Top 20 Most Accurate War Movies

[@WatchMojo]

Were there any war movies left on the cutting room floor of this list? Let us know in the comments below. Were there any war movies left on the cutting room floor of this list? Let us know in the comments below. For more content like this, click here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaKQpKqGbbCIj5Y Become a channel member to get access to special perks: kzbin.info/door/aWd5_7JhbQBe4dknZhsHJgjoin

[@ElikongIsLit]

Ok

[@frednich9603]

the fact that tora tora tora isn't on this list makes the rest of it invalid.

[@stephaniedouglasaviewfroma9596]

The Battle of Waterloo!!! Saw it as a teenager. Forty five years later, it’s still impactful.

[@Prussian_Forever]

I personally believe that Gettysburg (1993) should have made the list.

[@EJAbacco]

Midway

[@codyhiginbotham6616]

The D-Day scene is a major example of why they say “You can take a man out of the war, but you can’t take the war out of a man”

[@dandann8237]

my father in law was on sword beach (British) on D-day, he said it was pretty close to his experience

[@ShawnJamms-uk9gi]

That's why Rambo said it too.

[@nicolelawless9942]

The Normandy scene is very intense and it took me a week to get past the beach scene, it calmed down so much

[@terrymajewski8028]

A neighbor and D-Day vet the only thing missing was the smell!

[@chrisfelan2665]

Which war were yall fighting in?

[@joeandpaulacorsi3693]

As a veteran that served in the Marines as a radio operator in Viet Nam in 1967/68 I watch movies about Nam and judge them for accuracy like I suppose many vets do, Most movies get a lot of life {and death} pretty accurate. The one area they fall short in is the age of the warriors. Most movies the actors are in there late 20s or 30s. The vast majority of soldiers were 18 to 20. Much younger than portrayed. Try to picture kids that young thrown into that chaos. I am thankful every day I am here. So many didn't get a life at all. Semper Fi.

[@NateWhitelock]

Welcome home

[@joeandpaulacorsi3693]

@@NateWhitelock thanks

[@but24God]

You're right about the age of troops. I was "the old guy" in Army Basic in 1971 at age 20. Most in my training company were 18 & 19. Five months later, I was diverted from my orders to Vietnam as a Radio Operator and reassigned to that transfer point working with soldiers returning after their RVN tour. Many were still under 20 when returning. Yeah, Hollywood does miss ages big time.

[@SirNerdTheThird5143]

Movie Stamps: 0:41 All Quiet on the Western Front (20) 1:34 The Thin Red Line(19) 2:34 Hacksaw Ridge(18) 3:30 Master and Commander(shortened to save time)(17) 4:30 Rescue Dawn(16) 5:24 Full Metal Jacket(15) 6:25 Lone Survivor(14) 7:26 Paths of Glory(13) 8:29 Stalingrad(12) 9:27 Downfall(11) 10:19 Dunkirk(10) 11:19 Das Boot(9) 12:24 1917(8) 13:28 "We were soldiers"(7) 14:23 Glory (6) 15:21 Come and See(5) 16:25 Platoon (4) 17:34 Black Hawk Down(3) 18:32 Letters from Iwo Jima (2) 19:49 Saving Private Ryan(1)

[@Rvj.12]

You are a hero. You might not know but you are a hero. These evil channels don’t put stamps in their videos so that watchers have to see whole videos and make money but people like you comes and saves our time by putting stamps in comment and they might delete your comment but we will rise up again in another videos another channel another time. HERO.

[@ashwinidesai4051]

Thanku very much, bruh!! Now, I don't have to see the whole video!! 🤣🤣

[@maimayoush3285]

The most kind amazing comment which I was scrolling down to find it , thanks a lot 😊

[@rolando6962]

Thak you very much

[@hamster5158]

Gigachad

[@thomasblersch6839]

Eastwood telling the story of Iwo Jima from both perspectives in two completely different films shot nearly simultaneously and released back-to-back is one of the most brilliantly ambitious pieces of film-making I can remember.

[@ecoideazventures6417]

Wow! how was the reception to these two movies? Never heard of them here in India!

[@terrenceolivido741]

Eastwood is a legend for all the best reasons.

[@DarthTrader707]

Flags of Our Fathers was very good. Ironic that the author of the book, writing to honor his father, one of the flag raisers, created a sensation for the flag raisers that ended up leading to an investigation that proved his father was, in fact, NOT one of the flag raisers, after all. I loved that the movie shone a light on the tragic story of Ira Hayes, one of the flag raisers. Heck, his story was so compelling, Bob Dylan actually wrote a song about him...."The Ballad of Ira Hayes."

[@Andrew-df1dr]

Letters from Iwo Jima is extremely underrated. It is far more interesting, enjoyable and has a better cast and script than Flags of our Fathers.

[@SuperLisalis]

Johnny Cash​@@DarthTrader707.

[@BastionMainHere]

Bro the original "all quiet on the western front" had ACTUAL GERMAN WAT VETS both direct,star and play as the background characters. The original movie was so powerful that the NAZI REGIME BANNED IT. The original all quiet on the western front SOLOS NO QUESTION.

[@dylansalazar1226]

It shows are poorly researched this channel is

[@suzybean13]

I think all quiet on the western front should be top 3. Gruesome and it really shows how war is hell

[@dgcingo1563]

Sorry but if you refer as the "original" movie to that of 1930 (the novel from E. M. Remarque was just written in 1929), that is really a very fine and "powerful" classic but an American production (Universal Studios) casting american actors... (Lew Ayres and Louis Wolheim as leading actors) and directed by Lewis Milestone... some real veterans were actually used only as advisors or for background roles in mass scenes..

[@davidbarr9343]

Agree.😀

[@bowelrupture]

@@dylansalazar1226 top 4 all American. of course.

[@batR2]

I’m shocked that Waterloo, Tora Tora Tora, or Gettysburg didn’t make the list, all 3 are incredibly accurate, especially Tora Tora Tora

[@mikebrase5161]

The charge of the Scots Grey's in Waterloo will never be seen in that form on screen again. They were actual Cossacks riding as the extras.

[@crunkwhitey59]

I was going to name all of these myself. Never seen Waterloo, but Tora Tora Tora, Gettysburg, and Gods and Generals are ones that should have been on the list or at least considered more heavily.

[@Pospolite-Ruszenie]

A bridge too far is also a great and historically accurate film.

[@theend9494]

Waterloo, Zulu, Zulu Dawn, Sink the Bismark, The Dam Busters, The longest Day ,A Bridge too Far, The Heroes of Telemark to name but a few

[@KK-fi6ms]

@@crunkwhitey59 Gods and Generals is about as historically accurate as 300.

[@codyhiginbotham6616]

With the Saving Private Ryan D-Day scene, you know it’s accurately recreated when veterans walk out of the theater because it reminds them too much of the real thing

[@chassan10]

3 of my great-uncles (2 in WWII Pacific theater, 1 in WWII European theater) and my grandfather (Korean War special operations) did just that.

[@lisakaz35]

Except bullets don't act like that under water, I believe.

[@coco2.2]

we all heard the stories but I still don’t get why they would wanna go see it 😵‍💫

[@lisakaz35]

@@coco2.2 I think it's akin to that Stan Lee scene in the Avengersfilm where he, a WWII vet (he really was one) scoffs at Thor warning him about a certain alcohol and drinks it (for the humor, of course).

[@PiratDunkelbart]

@@lisakaz35 I dont remember the exact working distance, but they tested this in a TV show once. The bullets stop after 1 or 2 meters, so you can survive being shot if you dive deep enough.

[@krisfrederick5001]

"Downfall" is absolutely stunning. Few films have ever portrayed Hitler on screen beyond just the portrait on the wall of generals desk. It's so intimate you forget you're watching a film and not a documentary, or even in the room yourself. The fact that it was actually made by the Germans themselves lends it an authenticity that can't be matched by anyone else, almost an admission of guiltiness. It's on par with Saving Private Ryan in every way. "When Trumpets Fade" is also great, BUT it had the misfortune of being released the same year as SPR. We have to mention Band of Brothers, it's not just a show, it's a 12 hour SPR.

[@MrPomdownunder]

I agree that downfall is a great film . Remember that Hitler was played by a Swiss actor...

[@thetf8142]

@@MrPomdownunderwho did the best portrayal of Hitler out of anyone ever Him being Swiss isn’t relevant

[@Andrew-df1dr]

Downfall is much better than Saving Private Ryan.

[@gooner72]

The Thin Red Line is highly underrated actually, the combat scenes are absolutely stunning.

[@Flyinghigh888]

I think "Das Boot" was the best war movie, every single moment was a sense of mystery and horror. Not much fighting actions but the fear of sunken to the ocean floor made audience very uneasy!

[@ATtravel666]

Watched it with my grandfather, a British WWII submariner. He said it was pretty accurate, for the crew being allowed to get away with drunken behaviour on shore leave to being depth charged. Though he did criticise the scene in which Joann the Ghost gives in to panic and heads for the main hatch because he said simply as he was a danger to the boat, any captain would have shot him dead and even though he had stopped himself for going to the hatch, the Joann the Chief Engineer would never be trusted on another boat.

[@jarrettowens6073]

​@@ATtravel666 I heard that of the 40,000 Germans who served in WW2, only 10,000 survived the war. For your remains to be in a steel coffin like a submarine, and never being found, or being found decades later is pretty terrifying. I don't blame them for being uneasy.

[@ATtravel666]

@@jarrettowens6073 The submarine service of all nations - except for possibly the Japanese and the Russians during the war - was the most dangerous branch of the armed services. They could be killed by anything be they mistakes, accidents, enemy action, friendly fire and even being rammed by an unaware surface ship. In order to survive they needed nerves of steel from everyone on board. Anyone who panicked was a threat to the safety of the boat. No one, would trust anyone whose nerves broke in that way. If the captain did not shoot him dead, he would be drummed out of the service. Feeling uneasy did not enter into it. To be scared was in itself dangerous to the safety of the boat. They underwent rigorous selection and training and they would be failed for being uneasy.

[@trinaq]

I appreciated that Jarhead subverted expectations by not having much violence depicted on screen, compared to most war movies, and this portrayal is rather realistic.

[@Ziko577]

Other than the dark humor, I liked that movie a lot and even people who've I've spoken to online who are veterans have seen the film and they all agreed that it's as realistic as you can get.

[@crobeastness]

that was not on the list

[@And_rew92]

​@@Ziko577you can't have military without having dark humour.

[@ancrm1147]

@@Ziko577 Dark humor is part of military culture.

[@Matt-vs4zz]

That was my thought exactly. Jarhead was masterfully made. I wish it had found a spot on the list. I get they were going for movies that accurately depicted the brutality of combat. But that's not every warfighter's experience.

[@wwecoltsfan]

Just like Platoon, Dale Dye served as the military technical adviser for Saving Private Ryan as well as for the miniseries Band of Brothers in which he also played the character Colonel Sink.

[@Grandizer8989]

And made LOT Mohicans one of my favorite movies ever thanks to his expertise

[@lawsonjames1639]

He also used his training group for the making of "the Great Raid" which he portrayed General Kruger.

[@joegibson4946]

I had the pleasure of meeting Capt. Dye during a joint military exercise a few years after he retired from active duty.

[@nicolelawless9942]

@@Grandizer8989 And then Oliver stone nailed the 9/11 movie decades later, i love his movies because they’re so accurate

[@codyhiginbotham6616]

Saving Private Ryan should’ve won Best Picture. Period

[@timothyivey5497]

You got that right. When Shakespeare in Love was announced the winner, I damn near threw up my dinner.

[@roxy5588]

Absolutely. 🙌 Its that simple and why it did not two words: Harvey Weinstein. 😠

[@ashwinidesai4051]

@@roxy5588 He had something to do with it?? 😲😲

[@Idiotwriter711]

​@@timothyivey5497 so did my grandpa. He was there in real life

[@ronstallworth9421]

Not Weinstein in Love.

[@mikeurvand1]

I woud've included the movie 'Gettysburg' on the list. It's amazing!

[@ollo71]

Regarding accuracy Saving private Ryan should never be on first place because after the really astonishing filming of the invasion at D-Day the movie becomes more or less ridiculous in some scenes. Sad but true.

[@terrenceolivido741]

of course, i do not however think the scenes are ludicrous - at all - in any way ... having said that the requisite shilling for the holocaust fable - well it was relatively understated. in my comment above i only mention the first 30 minutes tho ...

[@richardmack4905]

"When Trumpets Fade" is an underrated and brilliant movie about the horrors that the Americans faced in the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest. Well worth watching for any War Buff. Very accurate and authentic.

[@JesusMagicPanties]

I mentioned this film here, too before seeing your entry.

[@joejusto3292]

Honorable mention: My Way (2011) after the ending, you can start up Saving Private Ryan and it’s perfect.

[@rhiannonelizabethirons]

Gallipoli deserves a mention. The arrival of the ANZACs on Turkish soil in 1915 combined with the sense of adventure that most Aussie soldiers saw war as makes for a truly powerful feature. Mark Lee and Mel Gibson were superb in selling the story.

[@paulboger3101]

It's remarkable that this film is not mentioned here, as well as Danger Close, and the Odd Angry Shot.

[@rhiannonelizabethirons]

@@paulboger3101 Odd Angry Shot is phenomenal. Although, I'm not surprised that an Australian film misses out. We miss out on a lot unless it's something really mainstream.

[@paulboger7377]

@@rhiannonelizabethirons It’s always the Americans can only tell war stories. They seem to forget there is the rest of the world.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

Gallipoli again. Anything to mention the Aussies who were not in NORTH West Europe on the ground which bugs then no end. Give us a break.

[@jmcg518]

My grandad was there on D-day, he was a royal engineer. He cried whilst watching saving private Ryan, it was that accurate

[@Spiralredd]

My Great grandfather was one of the few soldiers that survived the battle of the bulge

[@orgefen1300]

Only 27 minutes into the film. From then on its just regular Hollywood.

[@joshgarvinphoto]

interesting factoid: when the movie came out, the VA had to provide emergency extra staffing to their phone help lines because a ton of WWII vets were triggered and needed to talk to someone

[@ereinaldy20]

@@orgefen1300 that's a true story too for finding the soldier name.

[@nicolelawless9942]

@@orgefen1300 I got through the first 30 minutes of Saving private Ryan and I was forever traumatised by it, I recently watched in January 2024 and I’m a very sensitive 21 year old me who has a very soft spot for the war but after being traumatised by Come and See (1985), I knew my bonding with the war was fading away quickly but I did convince the war not to leave my side and it didn’t in the end. I love you war and those who died

[@sabrinamuddiman8527]

My Grandad Dennis was a War Hero,in World War 2 all over the world he was a Paratrooper.He was A War Hero,he saved a little girl from being killed.We all really Love Our Precious Grandad,Lot's OF LOVE & Hugs😍💙😇💞❤🤗😘🤗😘🤗😘 🙏🙏🙏

[@sergiofernandez7318]

Saving private ryan in my opinion, will always be THE pinnacle of war movies

[@jakealter5504]

It set a very high standard

[@Necr0Mancer666]

Jaw dropping depiction. Even modern war movies dont come close to this movie.

[@jakealter5504]

@@Necr0Mancer666 The opening 20 minutes of Saving Private Ryan is a rare instance where Hollywood actually tones down the chaos in comparison to the actual event and not the other way around

[@LeeRenthlei]

Most overrated war movies ever made. The opening D-Day depiction was a masterpiece but the rest were average Hollywood war movies.

[@wolfgangmozart187]

@@LeeRenthlei Ryan is easily the most overrated war movie. The entire premise is so removed from reality that it may as well be science fiction.

[@MaxHarrison797]

“The Battle of Britain” should be on here. Fantastic historic piece about the RAF defending the skys

[@edjaworski1956]

Sam Peckinpah's Cross of Iron is compelling. It's told from the perspective of the German soldier on the Russian Front in the later stages of WW2

[@ellenchavez2043]

"The Longest Day" is my favorite war movie. Taking both German and Allied events, the upper command and soldiers' perspectives, catching the horror and absurdities was masterful.

[@The_Republic_of_Ireland]

I'd add in, even as an honourable mention, The Wind That Shakes the Barley. Very accurate depiction of the Irish War of Independence and Civil War

[@akrinord]

Yes! Very much second that.

[@williamsweeney7954]

Yes!

[@thelobsylife5174]

Thank you for adding letters from iwo jima. I only ever watched it once but it always stayed with me. The horrors and bravery as well as blind obedience...all of it. It was such a good film.

[@Mortred99]

17:52 I love these archetypes in war movies. Especially knowing the fact that there are actual people like that, who're so used to the firefights, that they appear as if they're just garbagemen on regular work day. Lt. Spiers in Band of Brothers is another great example of this.

[@greggorybaker760]

Definitely missed on The Outpost. As an OIF/OEF vet, this was the movie that really took me back. Also, an incredible look at PTSD struggles.

[@gatormedic90ful]

Thinking the same thing. Shows everything you want from a war movie.

[@danielgranda896]

Could not agree more, The Outpost is a criminally underrated movie that deserves much more praise than it gets!

[@Puntobaby1]

I know Fury wasn’t on the list but I remember seeing it in theaters and a veteran started having flashbacks. He started shouting “no! no!” during the scene when the Germans overtook the tank. He was escorted out by his family/friends. It shook the whole theater up so bad that the manager offered everyone a refund or free tickets for another showing.

[@SonicGamerGirl2006]

Youch... 😬😬😬 I can already imagine how that scene brought back a LOT of painful memories of his experience... I hope he's doing okay. 😬

[@sandwormgod4771]

We who've never served just don't know or understand.

[@Vick_Lagina]

This is in my top 3 war movies.

[@gouravsingh520]

My 2nd most favourite war movie after Saving Private Ryan. Fury was just wow

[@patrickbrinkmeier2691]

@@gouravsingh520...Fury was completely unrealistic in it's story line. The implied forced sex scene, the combat scenes, the tank all alone scene. It was complete hogwash which is why so many veterans groups have trashed it. For non military people it's great Hollywood entertainment however. As a Marine Veteran my top list includes both war movies and tv series including Saving Private Ryan, Generation Kill, Band of Brothers, Midway ( the original version ), Full Metal Jacket, Gettysburg, Tora, Tora, Tora, Das Boot, The Pacific, We Were Soldiers, Downfall, Lone Survivor ( even though the ending is completely false and isn't what happened ), Letters from Iwo Jima, Black Hawk Down, Patton, Platoon, The Thin Red Line, and We Shall Not Grow Old all in no specific order.

[@bobkessler937]

Although a fictionalization, "Twelve O'Clock High" deserves at least an honorable mention. There's only one battle scene in the film, as it mostly focuses on an Allied air base and the effects of the war on the soldiers.

[@BigFella117]

“Only the dead have seen the end of war.” - George Santayana

[@MadIIMike]

None of those even comes close to "Die Brücke" (The Bridge) from 1959. It's based on the Novel of the same name, written by Gregor Dorfmeister, describing his experiences when he was 16 and a Member of the "Volkssturm" (a hastily recruited Militia with little or no training, mostly used as cannonfodder). If other war movies told you about honor, glory and what-not to be found on the Battlefield, this one won't tell you the opposite, it will pound it into you to the point you'll tear up after it shows a blackscreen and the message appears: 'This event occurred on April 27, 1945. It was so unimportant that it was never mentioned in any war communique.'

[@terrenceolivido741]

god bless you.

[@nachtschadedoggerbank1089]

One movie that could also be mentioned about normal people put in war (crimes) situation I would mention is the movie Hasenjagd (Quality of Mercy). Ordinary people volunteerly or forced to hunt down Russian POW's after a mass escape from Mauthausen Concentration Camp.

[@thewillofabeast9079]

Still baffles me that Saving Private Ryan lost the Oscars to Shakespeare in Love. One where Gwyneth Paltrow got an award when she had only eight minutes of screen time. Now I love Paltrow for her acting as Pepper in Iron Man and in other films. I think me being unsettled by the award is stemmed from Saving Private Ryan being robbed at the Oscars that year.

[@raymondhopwood9393]

At least Spielberg won Best Director, so it wasn't a total loss. BTW, it should have won Best Picture.

[@seatonmeade5282]

Gallipoli and Kokoda should be on this list.

[@scott2836]

it wasn’t Gwyneth Paltrow that had such limited screen time, but Dame Judi Dench. She won Best Supporting Actress with the 8 minutes of screen time. She was so good, but it felt like the other nominees got cheated. I liked Shakespeare in Love. But Saving Private Ryan should have won, no question. The lasting impact of the film is a testament to just how good it is.

[@Grandizer8989]

Another reason to hate Harvey Weinstein. He made sure that S in Love won

[@paulboger3101]

@@seatonmeade5282 and Danger Close.

[@MsUltrafox]

Missing a great accurate war movie on this list. Tora Tora Tora. That film is about as accurate as you can make it. And it has scenes that are not acted like where a plane goes off course and plows into other planes the men in the scene are truly running for their lives.

[@Nataft]

Das boot always be the most accurate ww2 movies all the time and you can't change my mind

[@paulboger3101]

Damn near perfect if you ask me!

[@grafsepp7955]

absolutely

[@williamsnell2078]

Should be more movies from the Germans perspective

[@davidperry7128]

@@williamsnell2078 There are plenty, but not usually in English nor do they receive the amount of promotion and media coverage of Hollywood films.

[@johnbiddle1829]

Kind of invalidates the whole list that it's put so low

[@JessCausey]

The 5 minute Dunkirk scene in Atonement is allegedly more historically accurate than the movie Dunkirk.

[@razorshark9320]

I love war films because some of my family has fought in the wars in American history. Numbers 19, 18, 16, 15, 12, 8, 7, 6, 4, 2, and 1 are my favorites.

[@OssiLehtinen2005]

Missing the unknown soldier.

[@mikko_kauhanen]

Im surprised why Unknown Soldier is not on the list!

[@metern]

The Norwegian 1948 war movie Kampen om tungtvannet (Operation Swallow: The Battle for Heavy Water) is the most realistic war movie ever. They even used some of the saboteurs playing them selves in it. Even the filming location was also filmed where the real thing happened.

[@martindoyle9993]

that was excellent... The Norwegians were awesome...

[@metern]

@@martindoyle9993 The Norwegian resistance fighters are the biggest heroes of the war in Norway

[@patinomaha1]

I was in the First Infantry Division when Saving Private Ryan came out. The commander had us go as a unit to watch on base.

[@nicolelawless9942]

I only watch it for the Normandy scene and it’s so accurate. The movie gives me Call of Duty WW2 vibes

[@jamesr4464]

I was in the 1st Armored Division when it came out.

[@jamesr4464]

I served in the Big Red One in Desert Storm.

[@patinomaha1]

@@jamesr4464 Germany or Ft. Riley?

[@randydalmas]

It's too bad that Band of Brothers is a mini-series and not a movie, since that is one of the best depictions of military life on film. This list leans towards recent films, which is understandable since CGI and other recent improvements add to the realism compared to older films. I would add the films "Battle of Britain" for its amazing aerial sequences, "Fury" for its use of historic vehicles, and "Decision Before Dawn" for using actual locations (and destruction) in Germany right after the war.

[@Piece-Of-Time]

Actually, I'm greateful that BOB is a series instead of movie

[@leviticuspagelus]

They need a list like this for television miniseries. Gettysburg, Gods and Generals were amazingly accurate for the Civil War. Band of Brothers and The Pacific are on equal footing with Saving Private Ryan.

[@stephencooper3583]

"Band of Brothers" was amazing. Also, "Generation Kill" was a good portrayal of Marines in Iraq.

[@SarsTheSecond]

Tora, Tora, Tora!

[@NoiselessBob]

Gods and Generals? Not trying to be a dick but totally absolutely historical garbage, southern revisionist bs, sorry…I do love Gettysburg though

[@James-zg2nl]

Saving Private Ryan is pure propaganda. Highly entertaining propaganda but it’s not at all historically accurate. Ranking it with Band of Brothers and the Pacific is an insult to them.

[@rechnin6680]

Have you ever seen either version of The Dawns Gere Are Quiet? The origina is prebabaly the better of the two.

[@jandreid2023]

Honourable mention: Greyhound. The sea battle scenes has my retired father who's a former navy captain got nostalgic while watching the movie.

[@Spiralredd]

The patriot is actually pretty realistic too

[@SnidgetAsphodel]

Loved that movie.

[@RonJeremy514]

That movie was horseshit

[@LeeRenthlei]

Waterloo (1970) deserves a top 10 spot!

[@Joel-StevenVoicedude]

My dad was one of the Chosen Few survived the battle at Chosin, Korea (ask a Marine). I took him to see Apocalypse Now at the Cineramadome Hollywood when it opened and afterwards he got as far as the car before he broke down. First time I saw him cry; first time he opened up about wartime. Later he would find healing in a band of brothers survivors group called the Chosen Few, which he would even become President of and deliver the press covered Keynote Address at Riverside National (Arlington West) one Memorial Day. Years later I took him to another war movie: Saving Private Ryan. When it was over he put on his sunglasses before exiting the theater and said - and I have never fogotten this: "I think that's the closest you civilians will ever come to experiencing real warfare." To his son...

[@nkt0811]

here's my honorable mentions: Taegukgi The Unknown Soldier The Longest Day

[@stephenrussell1612]

Taegukgi should be top 5

[@awol354]

Winter War. Unknown Soldier. Tali Ihantala 1944.

[@nachtschadedoggerbank1089]

Unknown Soldier is indeed a good one, both old and new version, but sadly they are series. But I would vote for that. For a movie I would vote for one like Siege of Jadotville The East My Way

[@seppokoponen3836]

Unknown soldier is a movie, actually there are three versions of it, and all of them are great. Perhaps that newest one is most accurate.

[@michaeld1170]

They need to make more movies like this. Black hawk down and Saving Private Ryan are absolute gems

[@Starwars40215]

Would've liked to see, "Gettysburg" on the list. Although unknown to most, I saw it twice at the old Cinedome in Orange, California back in 1993. Great cast, acting, battle scenes, and even filmed on location. Gettysburg is a True Epic!!

[@MrRonco828]

I would have to add a movie called"The Boys of Company C " to the list. It had Stan Shaw and F Lee Emery and was pretty accurate in it's telling of the Vietnam War

[@t-dogtyler3626]

I did a history project for Saving Private Ryan in high school. Here's some facts about there D-Day scene/real battle as well. 1) PTSD and the sea sickness was beyond truthful. 2) Of the 1,500 extras, some were part of the Irish Army Reserves 3) 20-30 amputees are seen within the D-Day scene. All of whom lost there real limb(s) in a real war. 4) Two of those landing boats were at the real battle. 5) Charles Schulz (creator of Charlie Brown) both fought at Omaha beach. 6) The movie was inspired by a similar true story of the Niland brothers. Their names were Fredrick (the brother James Ryan resembles) and Edward, Robert, and Preston. Edward's plane was shot down, Robert died by a heavy gun fight, and Preston shot and killed the next day as well. However, when the war ended in 1945. Preston was found alive and held captive at a Japanese POW camp. He safety made it back home. Those are some facts that I learned about Saving Private Ryan's DDay that I wished to share

[@matryoshkadoll]

Originally, the landings were supposed to happen on the 5th of June, but the weather conditions were not right. They needed a clear sky and calmer waters, so they delayed by 24 hours. I think rather than PTSD, you are thinking about the 'shellshock' that To Hanks displayed. PTSD happes later, hence the name Post Traumatic. Other than that... Some really good points. Well done!

[@wreynolds1701]

Sam Fuller’s “The Big Red One” deserves to be included.

[@J.RussellJeffery]

After Full Metal Jacket in the 80's, my stepfather's abuse included changing my name to Numb Nuts. Still, I love R. Lee Ermy!

[@OLICIT]

This list is missing Danger Close, the battle of Long Tan and the truly excellent Beneath Hill 60, two brilliant Australian films

[@paulboger3101]

Gallipoli and the Odd Angry Shot as well.

[@Trey_816]

My dad is an Afghanistan veteran, and he says that Black Hawk Down is very accurate in how it depicts urban warfare.

[@lordgallo4213]

Black hawk down incident took place in mogadushu, somalia africa,

[@Trey_816]

@@lordgallo4213 I know that. What I'm saying is that Dad likes how he urban combat in depicted.

[@chrissyswauger5805]

Hacksaw Ridge should be higher on the list. It's an amazing movie. And yes shows what the soldiers went through

[@davidswift7776]

I’ve always regarded “ The Longest Day” as authentic and compelling.

[@gobigten01]

Great list! Two things: One, I'm glad you didn't have Apocalypse Now on your list. Though it's a very good movie, I feel like it's a psychological thriller, not a war movie. And two, I feel like Fury should have been somewhere there, but at the same time, I don't know which ranked movie it would replace.

[@syndicategaming1668]

Fury apparently sucks. I liked it, but many critics say it’s incredibly unrealistic

[@OllieHaworth-st2re]

My list 20: Where Eagles Dare 19: Fury 18: A Bridge Too Far 17: Inglorious Basterds 16: Dunkirk (2017) 15: Kelly’s Heroes 14: Full Metal Jacket 13: 1917 12: The Hurt Locker 11: The Deer Hunter 10: Force 10 From Navarone 9: Schindler’s List 8: The Dirty Dozen 7: The Bridge on the River Kwai 6: The Guns Of Navarone 5: Braveheart 4: Apocalypse Now 3: The Dam Busters 2: Gladiator 1: Saving Private Ryan

[@JBliehall]

Sorry, but too many of those you listed are really "War Cartoons."

[@isaacmartinez6904]

Funny that I saw nearly every movie on this list except Master and Command. That would be on my list of movies to watch.

[@martindoyle9993]

You'll love "Master and Commander" it's amazing...

[@nialloconnor6762]

Hamburger Hill was a brilliant Vietnam movie based on the actual taking of a hill.

[@andrewnewton2246]

It was ruined the character of Doc played by Courtney Vance. The character ruined the film.

[@glackinator_0459]

I think The Outpost should be on this list. It’s incredibly accurate to the Battle of Kamdesh and how the soldiers had to continually adapt to the awful situation

[@stephencooper3583]

Agreed, that was an awesome movie.

[@moralester]

As an actual "Combat Medic" The way Andrew Garfield acted, talked, everything was so non-human. Even if you were Ghandi himself, no human acts that way among peers unless you want them to think you simply care more than they do. In real life, you'd only be that way on the battlefield. None of it would have ever looked like that in reality unless you WANT people to think something about you. Not to mention, the obvious fact you'd just simply not use a rifle in the field. That's literally all it is. Just not shooting. Idk how they made a plot out of it. It's like he's acting like some "softer, holier than though better-human." It's so transparent watching him act what he's trying to portray. It really irks me more than any other performance, ever.

[@alanmacpherson3225]

Danger Close about the battle of Long Tan in 1966 during the Vietnam War is a fairly accurate portrayal. I've read a few accounts and the events in the movie are pretty much how it was. During the battle the L1A1 rifles were so fouled that the diggers had to cock them for every shot.

[@dj4everplaychillertheater584]

Let’s not forget the movies of, Schindler list, the pianist, and the hurt locker

[@retepoteil]

Jarhead should be on this list

[@anthonyeaton5153]

The Longest Day deserves a mention for its fairly accurate depiction and even spread of the action. Although the senior generals were a generation too old.

[@user-em6ie2be7x]

Saving Private Ryan, Platoon, & Full Metal Jacket these are the most accurate War Movies I've ever seen.

[@stuartsteedman1681]

Not that I'm saying you aren't so, but unless you've fought in a theatre of war, can one really rate something as "accurate"?

[@glendapeterson1180]

My husband, Vietnam 2 tours, came out of "Full Metal Jacket" laughing, and saying that Kubric needed to be in a war zone for a few hours. He actually walked out of "Hacksaw Ridge"; it was a little too real.

[@jamescraig6036]

R Lee Ermey was a drill instructor at MCRD Parris Island, SC, not in Vietnam.

[@misterramon7447]

YES! Glad someone else caught that! We DIDN'T ship noob US civilians to a war zone to train them THERE! It would be like sending high school kids to Normandy in June of '44 or Okinawa in '45 to learn all the ropes 'on the job'. The only D.I. you would have in Vietnam would be the ones training the LOCALS!

[@jamescraig6036]

@@misterramon7447 I would add that Full Metal Jacket was an extremely accurate portrayal of Parris Island during that period of time. In fact, I stayed in those exact barracks and marched on that exact parade field, known as the “Grinder”. If I was going to nitpick, there’s no way a recruit would still have his weapon the night after graduation. Pretty much after your final inspection the weapons are returned to the main armory and slathered cosmoline. The only other little thing would be that you rarely see more than just Gunnery Sergeant Hartman with the recruits. There are two assistant drill instructors, with the Senior Drill Instructor being signified by the black leather belt and the other two DIs wearing OD green pistol belts with a big brass Eagle, Globe, and Anchor buckle. In addition to identifying hierarchy, in wearing those belts they are considered to be, “under arms” which would allow them to wear their DI cover (hat) indoors.

[@MartinXBrina]

Honorable mentions: Valkyrie, Enemy At The Gates and Battle Of Jangsari

[@ThomasPalm-w5y]

Enemy at the Gates is not historically accurate, more a piece of Cold War propaganda. The initial part where only half the Soviet soldiers even get guns when storming the Germans may be good drama, but it has nothing to do with reality. The basis is a description of how Russian soldiers had to share rifles while training before getting sent to the front. Nor were the Soviets quite that quick to shoot their own troops for retreating.

[@Thomas-qr3zv]

Valkyrie was very underrated

[@Piece-Of-Time]

Enemy At The Gates? My ass is more historically accurate

[@Piece-Of-Time]

​@@ThomasPalm-w5ythey didn't even shoot them in real life. There were these squads in real life, and in fact, they were treating the soldiers that had to run. They could've shot the panickers, but honestly, who wouldn't, even Americans did this probably

[@lawsonjames1639]

To have left off Gettysburg, A Bridge Too Far, and Waterloo is perplexing.

[@tylerpurta1366]

I like to think the final message of the film when Tom hanks tells Ryan to “earn this” was a message from Spielberg to the audience

[@panzerwaffel5281]

I can't believe Stalingrad 1993 is so low. Do a goddamn historical analysis of entire fight scenes. The first scene is simply beautiful, the soldiers walk in visible groups, as platoons, the scene itself shows the entire battalion and beautifully (although not but) the fate of most German battalions in Stalingrad, the problem of fighting for the Germans. Soldiers also take covers, use smoke grenades and grenades in general, there is even a radio station and a hierarchy with a captain aka battalion commander and artillery and also showing another problem of fighting in Stalingrad, artillery attacks often attacked and German positions because the Soviets tried to be as close to the Germans as possible, an average of 50 meters from them. Also the film shows and focuses on the wounded, field hospitals and mainly them. Also on the illnesses of the soldiers late in the film. Well and more. Sorry, but I don't understand how it got on All Quiet on the Western Front list at all, because this movie has nothing to do with the historicity of fighting. And Stalingrad? Should be #1 or behind Saving Private Ryan.

[@Piece-Of-Time]

Western Front was literally written by WW1 vet and filmed by WW1 vets

[@mhyldon3239]

Waterloo should be in this list, the formations were made perfectly and no CGI as well. Piece of art

[@carlosdellepiagge]

Great work, guys!

[@rossbabcock3790]

The one mini series that struck a deep nerve with me was the Pacific. Not because of all the technical authenticity, etc. It's the 'extinguishing of one's soul' after weeks of combat that these actors got right! Rotten chow, crotch rot, monkey ass, scabies, lice, ringworm, immersion foot...you get it. Intermittent mail, sole of your boot is coming off and the foot of your last sock tore off. Then there's the smells. Rotten flesh, mold, mildew, open bowel, blood and infection. You want to cry and you can't. Try scream, nothing sounds. I could of gone the rest of my life without remembering that.....

[@coledavis258]

Enemy at the gate & windtalkers need to be on this list

[@wojtek1765]

For someone who loves history and war film I seen all these😂

[@kevinhealey6540]

A world war 2 vet told me that the scenario of Saving Private was very true. Sometimes it would happen that a unit would be in the middle of nowhere and the unit had to figure out what to do to stay alive. And sometimes it did come down to hand to hand. A cook told me that sometimes in France he would be called in and be put on the front line. "To hell with warm meals, let em eat MREs." He said that clerks and mechanics would be sent to the front as well when needed. Tony Bennett was on the Front in France and he said, "I had a front row seat to hell on earth." and "Anyone who has a romantic idea about fighting a war in the infantry, had never been in one.

[@mathewm6294]

Come and See feels almost like a horror movie, the use of natural lighting and the general feel is just so different. There is no heroic "save the villagers" moment or anything like that. It's just all a gallery of grotesque actions that men take against each other in times of war.

[@rmarieshen862]

this will laways be my number one. I have worked with modern genocide survivors whose families were killed in the same manner in the 80s

[@aidanberk3333]

come and see shook me to my core when I first watched it. Great movie but oh my it's a tough movie to watch

[@nicolelawless9942]

I’ve finally watched it after persuading myself not too. I’m shaken right now and very traumatised by it, i hope i don’t last out later today

[@nicolelawless9942]

@@aidanberk3333 The way the lead character Floyra I now love aged to 40 by the end. I’ll never forget it

[@rafanifischer3152]

My uncle participated in the Ia Drang battle with 1st Air Cav. His helicopter was shot down but all on board survived. He had already 14 years of service and wanted to complete 20. But that battle made him change his mind and he didn't re-up. RIP soldier.

[@3rdid73]

With out question, (To Hell And Back) based on real life exploits of Audie L. Murphy during WW II. Should at least be in the top 5 of all time. A true and well done story, book then movie. Standing 5'- 6" tall, and 140lbs he was turned downed by the Marines and Navy because of his size upon trying to enlist. Was accepted as an rifleman (U.S. Army) 1/15th 3rd Infantry Division. He became the most decorated solider of WW II and recipient of the (Congressional Metal Of Honor.) If you have never seen this movie, I highly recommend you do. I possitivly feel it will not only impact you, but then feel like I, why it should be rated as one of the best of all time. Thanks.

[@timaloha]

Anybody remember " Patton?" Or "A Bridge too Far?"

[@Jindai_Hideo]

You missed Fury. I saw that as. Regal Veterans Day free movie, and though I wasn’t in close combat, it gave ME feelings of PTSD. I wrote to regal about how I felt this was inappropriate for Veterans Day, as those with real PTSD would be traumatized.

[@jakealter5504]

Fury was good but most of these movies were better

[@ATtravel666]

Watchinjg Das Boot with my grandfather, a WWII British submariner, was revealing. From the details of the differences in the layout of British & German boats, to how they were allowed to behave in a manner that would have seen other servicemen on charges, to being depth charged to commenting on the scene where the U Boat's chief engineer briefly gives in to panic "the captain would have shot him dead the instance he made for the hatch because he was a danger to the boat." My grandfather served in a British operation to mine some Japanese cruisers in Singapore harbour. His boat towed one of the X Craft for the attack.

[@Roverswelsh]

The original Dunkirk film is good; The Cruel Sea is also a really hard watch and one of the first films to show characters change as the film progresses.

[@ronaldmarston]

and theirs was the glory.

[@tomw377]

The Danish film, April 9th (2015) is also extremely realistic. It covers the actions of a single Danish bicycle company that was ordered to delay the Germans during their invasion of Denmark for as long as possible. It is one of the most accurate and intense movies depicting small unit action that I've ever seen.

[@leonardogoulart3245]

Where's Tropic Thunder?!?

[@timothyivey5497]

Wow, you're hilarious.

[@nashbermudez1493]

That’s a classic

[@sinbadasia]

The Thin Red Line is a much underrated movie - brilliant.

[@ashaygomashe4253]

They didn't include 'Avengers : Infinity War'... War between humans and Aliens

[@AzureWolf3]

In addition to "Glory" which was an amazing Civil War movie, I would have included "Gettysburg", which did a great job of showing key moments from both sides of that epic battle.

[@lexkanyima2195]

Every war movie is Oscar worthy and true legit.

[@jimbo9208]

you must not watch many movies

[@zaaya7719]

@@jimbo9208 you must not get the joke 🤣

[@lexkanyima2195]

@@jimbo9208 ohh yes i did

[@CrustyCowboy]

My grandfather said that Saving Private Ryan's depiction of soldiers storming the beaches of Normandy is exactly the way it was.

[@AnnexF]

The best war movie ever is Rambo!

[@timothyivey5497]

I hope you're talking about First Blood...or just kidding. Rambo: First Blood pt. 2 was a Reagan era wet dream about war. A shirtless Stallone one-man army with an M60 and a bow n arrow mowing down everything that moves ...gmab. That's about as realistic as an MCU flick.

[@AnnexF]

@@timothyivey5497 First Blood

[@MegaMbembe]

@@AnnexF I think of First Blood as a Survivor movie.

[@AnnexF]

@@MegaMbembe True

[@anthonyeaton5153]

​@@timothyivey5497yes if you like over the top commical movies.

[@loyalistmundicomedentisdux9538]

There's a saying that no one really knows it better than those who were there. Photos, videos, accounts only form ideas(Factual and Realistic ideas) of what happened compared to experience, the truer determiner.

[@crieliocriel]

I was right with the number 1! yeah!!

[@edwardlorden2996]

"Decimated" has a very specific meaning. In the Roman Republic Army, decimation was a punishment used for capital crimes of large formations of troops. If a cohort (480 soldiers) was convicted of treason, cowardice or any other capital crime, it was divided into groups of 10. Each group drew lots to determine which member would be killed by the other nine members. It was common to prolong the agony before sorting the troops, to replacing a daily ration of wheat with a ration of barley. The unit was also bivouacked outside the fortifications usually built into an army camp. Then, the groups of 10 would be formed and the victim was chosen in each group. The other soldiers, through stoning, clubbing and/or stabbing, would all participate in executing the condemned. Decimation is not just the pummeling of a large portion of a force, but was done as a punishment for the condemned and the executioners. The condemned would lose their life for all the members of the group and the experience of the executioners would act as a deterrent against a repeat of the crime again. The unit would also be 10% smaller. The loss of life that the British would have endured at Dunkirk would have been much larger than 10% and the casualties would have been inflicted by the direct action of the enemy and not by the comrades of those who would have been killed. Also, this list concentrated on movies about the last century and a half of warfare. Looking further back are movies like "The Patriot" and "Gladiator" that also showed the horrors of war in those time periods.