10 Best World War II Movies for You to Watch

"Come and See" is a powerful anti-war movie from the Soviet Union, released in 1985. Did you know it took eight years of battling censorship before it was finally made?

Despite these challenges, the movie turned out to be a standout war film. It brilliantly delves into deep topics like philosophy, psychology, and politics. Its excellence didn't go unnoticed – it was even ranked 41st in the Sight & Sound 2022 director's poll.

The story is set in 1943 and follows a young boy named Flyora (Aleksey Kravchenko) and his friend as they join the Soviet partisans, armed with SVT-40 rifles. Flyora is soon trusted as a militia member. His world turns upside down when he returns to find his village in ruins after a German invasion.

Flyora's family is tragically killed in the attack. Overwhelmed with grief and anger, he vows to seek revenge. He faces many hardships and sees firsthand the brutal acts of the German troops. In a twist of fate, Flyora and some others end up taking part in revenge against captured German soldiers.

With a director like Quentin Tarantino and a $70 million budget, you can expect something special. That's exactly what happened with "Inglourious Basterds," released in 2009. It was a hit, earning great reviews worldwide.

The movie's story is inspired by the 1978 film "Euro War." Set in France during World War II, when the Nazis were in control, it follows a bold plan by a U.S. squad. Their mission is to take out the top Nazi leader, Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz).

They get help from an 18-year-old girl named Shosanna Dreyfus (Mélanie Laurent), who owns the movie theater where their plan is set to happen.

Shosanna has her own reasons for hating Hans – he killed her entire family. She gets revenge by taking out a Nazi sniper named Fredrick Zoller and then traps all the Nazis, including Hans, inside the theater to carry out a massive attack.

"The Great Escape" tells the story of a real-life escape during World War II from the German prisoner of war camp, Stalag Luft III. It's all about a group of Allied prisoners who plan a daring escape from their Nazi captors.

At the heart of the movie are three key characters. There's Roger Bartlett (Richard Attenborough), the mastermind behind the escape plan, Virgil Hilts (Steve McQueen), known for his cool demeanor, and Bob Hendley (James Garner). Along with them are other memorable characters like Colin Blythe "The Forger" (Donald Pleasence).

Their escape is packed with suspense and challenges, including tight security and the race against time. But their determination to break free keeps them going.

This thrilling movie, which lasts 172 minutes, earned Steve McQueen the Best Actor award at the Moscow International Film Festival. It's a story of bravery, ingenuity, and the unyielding desire for freedom.

Hacksaw Ridge, directed by Mel Gibson, is a moving film about Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), an American combat medic in World War II. Desmond stands firm in his beliefs: he won't touch a weapon, let alone use one.

His refusal to bear arms is rooted in his faith as a Seventh-day Adventist, deeply committed to the commandment "Thou shalt not kill." Because of this, Desmond faces skepticism and challenges from those around him.

In an incredible act of bravery, Desmond saves 75 soldiers at Hacksaw Ridge during the Battle of Okinawa, all without carrying a weapon. His heroism earns him the Medal of Honor, recognizing his remarkable courage and care for his fellow soldiers.

The film was a huge success, earning $180.4 million globally and winning two Academy Awards.

Even though it is an American war movie, most of the dialog in the movie is in Japanese. Directed and produced by Clint Eastwood, the movie shows the Battle of Iwo Jima from the point of view of the Japanese soldiers. It is also a side movie for Flags of Our Fathers (2006).

In 2005, Japanese archaeologists exploring tunnels on Iwo Jima discovered a bag of letters buried by Private Saigo. These letters tell the story of 1944 when Japan tried to defend Iwo Jima, located about 1,000 km from Tokyo.

The purpose is to prevent the Americans from gaining strategic positions to attack Japan further, which would endanger Japan's future.

This inspired Private Saigo, a baker who was recruited into the army, to defend Iwo Jima with his friends. And it will all be written in Saigo's letter.

When it comes to war movies, America is known for making the most war movies. It is probably because the country is involved in so many wars, right? One of the war movies we will talk about is "Patton". This is a biographical movie directed by Franklin J. Schaffner.

The story is about General George S. Patton (George C. Scott). He was the most famous tank commander during World War II. The movie takes us through Patton's career from his time in North Africa to his journey in the invasion of Europe.

Apart from showing his achievements, the movie also highlights Patton's struggle to control his emotions. Despite his fame, Patton faced challenges such as insubordination and mistakes that affected his rank during the Normandy invasion. The movie captures Patton's highs and lows in a big and vivid way.

The Dirty Dozen is a thrilling story based on E.M. Nathanson's novel. It's about a group of twelve prisoners turned soldiers during World War II. These guys, known as the Dirty Dozen, are not your typical heroes. They're convicts, each with their own rough past, picked for a near-impossible task - a suicide mission right before the D-Day landings.

In 1944, Major John Reisman (Lee Marvin) is given a tough job. He needs to train these twelve convicts to become commandos. Their mission is to take out German officers in Rennes. This risky plan, called Project Amnesty, comes with a big reward - if they make it out alive, they earn their freedom.

Training isn't easy for the Dirty Dozen. They have a lot of personal issues and challenges to overcome, but they push through. Their hard work pays off when they storm a German château and fight against the enemy officers.

Who makes it through the mission? Who gets to walk away free? The story keeps you guessing till the end!

Learning about history is not only through books; movies offer a fun and accessible way to learn about the past. For example, the movie "Black Book," which draws from real events and characters to depict the history of war.

The movie follows Rachel Stein, also known as Ellis de Vries (Carice van Houten), a young Dutch-Jewish woman who spies for the opposition during World War II.

During World War II, Rachel Stein survives an attack but loses her family in an ambush by the German military. Rachel seeks revenge by disguising herself as Ellis de Vries and joining the Dutch Resistance as a spy in a German camp.

Throughout her mission, Rachel/Ellis faces betrayal and traps, which put her in jail. Despite the challenges, she perseveres and successfully completes her mission. After her task is completed, Rachel returns to her true identity and finds peace living in Israel.

Stories of the hardships experienced by soldiers on the front lines during World War II have always fascinated people. One such story is depicted in the movie "Fury," which features famous Hollywood actors such as Brad Pitt and Shia LaBeouf.

The movie tells the story of an American tank crew member who fought against Nazi Germany for weeks. In April 1945, during the Western Allied invasion of Germany, Chief Sergeant Don "Wardaddy" Collier (Brad Pitt) led his battle-trained crew aboard a tank named Fury.

Despite facing fierce resistance, the crew manages to overtake a town. However, their victory only increases the tension, leading to tragic events. They are now trapped in a deadly situation behind enemy lines.

Against overwhelming odds, they are outnumbered and outgunned, and with the presence of a young, inexperienced soldier named Norman (Logan Lerman), their moves are limited. However, they finally manage to beat all the obstacles.

Action movies are always a thrill ride, and "Pearl Harbor" by Michael Bay is no exception. This movie is like a rollercoaster of excitement. You'll be on the edge of your seat with its intense story, filled with fast bullets, huge explosions, and epic fights. It's all about the famous historical event, Pearl Harbor.

The story centers on two buddies, Rafe McCawley (played by Ben Affleck) and Danny Walker (Josh Hartnett). These two have been inseparable since they were kids. Growing up, they both become fighter pilots, a dream come true for them.

But things take a dramatic turn during a battle in the sky. Their plane crashes, and Rafe is thought to be gone for good. Danny, who survives, goes back home. As time passes, Danny starts getting close to Rafe's girlfriend, Evelyn (Kate Beckinsale). But here's the twist - Rafe is actually still alive and he comes back, reuniting with them in Hawaii. What happens when they all meet?