War movies continue to be a powerful medium for exploring the complexities of conflict, heroism, and sacrifice — and some of the best ones have come out in the past decade. Whether the films showcase historical events or modern-day combat, they offer profound reflections on the human cost of war. Each leaves a lasting impression with its powerful narrative, remarkable performances, and exceptional film-making style.
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Over the past decade, filmmakers have pushed the boundaries of storytelling, offering fresh perspectives and intense portrayals of wartime experiences. From the gritty realism of 1917 and Dunkirk to the emotional depth of Hacksaw Ridge and American Sniper, these films have captivated audiences with their raw depictions of war’s impact on both soldiers and civilians. There are so many different ways a story of war can be told. Whether it’s through brutal realism, introspective thought, or a complete removal from the horrific reality of combat, each vision is important and valid.
You are watching: 10 Best War Movies Released Within The Past 10 Years
10
American Sniper (2014)
Directed By Clint Eastwood
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American Sniper
R
BiographyDramaActionWar
American Sniper is based on the true story of U.S. Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle and his tour of duty in Iraq. The film explores his legendary career on the field as he battles hidden in enemy lines to protect his brothers in arms despite the growing bounty on his head and the havoc it wreaked on his personal life.
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Release Date
December 25, 2014
Runtime
132minutes
Cast
Bradley Cooper
, Sienna Miller
, E.R. Ruiz
, Luke Grimes
, Jake McDorman
, Max Charles
Director
Clint Eastwood
Gritty and very intense, American Sniper is based on the memoir of Chris Kyle (played in the film by Bradley Cooper), a U.S. Navy SEAL. The film shows the chaotic and harrowing nature of urban warfare in Iraq. The tight shots and use of quiet moments take the audience right into the conflict zone. Tense, high-stakes battle sequences showcase not only Kyle’s remarkable precision and marksman skills, but also the constant danger that ground troops experience.
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While the film highlights Kyle’s heroism and dedication, it also confronts the moral aspects of his role. It raises questions about PTSD, the justification for war, and the costs of blind patriotism, which is skillfully presented by Clint Eastwood. In addition to earning six Oscar nominations, it grossed $547 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo), making it one of the highest-grossing war films of all time. The film stands out for its balance of action and introspection, though American Sniper‘s inaccuracies prevent it from ranking higher.
9
Allied (2016)
Directed By Robert Zemeckis
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7/10
Allied
R
ThrillerActionDocumentaryRomanceWar
Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard star in this Romantic War and Drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Steven Knight. The 2016 film sees two intelligence agents sent to assassinate a German Ambassador during World War II. The duo is set to pose as a married couple but end up falling for one another during the stunt.
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Release Date
November 17, 2016
Runtime
124minutes
Cast
Raffey Cassidy
, Brad Pitt
, Matthew Goode
, August Diehl
, Jared Harris
, Lizzy Caplan
, Charlotte Hope
, Marion Cotillard
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Allied is a romantic war drama set during World War II, blending espionage, action, and emotional struggles. While it’s set during wartime and features elements of combat, the film focuses on the suspense and mistrust in the relationship between Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard’s characters. Allied blends its war narrative with a story of love, betrayal, and sacrifice. The romance between Max and Marianne unfolds amid life-threatening missions, emphasizing how personal bonds are tested in the extreme conditions of war.
It captures the human cost of war, showing how love and trust can be both a strength and a vulnerability, while trying to navigate life during a global conflict.
Zemeckis emphasizes the historical setting, channeling the era’s esthetics through costumes, locations, and sweeping wartime visuals. This attention to detail enhances the film’s immersion in the World War II context. As a war film, Allied is less about battlefield combat and more about all the clandestine operations and emotional battles fought behind the scenes. It captures the human cost of war, showing how love and trust can be both a strength and a vulnerability. It’s not as powerful or brutal as other recent war movies, but it resonates all the same.
8
Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
Directed By Mel Gibson
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Hacksaw Ridge
R
DramaBiographyDocumentaryHistoryWar
Hacksaw Ridge is a historical war film based on the true story of Desmond Doss, a soldier in Okinawa during the bloodiest battle of WWII, who saved 75 men without firing or carrying a gun. He was the only American soldier in WWII to fight on the front lines without a weapon, as he believed that while the war was justified, killing was nevertheless wrong due to his upbringing.
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Release Date
November 4, 2016
Runtime
139minutes
Cast
Sam Worthington
, Rachel Griffiths
, Richard Roxburgh
, Andrew Garfield
, Teresa Palmer
, matt nable
, Vince Vaughn
, Luke Bracey
, Nathaniel Buzolic
, Hugo Weaving
, Ryan Corr
Budget
$40 million
Hacksaw Ridge tells the true story of Desmond Doss, a devout U.S. Army medic who served during World War II without carrying a weapon. It shows a unique take on war with a focus on themes of pacifism, faith, and extraordinary courage in the middle of the horrific realities of combat. Andrew Garfield plays Doss with such care and attention, showing his brave choice to save lives rather than take them, despite being constantly surrounded by danger and violence.
Gibson’s direction sheds a terrifying light on the horrors of war, particularly during the Battle of Okinawa. The film juxtaposes moments of quiet determination with sequences of relentless violence, using this contrast to heighten the emotional impact. Hacksaw Ridge earned multiple Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and it won for Best Film Editing and Best Sound Mixing. It’s clearly among the best war movies of the past 10 years, though there are valid criticisms of its CGI usage and a few less believable moments that keep it on the lower end.
7
Jojo Rabbit (2019)
Directed By Taika Waititi
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8.7/10
Jojo Rabbit
PG-13
Directed by Taika Waititi and featuring his characteristic absurdist humor, Jojo Rabbit stars Roman Griffin Davis as Johannes “Jojo” Betzler, a young German boy during WWII who is a member of the Hitler Youth. When Jojo discovers that his mother Rosie (Scarlett Johansson) is helping a Jewish girl hide from the Nazis in the attic of their home, he must begin to confront his prejudices and what he thought he knew was right head-on. Waititi also stars in the film as a fictionalized version of Hitler who is Jojo’s imaginary friend.
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Release Date
October 18, 2019
Runtime
108 minutes
Cast
Stephen Merchant
, Sam Rockwell
, Rebel Wilson
, Taika Waititi
, Alfie Allen
, Thomasin McKenzie
, Scarlett Johansson
, Roman Griffin Davis
Director
Taika Waititi
Writers
Taika Waititi
Jojo Rabbit is a satirical dark comedy and coming-of-age story with a very unconventional take on World War II. Set in Nazi Germany during the final years of the conflict, the movie follows Johannes “Jojo” Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis), a young boy whose worldview is shaped by propaganda. In the midst of everything going on around him, he concocts an imaginary friend who takes the form of Adolf Hitler. He’s portrayed with absurd humor by Waititi himself. The film constantly balances sharp satire with a depth that delivers a harsh critique of indoctrination, hate, and war.
At its core, Jojo Rabbit is about the triumph of empathy over hate.
The boy’s journey of self-discovery starts when he finds that his mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a Jewish girl, Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie), in their home. Through their relationship, the film explores the power of love and kindness that ultimately dismantles his ingrained prejudice. Scenes of comedy are contrasted by gut-wrenching moments, like when Jojo sees his mother’s shoes hanging in the square. With a well-deserved Oscar win for Best Adapted screenplay, this film offers a completely different take on war — if one that’s not quite as powerful as more serious war narratives.
6
Dunkirk (2017)
Directed By Christopher Nolan
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7.6/10
Dunkirk
PG-13
HistoryDramaAction
This epic tale of World War II tells the story of soldiers from Belgium, Britain, Canada and France, who are surrounded by the German army, and the dangerous operation that evacuated and saved the lives of thousands.
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Release Date
July 21, 2017
Runtime
106 minutes
Cast
Kenneth Branagh
, Aneurin Barnard
, Mark Rylance
, Tom Hardy
, James D’Arcy
, Jack Lowden
, Cillian Murphy
, Harry Styles
, Fionn Whitehead
, Barry Keoghan
Intensely immersive, Dunkirk avoids traditional character-driven narratives. Instead, it presents a visceral experience of the chaos, fear, and endurance involved in one of the most pivotal moments of World War II: the evacuation of Allied soldiers from Dunkirk, France, in 1940. It won three Academy Awards for Editing, Sound Mixing, and Sound Editing, and was nominated for Best Picture and Best Director.
Nolan uses a really innovative way of structuring the narrative. The movie focuses on three sections: The Mole (one week), The Sea (one day), and The Air (one hour). These three vignettes create a layered and tense picture of different aspects of the evacuation for viewers to see the different perspectives. Its unconventional approach redefined the war genre. Despite featuring a stellar cast that includes Tom Hardy, Harry Styles, and Barry Keoghan, Dunkirk emphasized the collective experience of conflict rather than individual heroics. Unfortunately, this does result in less memorable characters.
5
1917 (2019)
Directed By Sam Mendes
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7.9/10
1917
R
DramaBiography
Set against the backdrop of war-torn France during WWI, 1917 is directed by Sam Mendes and stars George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman as two young British soldiers tasked with delivering a dangerous message to stop an attack that could the lives of thousands of other soldiers at risk. The film uses long takes to make it appear that the entire narrative takes place over the course of two continuous shots. Mark Strong, Colin Firth, and Benedict Cumberbatch also star.
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Release Date
December 25, 2019
Runtime
119 minutes
Cast
Colin Firth
, Teresa Mahoney
, Andrew Scott
, Dean-Charles Chapman
, Gerran Howell
, Richard Madden
, Daniel Mays
, Benedict Cumberbatch
, Adrian Scarborough
, Mark Strong
, George MacKay
Budget
$100 million
Set during World War I, 1917‘s most defining feature is its continuous-shot illusion, designed to make it feel as though the events are unfolding in real time. This approach places viewers directly in the soldiers’ shoes, heightening the tension, urgency, and stakes of their mission. It was a pioneering idea that was hard to execute, but in Mendes’ skilled hands, the film was appreciated both critically and by audiences at large. Unlike traditional war films that show large-scale battles and multiple storylines, 1917 narrows its scope to a single journey, which effectively becomes an intense survival thriller.
This brings an intimate, human dimension to the narrative that’s infused with constant danger and unpredictability.
The film portrays war through the eyes of ordinary soldiers, rather than offering a broad historical or strategic overview of this global conflict. This brings an intimate, human dimension to the narrative that’s infused with constant danger and unpredictability. Audiences feel the claustrophobia of trenches as well as the scary desert of no man’s land, and, by the end, have a deeper understanding of the physical and psychological hazards faced by soldiers.
4
All Quiet On The Western Front (2022)
Directed By Edward Berger
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7/10
All Quiet on the Western Front
r
WarDramaHistory
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Based on Erich Maria Remarque’s 1929 novel, All Quiet on the Western Front is a World War I movie following Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer) as he quickly realizes that war isn’t about becoming a hero, but rather just surviving the terrifying experience. The film received critical praise upon release and even won four Academy Awards.
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Release Date
September 29, 2022
Runtime
143 Minutes
Cast
Felix Kammerer
, Albrecht Schuch
, Daniel Brühl
Based on Erich Maria Remarque’s classic novel of the same name, All Quiet on the Western Front has been brought to the screen multiple times before. However, this modern retelling is one of the more brutally realistic iterations. In every retelling, it’s a harrowing anti-war story, and this adaptation stands out for its visceral realism. The grim reality of the futility and horrors of World War I strips away any notions of glory or heroism. Focusing on the brutality of combat and its dehumanizing effects on soldiers, audiences can feel the desperation in every scene.
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The film explores the loss of innocence and the erosion of hope. Mud, blood, and the relentless sound of artillery dominate the battlefield scenes, capturing the raw, unrelenting brutality of combat. The 1930 film is considered to be one of the greatest war films ever made and won the Academy Award for Best Picture. But the 2022 adaptation brought renewed acclaim, earning multiple awards, including an Oscar for Best International Feature Film. It remains a powerful story, topped only by even more unique explorations of war and its devastating impact.
3
Beasts Of No Nation (2015)
Directed By Cary Joji Fukunaga
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Beasts of No Nation
DramaDocumentaryWar
Beasts of No Nation is a war drama that was released exclusively on Netflix in 2015. The film centers on a young boy named Agu, who is forced to become a child soldier in a Civil War in an unspecified African country. The film is based on the 2005 novel of the same name by Uzodinma Iweala.
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Release Date
September 11, 2015
Runtime
133 minutes
Cast
Abraham Attah
, Emmanuel Affadzi
, Ricky Adelayitor
, Andrew Adote
, Vera Nyarkoah Antwi
, Ama Abebrese
Director
Cary Fukunaga
Based on Uzodinma Iweala’s novel, this visceral war film explores the brutal reality of child soldiers in an unnamed African country torn apart by civil war. It offers a deeply personal and unflinching portrayal of war’s impact on the most vulnerable: children. Beasts of No Nation examines themes of power, indoctrination, and the loss of innocence. Agu (Abraham Atta) is a young boy forcibly recruited into a rebel militia after his family is killed. Through his young eyes, the audience experiences the horrors of war, emphasizing the toll of violence on those least equipped to process it.
The film avoids the specific context of the conflict, instead choosing to focus on the lived experiences of those caught in its chaos. Fukunaga’s direction combines stunning cinematography with an unrelenting sense of tension and dread. He uses naturalistic visuals and hauntingly beautiful landscapes to juxtapose the horrors of war with the surrounding natural beauty. Though challenging to watch, it’s an important story that should be seen. That lands it among the top three war films to come out over the past decade, though a couple are even more influential.
2
Oppenheimer (2023)
Directed By Christopher Nolan
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9/10
14
9.4/10
Oppenheimer
R
DramaHistoryBiography
Oppenheimer is a film by Christopher Nolan, which follows the theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man behind the atomic bomb. Cillian Murphy will play the titular role, with the story based on the book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.
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Release Date
July 21, 2023
Runtime
150 Minutes
Cast
Cillian Murphy
, Emily Blunt
, Matt Damon
, Robert Downey Jr.
, Rami Malek
, Florence Pugh
Director
Christopher Nolan
Oppenheimer focuses more on the “art of war” rather than taking the viewers directly onto the battlefield. Oppenheimer explores the creation of the atomic bomb during World War II. The focus is on the psychological and intellectual exploration of the moral dilemmas, political intrigue, and personal toll surrounding one of history’s most significant wartime achievements. Set in a laboratory rather than the trenches, the film shows the race against time to create a weapon that could end the war, or destroy all of humanity. Viewers learn how science became a critical tool of war, blurring the lines between innovation and destruction.
The spotlight on war’s scientific and ethical dilemmas makes Oppenheimer one of the most interesting additions to the genre.
The film was widely praised for its ambitious storytelling, as well as Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr.’s riveting performances. It won seven Oscars among its many awards and nominations. It transcends the traditional boundaries of the war film genre by focusing on the intellectual, ethical, and emotional dimensions of war rather than physical combat. As a war film, it’s quite unconventional, centering on the creation and aftermath of a weapon rather than the fight itself. The spotlight on war’s scientific and ethical dilemmas makes Oppenheimer one of the most interesting additions to the genre.
1
The Zone Of Interest (2023)
Directed By Jonathan Glazer
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10/10
9/10
The Zone of Interest
PG-13
DramaHistoryWar
The Zone of Interest is a historical war drama by writer-director Jonathan Glazer. Set during World War 2, the film follows Rudolf Höss, the commandant of the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp, as he tries to build a dream home right next door to the camp.
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Release Date
December 15, 2023
Runtime
105 Minutes
Cast
Christian Friedel
, Sandra Hüller
, Ralph Herforth
, Luis Noah Witte
, Johann Karthaus
Director
Jonathan Glazer
Inspired by Martin Amis’ novel of the same name, The Zone of Interest is unsettling and unconventional. Unlike traditional war films that show battles or heroic resistance, it focuses on the banality of evil during the Holocaust. With a chillingly detached look at the lives of Nazi officers and their families, it juxtaposes their ordinary home lives with the atrocities of a concentration camp, just beyond their own four walls. It received immense acclaim, earning two Academy Awards at the 2024 ceremony.
The film explores how ordinary people can commit or normalize such horrific crimes. The Höss family is so disturbingly ordinary, going about their lives while all these atrocities are happening just out of sight. While it keeps the violence off-screen, the presence of the camp is felt through sound design. This forces the audience to grapple with the psychological horrors themselves. There are no battlefields, soldiers in combat, or heroes. Instead, The Zone of Interest declares itself the best war movie of recent years by examining the consequences of war crimes from a disturbingly observational point of view.
Source: https://www.phonggdkrongpac.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment