Military.net

POLL: What’s the Best Military Movie of All-Time?

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From realistic portrayals of combat to comedic satire of war, there are a number of military-themed movies that are a cut above the rest.

We are conducting a nationwide poll of our readers to see what military movies they think are the best.

Whether the movies include great stories, quotable lines, or intense combat, we want to know what your favorite military movie of all time is.

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If your favorite military movie is missing from the list below, select “other” and let us know what it is. You’ll be able to see the results after you vote.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jim Richardson says

    Even though I voted for Patton as a great movie my favorites have always been Naval combat movies …
    All of them even going to the naval battle in Ben Hur when the Romans fought a Macedonian pirate fleet…also love the few that have the Battle of Actium. Some favorites are Midway (the one with Henry Fonda and Charlton Heston and Tora Tora Tora which I was able to see first hand when our carrier…..the USS Bon Homme Richard CVA31 pulled into Pearl Harbor in 1969 on our way to Viet Nam. We were right in the middle of the filming and my photos look very much like the original raid in 1941…..the studio did a good job of editing our carrier out of the film but at the very end you can see our ship coming up the channel into Pearl. Favorite war movies are always about big fleets slugging it out.

  2. Robert says

    Twelve O’Clock High with Gregory Peck was part of our curriculum at Command and Staff and in my opinion was a real lesson in leadership and command without all the blood and gore many other movies depict.

  4. Kenneth Hardy says

    I really enjoyed Miracle at Saint Anna. The story line and movie is very on point. It’s also a tear jerker. Try watching it.

  5. Leonard says

    I thought Hacksaw Ridge was excellent in c9oontent and truth. But my absolute favorite for not being there at the time december 7th. I love Tora, Tora, Tora!

    • Jim Richardson says

      I was fortunate enough to be arriving in Pearl Harbor on the USS Bon Homme Richard CVA31 in the Spring of 1969 ..I think it was April if memory serves….Anyway we pulled in during the filming of the movie. I grabbed my camera and got some terrific shots of the Zeros flying over and saw the explosion of the Arizona ….also some good shots of some hangars with fire and damage.. The photos look like it was 1941. If you watch at the very end of the movie you will our carrier coming up the channel in a quick shot. The movie did a good job of editing since our carrier was right in the middle of Pearl Harbor during the filming.. The following year…1970…on the next cruise we were in Japan when the move debuted…the Japanese didn’t really pay much attention to it. It was tremendously lucky event on our way to Viet Nam. to get to see it.

  6. David Douthit says

    I like a lot of military themed movies. Especially those based on true stories. Like Hacksaw Ridge. I also like sci fi based military movies like Battlefield Los Angeles.

  7. Philip B Hayden says

    Not a movie but HBOs Band of Brothers had s
    Several Excellent provocative episodes .

    The good the bad and the ugly western
    But civil war scenes including the POW camp
    Ranks high!

    The big red 1

    What did you do in the war daddy

    Cross of iron with James Coburn

    All quite on the western front – Ernest Borgnine.

  8. Don Ingersoll says

    A Few Good Men is one of the most ANTI-Military movies made. Produced and directed by Rob Reiner and written by Aaron Sorkin it should not be on this list. Tom Cruise plays a lawyer who has never seen the inside of a courtroom, Jack Nicholson as the autocratic Marine commander, J T Walsh as the cowardly 2nd in command who eats his gun rather than testify to the truth and finally, Keifer Sutherland as the bible quoting southern LT rump-swab. It all adds up to showing the military in the worst possible way.

    • Cal Udy says

      I didn’t see anything in A Few Good Men that I could relate to..
      I’ve known and worked with a ton of Officers both good and bad and NEVER experienced anyone near the Officer portrayed by Nickolson..
      The closest I came was a 2nd Lt that told me I couldn’t be left handed any more.

  9. Doug Greutman says

    “Best years of our lives” is a great , great war movie. After all the fighting is over.

  11. Ken Laughlin says

    The Outpost true story with two Medal of Honor awarded along with many of awards given.

  13. Miguel Melendez says

    If you haven’t heard of or seen the 2 hr documentary about the NAVY’s Helicopter Attack Light Squadron 3 nick named The Seawolves ,its worth watching. Everything is done by the people who served flying combat missions protecting the boats on the rivers and working with the Seals.

  15. David Gould says

    Another one that is a good one from WW2 would be “Hacksaw Ridge” which is also a true story. I was in Vietnam for a very short time in 1967.

    • Wolfgang D Geckeler says

      I also was in ‘Nam, ’67/’68. I worked for the DoD in Okinawa for 9 yrs and we visited the site and Memorial of Hacksaw Ridge a number of times. This are is truly amazing and we’ll maintained by the Okinawan people.

  17. Vincent Eugene Catalano says

    I served in Nam from 1966-1967 with the Second Battalion Forth Marines the Magnificent Bastards. Operation Hastings, Prairie and others. Semper Fi

    • Leo W says

      Fox 2/7 Ist Mar Div. 1969 wounded at Que Son Valley. Fuckin’ hell hole. Next time I’m goin’ to Ontario for an extended vacation.

  18. Jimmy Dendy says

    TO HELL AND BACK, ,,w/audie murphy,, also a true story staring the most decorated ww2 vet
    Served in Navy from september of 1960 until feb of 1966,, but did not see any actual combat.. my second ship came back from vietNam just before I went aboard and went back just after I left ,,so just missed Nam coming and going.
    Also will be 80 in 12 days.

    • Foy C. Underwood says

      Was thinking the same of Audie Murphy playing himself.
      Served in Navy Dec 59 to Jan 1990. Was in first group in Nam after the civilian clothing was canceled for MAAG personel in 1961

        • Rickey Allen Parke says

          Served from 1968 to 1971 on board the USS Regulus AF57 and made 3 west-pac and serviced all the ships off the coast of Viet Nam. She was a great ship

  20. Shirley KAIPO says

    I am the widow of a VNam Veteran!.. I SAW “THE KILLING FIELDS”, and could not stop the absolute Horror of something so wrong! Felt the sam about “ SHEINDLERS LIST” ! HUMAN INHUMANITY to other Humans! Yes sometime WAR IS NECESSARY, I THANK EVERY MAN AN WOMAN WHO EVER SERVED IN AMERICAN UNIFORMS TO DEFEND US OR OTHERS WHO NEEDED DEFENSE! Thank yOU AND MAY GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU.!! I am Shirley Kaipo Hi.

    • Jim Kiser says

      I literally found myself weeping as I read your post. I don’t know why it affected me so much. I was in the Army during the Vietnam Era, but missed the dates of serving In Country. After all this time I assume you have adjusted, but nobody can completely get over a loss like this. I pray you are happy now, and accept God’s decision to bring your ex-husband home to Him. And yes, I agree with your picks. Since for some reason they weren’t in the list, I selected “We Were Soldiers’ Did you like that one? God Bless You Shirley …

    • Charles Sacheli says

      God Bless you also.Very sorry about your loss.Nobody really wins in a War.Vietnam was a terrible mistake and waste.No U.S.senators son or daughter served in Vietnam from 1960 to 1975. When people found this out they did away with the draft to protect there own,not oours as working people. Best Charlie

  21. Joe Shores says

    For my brother Richard (CW2). It was “Bracker Morant”. For me(SSG.), “Field of Honor”. Both movies are a snapshot of war.

  22. Fred says

    I was in service for more than 8 years. However, I was never in combat. There is no way that I could determine which was most real. I had four brothers in wwII and one in Korea. Not one of them would talk to me about it. Must have been a good reason.
    We need a movie that explains why no one wins at war. Peace !

  25. Bill says

    John Wayne and the Fighting Seabees is the best military movie player on a loop at the Seabee museum

  26. willis keene says

    If we are talking realistic scenes, relationships,and attitudes a movie doesn’t have to be from beginning to end a military movie. I was a college graduate who got caught in the draft by the LBJ ego push by more troops to vi.etnam. I have seen the other movies you mentioned and serving as a combat medic scenes in Forrest Gump form induction, basic training, daily life of the combat infantryman, relationships in vietnam and years after returning were spot on. The drill sergeant after Gump broke the company record for putting together and dismantiling a rifle: ” Gump if you were not so stupid i would put you in for OCS.” Meeting Lt. Dan: ” Change your socks whenever you can and don’t do anything stupid an get youself killed “. The ambush scene was very realistic- Recouperating in the in country hospital. Who ever put this segment of the movie together should be given the movie medal of honor.

    • Fred Brown ( USAF-ret) says

      I spent over 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and Forrest Gump was nowhere close to a military movie. And I think the question was about military movies.

  27. D Holden says

    I think that a lot of the military movies from WWII especially shows that people were very patriotic and really cared about our Country more so than now or maybe I am not seeing that anymore and am very sorry.

  28. Robert Nelson says

    With out a doubt “We Were Soldiers”. True Story written by those who were there in the thick of battle. One of Mel’s best.

  30. A. Brooks says

    Well some of the movies I’ve heard of and some I have not. What I also haven’t heard was the greatest military movie of all time which is GLADIATOR. The Deer Hunter would be my second choice.. GLADIATOR IS THE GREATEST MILITARY MOVIE OF ALL TIME..

    • Swamcfly says

      I’d have to respectfully disagree with you on this…..and Gladiator is my all time fav! That being said, it’s not really about the military.

  31. David Starr says

    There are several great movies, but my favorite is ‘Sergent York’. It’s a WW1 movie about the most decorated US soldier and how he did it. Not overly bloody or graphic, but well done. ‘Sand of Iwo Jima’ with John Wayne and ‘Patten’ with George C Scott.

    • Melton Keith says

      Patton was the movie we all saw when I was in basic .
      I don’t if he really said it in true life but kept me going was this: I don’t expect you to die for your country, I expect those son-of-bitches to die for theirs!

  32. Dicky says

    I’m a Viet Nam vet so I’ve been around a while and my favorite of all time is The Longest Day an oldie in black and white that pretty much told the story of D-Day.

    • Michael says

      Hi, I Am Both a Naval Academy Graduate, Class Of June 5, 1974.
      Marine Option, Having Met An Incredible Young Captain In June 1972, Named Ollie North!!
      Was So Impressed I Was COMMISSIONED a Marine Officer 2 Years Later, Served 31 Years In The Corps, Then ENLISTED In The ARMY For 6 Years!! Total Service Time Was 41 Years, 2 Months!!
      Loved Every Minute Of It, Even The Tough Times, Because I Choose Each Next Step, Beyond ANNAPOLIS!!
      41 YEARS PASSED QUICKLY!!
      Now 71 Y.O. & Still Going Strong!!
      Would Not Change a Thing About My Service & Love Of ❤️ AMERICA!!

  33. Eddie O'Donnell says

    78 Years Old. Viet Nam vet, 33 months (consecutively) in-country. If by ‘best’ we mean ‘most realistic’ then Full Metal Jacket and The Deer Hunter are candidates. If you want a tasted of war for the Saigon warriors then consider Good Morning Viet Nam. Well, for the sound track if nothing else.

    • Michael says

      How Did You End Up With 33 Months Service In Country?
      You Must Have Repeatedly Signed Up For Extension To Your Duty Tour!!
      Same Reason, I Kept Going From Branch To Branch, & Serving As Long As I Could!!
      After My 4 Years At ANNAPOLIS & 6 Months Officer BASIC, & a Year At Flight School, I Figured The Marines Were Where I Wanted To Serve, Air Or Ground!!
      Was Forced Retired At Age 60 ( Who Knew, I SURE Didn’t!!)
      Been Retired 11 Years Now, But Still Miss The Action & My Comrades!!

    • ALLAN S. LIND says

      YES, FULL METAL JACKET CAPTURES THE FEELINGS AND MENTALITY OF THE EVERYDAY GRUNT LIKE ME.

    • Gary says

      I am a Navy Vet who served in country in Vietnam for 13 months. Received commendations for my specialised service. I am 75 years old and am proud of serving my country.

  35. Korey Kilburn says

    I really liked the portrayal of the DI in Full Metal Jacket so that movie still stands out for me. Gunny May he Rest In Peace brought it to that film. The fact that he was Vietnam era DI made it real. It takes me back to my own basic training days. We Were Soldiers though was the only movie to bring a tear to my eye. I have a cousin who was on the ground when that battle happened. He was a field artillery company commander of the field artillery shelling during the movie. To this day he cannot watch that particular movie. My nephew was a pallbearer at General Hal Moore’s funeral at Fort Benning.

    • Michael says

      Wow, You Had Quite The Military 🪖 Experience Yourself!!
      Thank You For Your Service, As Men Like You Have Kept America Free For Nearly 250 Years As Of 2026!!

    • Nancy says

      I said the same two but then added I love Bridge over the River Kaui! Army from the Korean War I believe.

  36. Gary W says

    In reality, there is no such thing as a “good” or “best” war movie. Perhaps the question should be which is the most realistic. Keeping in mind that most war movies, especially those during WWII were more propaganda films like John Wayne’s Green Beret., generally bloodless and more of an anger inspiring recruitment film. War is not fun nor is it healthy for children and other living things and, frankly, I believe they inspire anger, hatred and more violence and we damn sure don’t need any more of that then we already have. We were soldiers showed a lot of the horror and the impact of war on those who wait. Unless you have been there and done that, no film can truly show the horror and the effect on those who endured a war.

    • ROBERT SCOTT says

      Gary, you hit it perfectly on the head. I don’t know why I chose ‘We were Soldiers” but I did, but I was thinking about any early movie named ‘Purple Hearts’, and if you ever get the chance to see it, please do. I t brings our humanity back to us in such a big way! I got there in ’72, and when I came home they said it was over, but I never believed them because of all the rocket attacks I lived through. Welcome home! May we never be forced to fight another old man’s war! My son retired from the Marines, after too much shit in the sand, and I hope we never send our kids there again.

  38. Bill Creech says

    I’m 75 and a Vietnam Vet. I like most of the WWII movies. It’s hard to pick from Patton, The Battle of the Bulge and a few others but Tora, Tora, Tora is my favorite.

    • Roy says

      Tora Tora was a very good 👍 movie I 78 years old and two Tour in Vietnam With the 1st Cavaliers

  39. Paul says

    Movies are made for entertainment and should be judged as entertainment. Weather or not they show the reality of war can only be appreciated by those of us
    who have fought in a war. Remember this, the soldiers portrayed in movies are sons, fathers, brothers and friends… seeing how they die seems heart breaking to me. Far from entertaining.

  41. Lenny morton says

    Hands down the #1 war movie has to be we were soldiers, for those of us that served in the infantry and air cav it brings the war to a most believable story, with the wife’s, the strategy of leaders, real leaders kin the field, not the remfs back in the rear…. Lenny Morton ret army

  42. Thomas Ballard says

    I agree with David Phillips above that age as well as the era we lived through had a lot to do with our thoughts about the different wars and war movies. I am also 83. My favorite 2 movies were both about WWII. The Longest Day which starred almost every actor in Hollywood and Patton which starred George C Scott. As a child, I lived in Portland, Maine which was a major re-fueling stop for Atlantic Fleet ships. My parents had a standing invitation at the small USO facility there for two sailors to come to our house on Sunday for a hot home cooked meal. My Dad would drive down to the port and pick them up and then return them to their ship afterward. I was always in awe of the men who came to dinner with us.

  43. Paul Johnson says

    It’s TOOOO BAD that even in such a volatile time that we live in , where innocent children are SLAUGHTERED, that we can have this conversation!!!!
    BEST FUCKING WAR MOVIE????????
    HAVE YOU LOST YOUR EVERLOVING MINDS?????????????
    THE BEST MOVIE…… SHOWING INNOCENT LIVES LOST…………….!
    LETS RENAME THIS ……….. THE BEST MOVIE TO MAKE INNOCENT LIFE LOSS AND HUMAN SLAUGHTER AND SUFFERING……………….
    SOMETHING ROMANTIC & PATRIOTIC!!!

    • Gary H says

      Some might interpret the question as “Which movie best portrays the tragedy of war, the resolve against evil, and the commitment between brothers?”

    • Anthony says

      Paul, I think that you’re out in left field. The question was not what’s glorious about war, or the current real life killing tragedies. It ask a question about War Movies! and opinions of those movies. The military is established to fight wars, that does not mean that it’s enjoyable, it’s just something that the military has to do when called upon.

      • Rudy says

        I’m with you on this. Think about all the rubbish that is being passed off today as entertainment, which is nothing more than gratuitous violence and sadistic sex. And yet, millions of people pay money to watch it. Paul probably thinks these films are “okay”. My favorite film is “The Sands of Iwo Jima”. John Wayne portrays the guts and bravery of the Marine Corp during an absolutely horrendous battle that cost a lot of American blood. I don’t think that there is a more inspiring moment, than when Old Glory was raised on Mount Suribachi on Iwo. The war was won by selfless and brave men and women, so that folks like Paul can be free to criticize an effort to tell their story of sacrifice.

    • RAY says

      You know nothing about the MILITARY‼
      I was in Vietnam and I still love the Movie’s. Sure there is a little truth in them, but they were made for entertainment.
      My favorite is Top Gun due to the action.

    • ROBERT SCOTT says

      Paul, most of us who answered this are veterans, and I personally have tears in my eyes when I talk about the war. Were you in uniform, or jeans and a Tee shirt spitting on us us as we returned? You seem to have that rabid, left wing mindset that says it’s okay to taunt those of us who served, and yet you had to speak here! Why don’t you try and be thankful that we protected you so you could grow up to be a great big asshole?

      • BerkVet says

        Thanks Robert, I too wondered if Paul was part of that crowd at SFO, spitting on anyone the even looked like returning military. We were told to wear civvies, but having good hygiene and using deodorant was a give-away to those SOBs. My wife was even spat upon. It took every ounce of my self-control to not wipe the deck with that arsehole. I’ll never forget and never forgive them.

    • BerkVet says

      Take a Xanax and unlock the caps lock on your keyboard. All caps is annoying. War is an extension of politics and in war innocents die. That paradigm hasn’t changed throughout man’s history and will never cease to be. As long as someone has a grievance against another identified party that is deemed responsible war will occur. The question is what should we do in an attempt to bring justice where none exists. Sneering at movies, for the most part, that are trying to bring home the horror of war, are an insult to those that put their lives on the line for stranger’s justice, dishonors that sacrifices made to do the right thing. Appeasing evil only delays the inevitable and in the end results in the loss of more lives. We ain’t gonna study war no more, was a poetic bit of nonsense totally separated from the reality of the world as it is, not as we would wish it to be. The question for or against war is always the same with a little variation in the circumstances but it amounts to ONE thing. Is one culture insisting on peace, ready to exist as slaves to those willing to fight for their ideology? Are you ready to live and let your children suffer grave injustice at the hand of those that care not for the value and dignity of human life? Or, can you be mature enough to accept that there will always be a need to be ready for war to ensure justice for our progeny and way of life. Those realistic movies don’t romanticize the horror of war, unless you create it. Patriotic, yes, why not? Patriotism is a manifestation of our readiness to fight for justice and the cohesive society it is attempting to build, hopefully gives a potential murderous tyrant second-thoughts to expand the cancer they bring.

  44. Lawrence E Johnson says

    I’m a Army Veteran all war movies are great. My favorites are Patton , The battle of the bulge, the bridge of the River kawi the dirty dozen Pork Chop Hill etc.

    • Tony Alvarado says

      I am not a politician nor am I a great hero. I am just a military veteran. I served 20 years, nine months, and 17 days; in the forces that guard our country and our way of life. I was prepared to to give my life in there defense. I obeyed the lawful orders of the offices and noncommissioned officers appointed over me. SFC Alvarado
      Retired

  47. Randy Blankenship says

    All these are great movies but The Sands of Iwo Jima would also be good. purple hearts would be a good one the deer hunter would be a good one for military comedy I would say Stripes would be a good one. Iron Eagle is a good one. An officer and a gentleman would be good. There are others.

  48. Jesus Hernandez says

    As Vietnam Veteran, I personally think that Platoon was the closest movie since I was stationed in Camp Evens outside of Hue with the 101st screaming eagles base camp.

    • David says

      Thank You for your Service Sir! It was a Soldier like you that Propel me to Join The U.S. Army when I was Much Younger. Again, Thank you for Your Sacrifice and Service!

      • A. Brooks says

        Well some of the movies I’ve heard of and some I have not. What I also haven’t heard was the greatest military movie of all time which is GLADIATOR. The Deer Hunter would be my second choice.. GLADIATOR IS THE GREATEST MILITARY MOVIE OF ALL TIME..