We Value Your Privacy

This site uses cookies to improve user experience. By continuing to browse, you accept the use of cookies and other technologies.

I UNDERSTAND
LEARN MORE

13 Old School War Movies Every Trooper Needs To Watch

Bring military action home to your couch with these classic war films.

war movies
  • camera-icon
  • Photo Credit: Republic Pictures

American Sniper, Dunkirk, and Fury are just a few the great war films that have hit theaters with in the last few years. These films help inspire today’s youngsters to consider joining the military.

In the next few decades, they will be remembered as among “the classics” when it comes to ranking war movies.

Related: 22 Eye-Opening War Movies to Stream Tonight

But as we move forward, the classic war movies that inspired our past generations are the ones that helped get the modern day war films greenlit. Because of this, we should always recognize and never forget them—ever.

Grab your popcorn and check out our list of classic war films every young trooper should watch.

1. The Great Escape

war movies
  • camera-icon
  • Photo Credit: United Artist

Steve McQueen stars in this epic WWII film about a group of POWs trying to escape from a German prison camp.

Related: 5 Dramatic WWII POW Escape Attempts—All By the Same Pilot

2. Kelly’s Heroes

war movies
  • camera-icon
  • Photo Credit: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Directed by Brian G. Hutton, the film follows a group of American troops who travel deep behind enemy lines to retrieve some Nazi treasure.

3. Paths of Glory

war movies
  • camera-icon
  • Photo Credit: United Artists

This classic stars Kirk Douglas as Col. Dax, an officer who attempts to defend his troops who are accused of cowardice while fighting in the dangerous trenches of WWI.

4. Hamburger Hill

war movies
  • camera-icon
  • Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures

Directed by John Irvin, this story depicts one of the bloodiest American battles to take place during the hectic Vietnam War.

Related: The 9 Best Vietnam War Movies

5. Apocalypse Now

war movies
  • camera-icon
  • Photo Credit: United Artists

This film is considered one of the greatest movies ever produced. The story follows Capt. Willard’s journey to locate and assassinate a renegade Army colonel during the Vietnam War.

Related: 11 Books Behind Great War Movies

6. The Green Berets

war movies
  • camera-icon
  • Photo Credit: Warner Bros.

John Wayne plays Col. Mike Kirby, an Army Special Forces officer tasked with two vital missions consisting of building a camp and kidnapping a North Vietnamese General.

7. Sands of Iwo Jima

war movies
  • camera-icon
  • Photo Credit: Republic Pictures

This time John Wayne plays Sgt. John Stryker, a Marine who puts his men through his rough style of training to prepare them to fight in one of the Corps’ most historic battles.

Related: Iwo Jima: The True Details of an Iconic Photograph in the Midst of Battle

8. Midway

war movies
  • camera-icon
  • Photo Credit: Universal Pictures

Directed by Jack Smight, this classic tale re-enacts the American victory at the Battle of Midway—considered one of the most critical turning points in the Pacific during World War II.

9. Patton

war movies
  • camera-icon
  • Photo Credit: Twentieth Century Fox

This 1970 film focuses on the incredible career of Gen. George S. Patton during WWII.

Related: How General Patton's Granddaughter Is Honoring His Legacy

10. To Hell and Back

war movies
  • camera-icon
  • Photo Credit: Universal Pictures

In this 1955 release, real-life war hero Audie Murphy plays himself in the story of how he became one of the most decorated soldiers in U.S. history.

11. The Dirty Dozen

war movies
  • camera-icon
  • Photo Credit: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

This epic motion picture follows Maj. Reisman, a rebellious soldier assigned to train a dozen convicted murders to carry out a deadly mission to kill multiple German officers.

Related: 18 World War 2 Movies Every History Buff Should Watch

12. The Fighting Seabees

war movies
  • camera-icon
  • Photo Credit: Republic Pictures

John Wayne plays Lt. Cmdr. Wedge Donovon, a construction worker building military bases in the Pacific. After they come under fierce attack from Japanese forces, the Seabees have to defend themselves at all costs.

13. The D.I.

war movies
  • camera-icon
  • Photo Credit: Warner Bros.

Directed and starring Jack Webb, this film follows one of the toughest Marine drill instructors to ever serve on Parris Island as he pushes a recruit platoon through basic training.