambitious; Caan is over here waving guns at commanding officers, Hopkins has taken over an old lady's house and has his troops tearing it apart bullet by bullet, while Gould is building bridges and chomping on cigars — and almost all of these people never meet each other on-screen. Despite such an odd framework, however, each and every superstar delivers solid acting, and the film's sheer spectacle (expansive air drop scenes and shots of hundreds of soldiers with infantry equipment will make you wonder how this budget could have ever been bankrolled) make it an impossible film to look away from. War is hell — and so, it seems, must have been the "Bridge" line budget.