War: 96

The American biographical war comedy drama film, The Greatest Beer Run Ever (2022), is directed and co-written by Peter Farrelly, based on the book by John ‘Chickie’ Donohue and Joanna Molloy. In 1968, Chickie, a former Marine turned slacking merchant seaman, resides in Inwood, New York City with his family. He often frequents a bar run by the cynical old man known as “The Colonel”. While Chickie’s sister Christine vehemently opposes the Vietnam War, both Chickie and their father served in the ...

Directed by John Madden, the war drama film Operation Mincemeat (2021) is based on Ben Macintyre’s book about the British operation during World War II. In the midst of the war in 1943, Lieutenant Commander Ewen Montagu, a Jewish barrister, remains in England while his wife Iris and children seek refuge in the United States. He sets aside his law practice to join the Twenty Committee, accompanied by his secretary Hester Leggett. With Britain entrenched in conflict, Prime Minister Winston Churchill has promised the US that an invasion of Sicily will occur in July to ...

Greyhound (2020), an American war film directed by Aaron Schneider and starring Tom Hanks, tells the story of convoy HX-25 in February 1942. The convoy is comprised of 37 Allied merchant and troop ships on their way to Liverpool, navigating through the ‘Black Pit’, a dangerous zone without air cover for five days. Commander Ernest Krause of the USS Keeling (DD-548), also known as ‘Greyhound’, leads the escort team which includes the British destroyer HMS James F80 (“Harry”), Polish destroyer ORP Viktor H34 (‘Eagle’), and ...

A Hidden Life (2019) is an epic historical drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick. Born and raised in the small village of St. Radegund, Austrian peasant farmer Franz Jägerstätter is tending to his land when war breaks out. Alongside his wife Franziska, affectionately known as Fani, they are valued members of their close-knit rural community, living a humble life with their three daughters. However, Franz is called for basic training in the German army and must leave behind his beloved family for an extended period. When France surrenders and it appears that the war may soon end, he is sent home from ...

Midway (2019) is a war film that depicts the crucial Battle of Midway, which marked a turning point in the Pacific Theater during World War II. In December 1937, American naval attaché intelligence officer Lieutenant Commander Edwin T. Layton receives a warning from Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto during a state function. The Japanese leader emphasizes that their country’s dependence on imported oil means they would be forced to declare war if the US were to threaten their supply. And so it happens on December 7, 1941, when Japan launches a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor after the US cuts off their oil supply. In response to this act of aggression, Lieutenant Richard ...

Directed and produced by Sam Mendes, the British war film 1917 (2019) was co-written by Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns. Partially inspired by his paternal grandfather Alfred’s experiences in World War I, the film is set after the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line during Operation Alberich. On April 6th, aerial reconnaissance reveals that the Imperial German Army has strategically withdrawn to the new line and is waiting with artillery to attack the British. With field telephone lines cut, General Erinmore orders ...

The Spanish biographical drama film, The Photographer of Mauthausen (2018), directed by Mar Targarona, is set in 1943 during the height of World War II. Life in the Mauthausen camp is a merciless and cruel existence for its inmates, including soldiers who fought and lost in the Spanish Civil War. These men were exiled from Spain by General Franco after his victory, considered ‘no man’s land’ and gifted to the Third Reich as free labor. Against this backdrop of eternal horror and brutality inflicted by Nazis and Kapos (violent inmate guards), a young man named Francesc Boix struggles to survive as a ...

The Catcher Was a Spy (2018) is an American war film directed by Ben Lewin and written by Robert Rodat, based on the book of the same name by Nicholas Dawidoff. Moe Berg, an experienced 15-year baseball player, takes on a new role as a spy in the war effort to outdo Nazi Germany in developing the first atomic bomb. The Germans made a breakthrough by splitting the atom in 1938, and the race for the bomb was on. In charge of delivering this weapon was German Nobel prize winner Werner Heisenberg. To counter this threat, Moe ...

The film Journey’s End (2017) is based on R. C. Sherriff’s 1928 play. It was written by Simon Reade and directed by Saul Dibb, and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in the ‘Special Presentations’ category. We follow young Second Lieutenant Raleigh as he joins the war effort, stationed in the trenches of Northern France. He specifically requests to be placed under the command of Captain Stanhope from C Company, who was a few years above him at school and used to vacation with ...

First They Killed My Father (2017) is a biographical historical thriller film directed by Angelina Jolie and written by Jolie and Loung Ung, based on Ung’s memoir. Set in 1975 Khmer Republic, it follows the story of Loung Ung, a five-year-old girl and daughter of an officer in the Khmer National Armed Forces, known as ‘Pa’ to his seven children. As the Vietnam War spills over into Cambodia and the United States military begins bombing North Vietnamese forces ...

War Machine (2017) is an American satirical war comedy film, written and directed by David Michôd. Assigned to bring a resolution to the conflict in Afghanistan, Four-star General Glen McMahon (a character based on General Stanley McChrystal) finds himself the target of attacks. With degrees from West Point and Yale, Glen comes from a military family and has excelled academically throughout his life. He is known as a maverick leader, beloved by his troops for never sending them where he wouldn’t go himself. Prior to his mission in Afghanistan, Glen led secret forces in Iraq and authored a book on leadership called ...

Directed by Doug Liman and written by Dwain Worrell, The Wall (2017) is an American war thriller depicting the events of the Iraq War. In the desert of the country, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Shane Matthews is a sniper tasked with investigating a pipeline construction site alongside his spotter, Sergeant Allen Isaac. After 22 hours of patient surveillance, they conclude that the area is safe. However, as Matthews begins to inspect the site, he is fatally shot by an Iraqi sniper. Isaac attempts to save him but ends up getting injured in his right knee and losing his radio ...

Dunkirk (2017) is an epic historical war thriller film written, directed and co-produced by Christopher Nolan, showcasing the Dunkirk evacuation of World War II from multiple perspectives. The small number of primarily-French soldiers guarding the perimeter where the amassed British and French soldiers await evacuation find themselves facing an advancing enemy force, shrinking their territory. Despite being outnumbered, each country takes care of their own as they await rescue on the beach. The wounded are given priority for evacuation, despite taking up more space on the ships. However, a major issue arises with only ...

The Promise (2016) is an American epic historical war drama film directed by Terry George, co-written by Robin Swicord. It follows the story of Mikael, a young Armenian with aspirations to study medicine. While in Constantinople pursuing his dream, he meets Ana, another Armenian who captures his heart. However, she is involved with an American photographer named Chris who has been sent to document the Turkish genocide of the Armenians. Amidst the atrocities of war, a love triangle develops. Mikael, a pharmacist from the village Sirun in the Ottoman Empire’s ...

13 Hours (2016) is an American biographical action-thriller film directed and produced by Michael Bay and written by Chuck Hogan; it is based on Mitchell Zuckoff’s 2014 book of the same name. Set in Libya in 2012, following the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, it portrays Benghazi as one of the most dangerous places in the world, prompting countries to withdraw their diplomatic offices out of fear for potential attacks by militants. The United States maintains a diplomatic compound in the city, while less than a mile ...

Allied (2016) is a romantic war drama thriller film directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Steven Knight. Set in 1942 during World War II, the plot centers on Wing Commander Max Vatan, a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot with intelligence duties. His assignment takes him to Casablanca in Morocco, where he is tasked with assassinating a German ambassador. To aid him in his mission, he is joined by Marianne Beauséjour, a courageous French Resistance fighter who fled France after her group was compromised and killed. Pretending to be a married couple, Max and Marianne begin ...

Hacksaw Ridge (2016), a biographical war film, was directed by Mel Gibson and written by Andrew Knight and Robert Schenkkan. The story is based on a 2004 documentary called The Conscientious Objector, which was directed by Terry Benedict. Set in 1929 Lynchburg, Virginia, the film follows the life of Desmond Doss, a young man with a strong Seventh-day Adventist upbringing. After an accident nearly kills his brother during some roughhousing, Desmond becomes even more ...

Ithaca (2015), an American drama directed by Meg Ryan and written by Erik Jendresen, is based on the 1943 novel The Human Comedy by William Saroyan. Set in a small fictional town of Ithaca, CA in the 1940s during World War II, the story follows 14-year-old Homer Macauley who is determined to be the best and fastest bicycle telegraph messenger. His motivation comes from his desire to take care of his widowed mother Katie, his older sister Bess, and his youngest brother Ulysses. Unfortunately, Homer’s older ...

Home Fires (2015–2016) is a British period television drama that follows the lives of Women’s Institute members on the Home Front during World War II. When Frances Barden reforms the WI, she promotes inclusivity and is eventually elected President. Meanwhile, Pat, a committee member, faces abuse from her husband Bob, who expects her to attend to his every need. As Pat gains recognition within the town and WI, Bob’s jealousy and anger towards her increases, blaming her for his perceived lack of success as a writer. The newly formed WI’s first project is gathering wild blackberries to make jam, reducing the need for imported goods. With the declaration ...

American Sniper (2014) is a biographical war drama film directed and co-produced by Clint Eastwood. It was written and executive-produced by Jason Hall, based on the memoir American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History (2012) by Chris Kyle with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice. Growing up in Texas, Chris is taught how to shoot a rifle and hunt deer by his father. As an adult, he ...