The Best Military Drama Movies

Ranker Film
Updated June 23, 2023 6.6K votes 538 voters
Over 500 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Military Drama Movies
Voting Rules
Vote up your favorite dramas about the military and soldiers.

This list contains information on the best military and war drama movies, ranked from best to worst by user votes. The best military drama films come in many forms. Some good military dramas take place during World War II while other good military drama movies are set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. Many of the best military drama movies have won awards.

 

What films will you find on this top military drama movies list? Full Metal Jacket has to be near the top. This Stanley Kubrick film follows a platoon of Marines during their rigorous time in training and their involvement in the Tet Offensive. R. Lee Ermey became a breakout star following his role as the no-nonsense drill instructor. Saving Private Ryan is another great military drama film.

Quentin Tarantino reimagined the events of WWII with his 2009 film Inglourious Basterds. Other good military dramas featured on this list include The Deer Hunter, Patton, and Glory.

Which military drama do you think deserves the top spot on this list? Give your favorites a thumbs up and please add any good war movies we may have missed.

Most divisive: Darkest Hour
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  • Tigerland
    1

    Tigerland

    Colin Farrell, Matthew Davis, Clifton Collins
    29 votes
    • Released: 2000
    • Directed by: Joel Schumacher
    1971. A nation stands divided over the escalating war in Vietnam. Thousands of young Americans lie dead on foreign soil. And at Fort Polk, Louisiana, thousands more prepare to join them. The specter of combat hangs over the men of A-Company, Second Platoon, as they enter the final stage of infantry training. They will be sent to the war. But each man deals with this prospect in his own way. One man's defiance, however, galvanizes every member of the platoon.

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  • Thank You for Your Service
    2

    Thank You for Your Service

    Miles Teller, Haley Bennett, Amy Schumer
    21 votes
    • Released: 2017
    • Directed by: Jason Hall
    Thank You for Your Service is a 2017 American biographical war drama film directed by Jason Hall. A group of U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq struggles to integrate back into family and civilian life, while living with the memory of a war.
  • We Were Soldiers
    3

    We Were Soldiers

    Mel Gibson, Madeleine Stowe, Greg Kinnear
    197 votes
    • Released: 2002
    • Directed by: Randall Wallace
    An unflinching portrayal of the Vietnam War, We Were Soldiers dives into the Battle of La Drang. Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore (Mel Gibson) leads his men in a brutal fight against North Vietnamese soldiers. The movie also features Sergeant Major Basil Plumley (Sam Elliott), an indomitable figure whose bravery shines amidst the chaos. Director Randall Wallace's vision crafts a vivid picture of war's grim reality, eschewing romanticized heroism for stark truth. A notable entry in the war genre, We Were Soldiers captures the harsh realities faced by those on the battlefront.

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  • Platoon
    4

    Platoon

    Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen
    184 votes
    • Released: 1986
    • Directed by: Oliver Stone
    In the gritty war drama Platoon, we follow Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen), an American soldier thrust into the horrors of the Vietnam War. As he navigates this brutal landscape, Chris finds himself torn between two sergeants: the morally corrupt Barnes (Tom Berenger) and the righteous Elias (Willem Dafoe). Directed by Oliver Stone, this film offers an unflinching portrayal of warfare's dehumanizing effects. The movie was lauded for its realism and earned four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. It stands as a chilling testament to the savagery of conflict and the toll it takes on those who endure it.

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  • Black Hawk Down
    5

    Black Hawk Down

    Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore
    184 votes
    • Released: 2001
    • Directed by: Ridley Scott
    In the gripping war film Black Hawk Down, elite U.S. soldiers, including Staff Sgt. Matt Eversmann (Josh Hartnett), and his superior, Lt. Col. Danny McKnight (Tom Sizemore), are plunged into the chaos of battle when a mission goes awry in Mogadishu, Somalia. The initial plan, intended to be a quick capture-and-extraction operation, spirals into a desperate fight for survival after two Black Hawk helicopters are shot down. Directed by Ridley Scott, this intense depiction of modern warfare earned two Academy Awards and stands as a stark reminder of the unpredictability and danger inherent in combat.

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  • Full Metal Jacket
    6

    Full Metal Jacket

    Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D'Onofrio
    188 votes
    • Released: 1987
    • Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
    Full Metal Jacket, a war film directed by Stanley Kubrick, etches a stark portrait of the Vietnam War. The movie is split into two distinct parts. In the first, Private 'Joker' Davis (Matthew Modine) endures the grueling rigors of basic training under the harsh command of Drill Sergeant Hartman (R. Lee Ermey). The second half thrusts Joker into the chaotic urban warfare of Hue City. Notable for its realistic depiction of military life and war's dehumanizing effects, Full Metal Jacket is a cinematic exploration of man's inhumanity to man.

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