Patton
This American biopic focuses on the life and service of the iconic World War II tank commander, U.S. General George S. Patton. The film illustrates Patton’s military career, starting with his service in North Africa and continuing through the invasion of Europe up until the fall of the Third Reich. We’re shown how Patton’s harsh disciplinary tactics and brutish temperament would sometimes prove costly. Patton earned seven Academy Awards in 1971, beating out MASH and several other nominees for Best Picture. We’d be hard pressed not to include Patton on our list of best war movies of all time.
The Thin Red Line
The Thin Red Line depicts a partially-fictionalized version of the Battle of Mount Austen at Guadalcanal during World War II. A group of soldiers in C Company are brought in as reinforcements to secure the island from Japanese control. The film shows the different perspectives of each soldier, illustrating how their individual personalities shape their relationships with one another and impact their bond as a group. Like many films on this list, The Thin Red Line is based on a novel of the same title by James Jones. The movie features a star-studded cast that includes Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Jim Caviezel, and John Cusack, to name a few. Check out The Thin Red Line next time you’re in the mood for a solid, thought-provoking war film. It’s even in The Criterion Collection!
What other movies should we add to this list? Let us know what your top picks are for the best war movies of all time by leaving a comment below!
