69 Films About World Wars

Operation Market Garden is a historical drama about a major World War II campaign by the Allies. The goal was to quickly end the war by capturing three key bridges in Holland, opening a path into Germany across the Rhine.…

In a war-torn city, a group of resolute Russian soldiers defend a key building against a relentless German force. While holding their position, they form a strong bond with a Russian woman who resides within the building.

Corporal Evan Albright joins the Marine Corps Security Guards hoping for excitement – world-saving action, ideally. Instead, his first mission protecting a U.S. Embassy in a calm Middle Eastern city turns out to be mostly dealing with protesters and practicing…

*Testament of Youth* is a powerful story of love, war, and memory, adapted from Vera Brittain's influential memoir, a classic account of World War I from a woman's perspective. The film follows a young woman's journey from hopeful beginnings to…

During a riot in Belfast, a young British soldier becomes separated from his unit and must fight to find his way back to safety.

Chris Taylor, a young and inexperienced man, enters the Vietnam War and experiences the disruption of his life as he begins his military service. The film follows his transformation from an idealistic recruit to a soldier confronting the difficult realities…

Jarhead follows US Marine Anthony Swofford during the Gulf War. Following intense boot camp, Swofford and his unit are deployed to the Persian Gulf, anticipating combat. However, they are largely kept in a waiting position. Swofford grapples with anxieties about…

A long-simmering feud between two brothers explodes into violent conflict, and the younger brother, Greg, enlists for combat in France. The film follows Greg's experiences as he confronts the harsh realities of war during the early days of World War…

During the Vietnam War, Captain Benjamin Willard is sent on a dangerous mission to find and neutralize Colonel Walter Kurtz. Kurtz, a former Green Beret, has gone rogue and is leading a private army in deep enemy territory. As Willard…

This film tells the true story of Alan Turing, a brilliant cryptanalyst, and his team at Bletchley Park. During World War II, they raced against time to break the enemy's codes.

The War of 1812 is a two-hour film examining a pivotal moment in North American and world history. The war profoundly shaped the future of the United States, Canada, and Britain; a few different outcomes could have drastically altered the…

Set during the final stages of World War II, amidst intense fighting on the Eastern Front, *Brother's War* is based on true events.

In the concluding chapter of Mikhalkov's trilogy, Divisional Commander Kotov returns home during World War II after being betrayed, escaping execution for treason, and enduring brutal conditions in a prison camp. He finds his world irrevocably altered and must now…

During World War II, Allied prisoners known for repeatedly trying to escape are sent to a seemingly inescapable Nazi prison camp. Designed to keep them securely contained, the camp doesn't deter the prisoners. Instead, they carefully plan an incredibly daring…

"C-for-Charlie" follows a U.S. Army rifle company through the brutal battle for Guadalcanal during World War II. The film shows their transformation from a surprising first landing into a fight for survival against relentless enemy forces, emphasizing their physical and…

Set against the backdrop of World War II, this film weaves together three distinct narratives. One follows a soldier undertaking a perilous, self-destructive mission. Another centers on a fractured family harboring a terrifying presence within their bomb shelter. The third…

This intense World War II thriller follows an Allied special ops team tasked with rescuing Adolf Hitler after the failed Operation Valkyrie. When the mission goes wrong, the team must now join forces with unlikely allies to prevent a group…

April 1945. With the war in Europe nearing its end, Sergeant Wardaddy leads his five-man tank crew on a dangerous mission deep behind enemy lines. Facing overwhelming numbers and firepower, and with a new, inexperienced soldier joining them, Wardaddy and…

In World War II Burma, a unit of British prisoners of war are forced into labor by their Japanese captors to construct a crucial railway bridge for the enemy. As Allied intelligence plans to destroy the bridge, they encounter Colonel…

France, 1940. As the Nazis occupy the country, Lucile Angellier finds herself confined by her controlling mother-in-law while anxiously awaiting news of her husband, a prisoner of war. When Parisian refugees arrive in their town, followed by German soldiers taking…

During World War II, British, German, and Russian intelligence agencies compete for the allegiance of Nicky Raus, a brilliant German-Jewish scientist creating a weapon of great power. An American agent, Frank Hossom, becomes involved when German agents steal Raus. Frank's…

During the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II, a Russian and a German sniper engage in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

U.S. Rangers and a special Delta Force team try to abduct two of a Somali warlord's aides. Their Black Hawk helicopters are shot down, resulting in significant American losses as they engage in fierce ground combat with the local militia.

Detective Reno Raines is wrongly accused of a brutal murder and must go on the run to clear his name. He becomes a bounty hunter, searching for redemption while navigating a world where it's hard to know who to trust.…

In Michael Palin's Hemingway Adventure, the comedian and presenter travels to places significant in the life of Ernest Hemingway. This 1999 BBC documentary follows Palin across Europe, Africa, and America, exploring the life of the celebrated 20th-century author. Joined by…

During the Battle of Stalingrad, a German platoon struggles to survive against impossible odds and harsh conditions. As they are decimated by constant attacks and a cruel captain, the platoon's lieutenant faces a difficult choice: lead his men to desert.…

This is the story of the first major battle in the American involvement in the Vietnam War, focusing on the soldiers who fought on both sides.

Colonel William McNamara, imprisoned in a German POW camp, refuses to surrender his fight. He works with a young lieutenant to devise a daring plan against their captors. McNamara risks everything on a mission to liberate his fellow soldiers and…

During World War II, the highly trained Sixth Ranger Battalion undertakes a critical mission: infiltrate enemy territory, traveling 30 miles behind the lines to rescue over 500 American prisoners of war.

Joe Rosenthal captured the iconic image of five Marines and one Navy Corpsman raising the American flag on Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945. This film tells the story of three of the six surviving men who were part of…

April 1945. With the Soviet Army advancing from the east and the Allied forces attacking from the west, Germany faces imminent defeat. In Berlin, Adolf Hitler declares Germany will still win and orders his generals to fight to the death.…

During World War II in Nazi-occupied Netherlands, a Jewish singer goes undercover at the local Gestapo headquarters, working with the Dutch resistance.

Just before World War I, a young man named Albert's horse, Joey, is sold by his father to the army. During the war, Joey's journey is filled with peril, happiness, and heartbreak, profoundly affecting those he encounters. Albert, determined not…

Miracle at St. Anna tells the story of four American soldiers from the all-black 92nd "Buffalo Soldier" Division who are stationed in Tuscany, Italy, during World War II.

"The War Within: Shanghai's Unyielding Spirit" tells the story of Jamie Graham, an English teenager struggling to survive during the Japanese invasion of Shanghai. Forced into prison camps and separated from his parents, Jamie finds an unexpected ally in a…

In late March 1945, at the Buchenwald concentration camp, prisoner Hans Pippig finds a Jewish child hidden in a carrying case with a new arrival. Reporting the child's presence would guarantee the three-year-old's death. However, helping the child would risk…

As World War II approaches, a wealthy Chinese family grapples with the conflict between old traditions, communist ideals, and Western influences. At the heart of their struggles lies the fundamental question of love and its place within their society.

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,…

Following Japan's surrender at the close of World War II, General Fellers must decide whether Emperor Hirohito should be tried and executed as a war criminal. His decision is complicated by his personal search for Aya, an exchange student he…

This film recounts the 1944 Battle of Arnhem, featuring the surviving soldiers who participated in the historic event.

As World War II begins, the daughter of a Rabbi and a disillusioned German soldier fall in love, only to be torn apart by the conflict. They embark on a dangerous quest to reunite.

In 1919, Australian farmer Joshua Connor journeys to Turkey to learn what happened to his three sons, who were reported missing during the war. Determined to find out the truth and find closure, Joshua navigates the dangerous, post-war country.

During World War 2, the idealistic Guy Crouchback strives to contribute to the fight against evil. However, his efforts are consistently thwarted, preventing him from participating in actual combat. Instead, he navigates a military filled with cowardly and incompetent individuals,…

Ari Taub's Last Letters from Monte Rosa, a follow-up to his film The Fallen, revisits World War II by focusing on a German Army platoon in Northern Italy as they await the war's end.

A secret mission to save a captured CIA agent reveals a terrifying scheme. A specialized U.S. SEAL team then travels rapidly to dangerous locations worldwide, trying to prevent a devastating terrorist attack before it happens.

"Tora! Tora! Tora!" Portrays the mounting tensions between the United States and Japan in 1941. The film closely examines the political climate, where ongoing trade restrictions and unsuccessful negotiations pushed both countries toward conflict. It’s an informative and compelling look…

During the Vietnam War, the film follows a soldier who increasingly feels alienated from his unit. When his fellow soldiers wrongly kidnap a local woman out of fear, he struggles with his loyalty to the squad and his own moral…

Summer 1863. In Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army advances toward Washington D.C., hoping to secure victory for the Confederacy. Union Army Commander General George G. Meade develops a defensive strategy to stop Lee's advance, leading to a…

The film depicts the crucial Battle of Midway, a pivotal naval engagement between the United States and Japan during World War II. Against the backdrop of a worldwide conflict, it explores the difficulties faced by both nations at this critical…

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union shoots down U.S. Pilot Francis Gary Powers' U-2 spy plane and captures him. Powers is sentenced to 10 years in prison, and his only chance for freedom lies with New York lawyer James…

The deep friendship between Rafe McCawley and Danny Walker is strained when both ace fighter pilots become involved with the captivating Naval nurse, Evelyn Johnson. Their bond fractures into rivalry, but is overshadowed by the sudden attack on Pearl Harbor…

During World War II, this moving drama by Alan Parker examines love, sacrifice, and prejudice. It centers on Jack McGurn, a fugitive who finds work as a projectionist at a Los Angeles movie theater owned by Mr. Tanaka, a Japanese-American.…

During the Battle of Okinawa in World War II, Desmond T. Doss, an American Army medic, refuses to take a life on religious grounds. He becomes the first conscientious objector in U.S. History to be awarded the Congressional Medal of…

On August 15, 1944, the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team jumped into southern France with the goal of supporting Allied troops advancing toward Berlin. Immediately encountering enemy fire upon landing, three separated paratroopers encounter a group of French resistance fighters…

The Monuments Men is a true story about a remarkable mission during World War II. A team of unlikely heroes – museum directors, artists, architects, curators, and art historians – risked everything to save priceless works of art from Nazi…

Max Manus is a 2008 biographical war film about the life of Norwegian resistance fighter Max Manus (1914–96). The film chronicles Manus's activities from the start of World War II in Norway through to the end of the war and…

An eight-year-old boy is determined to bring his father home from World War II, willing to do anything to achieve that goal. The film explores the profound love between a father and son.

"Patton" follows General George S. Patton, a highly regarded tank commander in World War II. The film begins in North Africa, showcasing Patton’s impressive military strategies and leadership as he advances through the invasions of Sicily and France with the…

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…

Following injury in Africa during World War II, Nazi Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg returns to Germany and joins the Resistance. He participates in a risky plot to establish a new government and assassinate Adolf Hitler. As the plan progresses, von…

During World War II, the Allies struggle to break the Nazi war codes, giving the German U-boats a significant advantage. When a damaged U-boat sends out a distress signal, the Allies see an opportunity to acquire the crucial Enigma machine.

In 1937, during the Japanese invasion of Nanking, a Western man seeks shelter with a group of women in a church. Pretending to be a priest, he tries to guide them to safety.

During the Vietnam War, a U.S. Fighter pilot faces an intense fight for survival after his plane is shot down over Laos.

This is the story of the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II, as experienced by the Japanese soldiers who fought there against the United States.

During World War II in Nazi-occupied France, a unit of Jewish-American soldiers called "The Basterds" is tasked with spreading terror within the Third Reich through brutal acts of violence against Nazis. Led by Lieutenant Aldo Raine, The Basterds encounter a…

This is the story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner whose life took a dramatic turn when he was captured by the Japanese during World War II.

During a reconnaissance flight in World War II, a pilot, bombardier, and radioman are forced to abandon their plane and end up adrift on a lifeboat with no food or water.

A Marine Colonel faces court-martial after instructing his troops to fire upon protestors surrounding the U.S. Embassy in Yemen.

This is the story of the World War II effort to decipher the Enigma machine, the device used by the Germans to encrypt communications with their U-boats.