The 10 Best War Movies Of The 21st Century (According To IMDb)
They just don't make as many war movies as they used to. War movies were being pumped out assembly-line style throughout the late 80s and 90s, with Braveheart and Saving Private Ryan earning particular acclaim and popularity.
Of course, they still make war movies today, and probably always will. But they are expensive to make, and original IP is proving riskier and riskier at the box office. That said, there have been some very good ones made throughout the 21st century. Here are the 10 best, according to IMDb.
10 American Sniper (2014) - 7.3
American Sniper generated a considerable amount of controversy when it was released in 2014, stemming from both its depiction of the controversial war in Iraq and the depiction of protagonist, Chris Kyle. Regardless, it proved incredibly successful - both critically and commercially.
Directed by Clint Eastwood, American Sniper tells the true story of the late Chris Kyle, based on his autobiography American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History. It made $547 million at the box office, making it the highest-grossing war film ever made, when not adjusted for inflation.
9 Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World (2003) - 7.4
Released in 2003, Master and Commander: The Far Side Of The World concerns the exploits of Jack Aubrey, the captain of the HMS Surprise during the Napoleonic Wars. Unfortunately, the film did not do well at the box office, earning just $212 million on a budget of $150 million.
Fortunately, it was a rousing critical success, earning 10 Academy Award nominations. However, it was forced to compete with The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and lost in all categories, apart from Cinematography and Sound Editing.
8 Zero Dark Thirty (2012) - 7.4
Kathryn Bigelow's Zero Dark Thirty isn't really a "war" film in the traditional sense, as most of it concerns a decade-long manhunt for Osama Bin Laden and the CIA intelligence analyst tasked with tracking him down. However, it also depicts the historic military raid that resulted in Bin Laden's death, providing the movie an absolutely thrilling climax.
While the movie received criticism for its depiction of torture and its seeming reliability, it was nevertheless a critical success and earned five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.
7 Fury (2014) - 7.6
David Ayer was influenced to make Fury after reading various books about tank crews and their surprisingly high rate of casualties in World War II. The movie stars an all-star cast, including the likes of Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Bernthal, and Michael Peña.
They are all part of the same tank crew, serving as commander, gunner, loader, and driver, respectively. The movie didn't do well at the box office, earning just $211 million. However, it drew acclaim for its acting and horrifying battle sequences that offered a raw glimpse into the lives of World War II tank crews.
6 300 (2006) - 7.6
Zack Snyder's 300 is perhaps the most intentionally outlandish war film ever made. It was faithfully adapted from a limited comic book series of the same name, written and illustrated by Frank Miller (the same man behind Sin City).
It stylishly and romantically depicts the Battle of Thermopylae, the most famous battle throughout the second Persian invasion of Greece. While the movie took more than a few liberties with history, its stellar visuals and glorified action more than made up for its silly story beats and creative decisions.
5 The Hurt Locker (2009) - 7.6
Kathryn Bigelow is at the forefront of modern war films, having directed both Zero Dark Thirty and The Hurt Locker. This one concerns a bomb disposal squad working in the Iraq War and the emotional tolls it takes on their well being.
Some, like Jeremy Renner's William James, finds thrilling meaning in the work and grows addicted to the rush. Others appear more traumatized and reluctant to perform the work. Bigelow's direction earned widespread acclaim, as did Renner's leading performance, leading to six Oscar wins - including Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay.
4 Black Hawk Down (2001) - 7.7
Black Hawk Down was released on the heels of Saving Private Ryan, and the latter's influence on the former is undeniable. It's based on a true story and was adapted from journalist Mark Bowden's book, Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War.
It tells the story of the near-disastrous Battle of Mogadishu, which was fought between the United States and the Somali National Alliance. The movie earned acclaim for its relentless and visceral action and for the technical skill of director Ridley Scott. That said, it's certainly not for the faint of heart.
3 Dunkirk (2017) - 7.9
Dunkirk is perhaps Christopher Nolan's most grounded and realistic movie, following on the heels of outlandish and imaginative films like Inception and Interstellar. This one tells the story of the famous Dunkirk evacuation in World War II and the ways in which different forces aided in the effort.
This being Nolan, it wasn't a straightforward war film. Instead, it's told through three disparate storylines that take place over different periods of time. The land perspective takes place over one week, the sea over one day, and the air over just one hour.
2 Hacksaw Ridge (2016) - 8.1
As controversial as he is, there's no denying that Mel Gibson is a fantastic director. In 2016 he unleashed Hacksaw Ridge, a true story about pacifist combat medic, Desmond Doss. Doss was the military's first conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor, thanks to his work in the Battle of Okinawa.
Everyone adored the movie, with particular praise going to Gibson's directing and the lead performance of Andrew Garfield. It was nominated for six Academy Awards, winning for Sound Mixing and Editing.
1 1917 (2019) - 8.3
Sam Mendes' 1917 is widely regarded as the finest war film of the 2010s, and arguably the finest of the 21st century. The movie follows two young British soldiers who are tasked with delivering an urgent message in dangerous enemy territory.
While nearly every aspect of the film is commendable, most of the praise went to Roger Deakins's sensational and Oscar-winning cinematography. He shot the movie in what seems like one continuous take, and the results are simply extraordinary.
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