Ranker FilmList RulesMovies must take place during the Vietnam War.
Vietnam War movies can almost be counted as a genre on their own--there are so many of them. This Vietnam War movies list can be organized by cast, year, director, or more. It contains the best Vietnam War movies that were ever made, including popular classic like Full Metal Jacket and more recent films, like Tunnel Rats. The best Vietnam movies place the war in correct context and capture the ethos of the environment at the time. Many of the titles on this list are from the point of view of Americans, but international and independent films are included as well.
What are the best Vietnam War films? This list of of Vietnam war movies is thorough, but it is not complete. If you see that your favorite film is missing, please add it to the list. You can click on any of the Vietnam movie names for more details and change the dropdown info to display the release date, directors, and stars. So, what are the best movies about the Viet nam war? Vote on this list to display your preferences.1
1,712785Forrest Gump
Tom Hanks, Sally FieldReleased: 1994
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Forrest Gump is a 1994 American epic romantic-comedy-drama film based on the 1986 novel of the... more
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1,7931,304Platoon
Johnny Depp, Charlie SheenReleased: 1986
Directed by: Oliver Stone
Platoon is a 1986 American war film written and directed by Oliver Stone and starring Tom... more3
1,7491,291Full Metal Jacket
Vincent D'Onofrio, R. Lee ErmeyReleased: 1987
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
Full Metal Jacket is a 1987 film directed and produced by Stanley Kubrick. The screenplay by... more4
1,6161,212Apocalypse Now
Marlon Brando, Harrison FordReleased: 1979
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Apocalypse Now is a 1979 American epic adventure war film set during the Vietnam War. Produced... more5
513357Bat*21
Gene Hackman, Danny GloverReleased: 1988
Directed by: Peter Markle
Bat*21 is a 1988 war film directed by Peter Markle, and adapted from the book by William C..... more6
1,4241,068We Were Soldiers
Mel Gibson, Lyndon B. JohnsonReleased: 2002
Directed by: Randall Wallace
We Were Soldiers is a 2002 film that dramatizes the Battle of Ia Drang on November 14, 1965.... more7
1,120831Hamburger Hill
Don Cheadle, Dylan McDermottReleased: 1987
Directed by: John Irvin
Hamburger Hill is a 1987 American film about the actual assault of the U.S. Army's 3rd... more8
510356Casualties of War
Sean Penn, Michael J. FoxReleased: 1989
Directed by: Brian De Palma
This film is a 1989 drama film directed by Brian De Palma, with a screenplay by David Rabe,... more9
444305The Boys in Company C
R. Lee Ermey, Michael LembeckReleased: 1978
Directed by: Sidney J. Furie
The Boys in Company C, directed by Sidney J. Furie, starring Stan Shaw, Andrew Stevens, Craig... more10
391264Flight of the Intruder
Willem Dafoe, David SchwimmerReleased: 1991
Directed by: John Milius
Flight of the Intruder is a 1991 film directed by John Milius, based on the novel of the same... more11
446307The Siege of Firebase Gloria
R. Lee Ermey, Wings HauserReleased: 1989
Directed by: Brian Trenchard-Smith
The Siege of Firebase Gloria is a 1989 film starring Wings Hauser and R. Lee Ermey that was... more12
389262Uncommon Valor
Gene Hackman, Patrick SwayzeReleased: 1983
Directed by: Ted Kotcheff
Uncommon Valor is a 1983 action film written by Joe Gayton and directed by Ted Kotcheff, about... more13
1,054784The Deer Hunter
Meryl Streep, Robert De NiroReleased: 1978
Directed by: Michael Cimino
The Deer Hunter is a 1978 American epic drama film co-written and directed by Michael Cimino... more14
553396The Green Berets
John Wayne, George TakeiReleased: 1968
Directed by: Mervyn LeRoy, John Wayne, Ray Kellogg
The Green Berets is a 1968 American film set in Vietnam, featuring John Wayne, George Takei,... more15
878696Good Morning, Vietnam
Robin Williams, Forest WhitakerReleased: 1987
Directed by: Barry Levinson
Good Morning, Vietnam is a 1987 American comedy film written by Mitch Markowitz and directed... more16
318239Rescue Dawn
Christian Bale, Steve ZahnReleased: 2006
Directed by: Werner Herzog
Rescue Dawn is a 2006 American drama film directed by Werner Herzog, based on an adapted... more17
447386Born on the Fourth of July
Tom Cruise, Willem DafoeReleased: 1989
Directed by: Oliver Stone
Born on the Fourth of July is a 1989 American drama film adaptation of the best-selling... more18
264226The Hanoi Hilton
Jeffrey Jones, David SoulReleased: 1987
Directed by: Lionel Chetwynd
The Hanoi Hilton is a 1987 Vietnam War film which focuses on the experiences of American... more19
210176Gardens of Stone
James Earl Jones, James CaanReleased: 1987
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Gardens of Stone is a 1987 American drama film directed by Francis Coppola, based on the novel... more20
192169Go Tell the Spartans
Burt Lancaster, Marc SingerReleased: 1978
Directed by: Ted Post
Go Tell the Spartans is a 1978 American war film directed by Ted Post, starring Burt... more21
234221Platoon Leader
Michael Dudikoff, William SmithReleased: 1988
Directed by: Aaron Norris
Platoon Leader is a 1988 Cannon Films film set in the Vietnam War and directed by Aaron... more22
211206Tunnel Rats
Nate Parker, Michael ParéReleased: 2008
Directed by: Uwe Boll
Tunnel Rats, also known as 1968 Tunnel Rats, is a 2008 German-Canadian war suspense film... more23
214211Jacob's Ladder
Macaulay Culkin, Tim RobbinsReleased: 1990
Directed by: Adrian Lyne
Jacob's Ladder is a 1990 American psychological horror film directed by Adrian Lyne. A Vietnam... more24
261263Air America
Mel Gibson, Robert Downey Jr.Released: 1990
Directed by: Roger Spottiswoode
Air America is a 1990 American action comedy film directed by Roger Spottiswoode, starring Mel... more25
149146A Bright Shining Lie
Bill Paxton, Vivian WuReleased: 1998
Directed by: Terry George
A Bright Shining Lie is an 1998 American television film based on Neil Sheehan's book of the... more
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