25 Powerful War Documentaries That Reveal History's Impact

America's World War I Centennial

2017 • 19 min

Europe was devastated by the war that began in 1914. The Allies ultimately prevailed over the Central Powers only when the United States joined the conflict in 1917. A century later, this film examines the reasons for America's late entry…

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Vietnam: American Holocaust

2008 • 87 min

VIETNAM: AMERICAN HOLOCAUST details a history of the Vietnam War, revealing a case of extensive mass killing orchestrated by leaders across both political parties. American soldiers and leaders, acting with varying degrees of awareness, were responsible for the deaths of…

8.8

8.0

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Vietnam: The Quiet Mutiny

1970 • 27 min

John Pilger's first of 58 documentaries examines the escalating divide between the US military's established leadership and the soldiers fighting the Vietnam War. Through candid interviews and powerful footage from the front lines, the film reveals how this growing rift…

8.2

7.9

National Geographic: Untold Stories of World War II

1998 • 53 min

This film highlights three key events in World War II, spanning the European and Pacific theaters. It details the Allied raids to disrupt Nazi Germany's heavy water production in Norway, including a final effort to prevent the enemy from using…

6.0

6.8

The World at War

1942 • 66 min

This documentary explores the events that unfolded in the years before the Second World War.

6.8

7.0

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Reflections on the Vietnam War

2017 • 55 min

This program offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the epic series, featuring interviews with Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, as well as stories from PBS stations nationwide. Hosted by Tom Brokaw, it explores the creation of the acclaimed…

9.3

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Last Days in Vietnam

2014 • 98 min • Box office $161

War, Documentary

As the Vietnam War ends, the North Vietnamese Army advances on Saigon, causing widespread panic among the South Vietnamese population trying to flee. American soldiers and diplomats on the ground face a difficult choice: follow White House instructions to evacuate…

7.3

7.6

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WWII From Space

2012 • 88 min

Documentary, History, War

WWII from Space presents World War II with a unique perspective. This HISTORY special uses satellite imagery to show the conflict from above, providing a global view of key events. It recreates historical moments and illustrates how events unfolded simultaneously,…

7.3

7.4

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WWII in HD: The Air War

2010 • 90 min

This film chronicles the experiences of three airmen from the 8th Air Force and Stars & Stripes reporter Andy Rooney during the intense year before D-Day. They face the formidable German Luftwaffe in a series of devastating aerial battles.

8.6

8.0

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Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam

1987 • 84 min

This film uses letters written by American soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines during the Vietnam War to their families and friends. These personal accounts are combined with archival footage and news reports from the time. The letters, from those who…

7.1

7.9

13+

The War You Don't See

2010 • 97 min

Documentary

This documentary explores how news reporting about war has changed over time, from the early 1900s to today. It examines how new technologies and changing social views have shaped war coverage and how the media influences public opinion about armed…

7.8

8.3

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Vietnam in HD

2011 • 250 min

Vietnam in HD is a six-part series offering an unprecedented look at the Vietnam War, featuring thousands of hours of unfiltered footage – much of it captured by soldiers on the ground. The series details every major event of the…

7.0

8.3

The Fog of War

2003 • 107 min

Documentary, TV Movie, History

The Fog of War uses archival footage, recordings of government meetings, and an interview with 85-year-old Robert McNamara to chronicle his life. It follows his journey from a promising young military officer during World War II, to president of Ford…

7.7

8.0

13+

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Churchill's First World War

2013 • 90 min

This drama-documentary recounts Winston Churchill's pivotal experiences during World War I, primarily through his personal letters to his wife Clementine, allowing him to narrate his own story. At 39, and at the height of his career as First Lord of…

7.5

7.1

Art of War

2009 • 91 min

This documentary explores the core principles of Sun Tzu's "Art of War," using historical examples from World War II, the Vietnam War, and the American Civil War to illustrate its concepts.

7.0

7.6

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My Father's Vietnam

2015 • 79 min

"My Father's Vietnam" is a personal documentary exploring the lasting impact of the Vietnam War. Using newly discovered photographs and 8mm footage, the film tells the story of three soldiers, just one of whom survived. Through interviews with the filmmaker’s…

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6.6

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Yugoslavia: The Avoidable War

1999 • 165 min

This film offers a straightforward examination of Western involvement in the Balkans, exploring how that involvement contributed to the civil wars in Yugoslavia during the 1990s.

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6.7

Battlefields

2001

Professor Richard Holmes, a British military historian, examines four key battles of World War II: Cassino, El Alamein, Arnhem (Operation Market Garden), and the RAF Bomber Command. Each episode offers an insightful overview of these distinct campaigns.

8.5

7.5

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Guy Martin's World War 1 Tank

2017 • 90 min

Guy Martin aims to construct a fully functional replica of a World War One tank. His goal is to pass his tank driving test and then drive the vehicle in the Lincoln Remembrance Day parade.

7.5

7.4

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Far from Vietnam

1967 • 116 min

Seven filmmakers – Godard, Ivens, Klein, Lelouch, Marker, Resnais, and Varda – each offer their support for the North Vietnamese army during the Vietnam War, presented in seven distinct segments.

7.0

7.3

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Only the Dead

2015 • 78 min

Documentary

This film follows journalist Michael Ware's seven-year experience reporting the Iraq War. We see the war through his eyes as he covers the complexities of this major conflict. The movie explores how the war affects both those who report on…

7.4

7.6

17+

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Brothers in War

2014 • 89 min

Brothers in War details the intense combat experiences of the soldiers in Charlie Company, a group of American infantrymen who were among the final to be drafted, trained, and deployed to Vietnam as a cohesive unit.

7.7

7.8

Women at War 1914-1918

2014 • 95 min

This film follows the intertwined stories of remarkable women who found themselves drawn into World War I, sharing experiences of courage on the war's battlefields.

7.8

7.9

The Fourth World War

2003 • 78 min

Filmed on the front lines of conflicts in Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, Palestine, Korea, the Middle East, and New York, Afghanistan, and Iraq, "The Fourth World War" tells the story of ordinary people resisting annihilation in this global conflict. While…

5.5

7.1

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The War at Home

1979 • 100 min

This documentary examines the anti-war movement in the Madison, Wisconsin area during the Vietnam War era. Using archival footage alongside interviews with those who were involved, the film explores the events that unfolded on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus.

7.2

7.6

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