Looking closer at some of the best, most realistic, most brutal depictions of war in the history of entertainment.

Wars on Screen

Historical Entertainment

Making an action blockbuster tends to be an incredibly expensive business, and there’s not a studio executive alive who doesn’t want to cut production costs wherever possible. One way to have all the neat stuff on screen and still keep the bean counters happy is to borrow some gear from Uncle Sam. The US military and Hollywood have been working together for the better part of a century. Provided the producers of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/accurate-war-movies/justin-andress">war films</a> are willing to meet conditions and make requested changes, the Pentagon is only too happy to help.&nbsp;The support of the military can make or break a project - where else can you borrow an aircraft carrier, or a jet, or hire thousands of extras without actually having to pay them? But there is a price for that level of cooperation, and not every writer or director is willing to meet it. To qualify for military support, there are three main conditions:<ul><li>The film must portray the military in an authentic and accurate way.</li><li>The film must inform the public and present the military in a positive way.</li><li>The film must have a positive impact on recruitment and retention.</li></ul>This collection examines the times films asked for help but wouldn't meet the demands of the US Department of Defense, and were thus denied approval.

The Oddly Specific Reasons The Military Refused Assistance To 12 Movies

Film

M. Muir

Wild and fascinating pics of people who made history.

Historical People in Photos

Historical Figures

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/tags/war">Engaging in warfare</a> is one of the ugliest and most cruel things humans can do to one another. Even in the darkest days of armed conflict, however, some people rise to the challenge of the time and prove their heroism and fortitude.&nbsp;They're often those who carry weapons into battle, but they're also the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/civil-war-battlefield-surgery/nida-sea">medics, nurses, and surgeons</a> who work tirelessly to keep their comrades alive. Some even make the ultimate sacrifice, so it's worth looking back at those who demonstrated in one way or another the heroism of which people are capable in the darkest hours.

12 Photos Of Historical War Heroes

Person

Photos Of Historical War Heroes

Thomas West

Stop flipping through the channels. These are the best series you should seek out, in every genre, on every network, ranked. 

Now Playing on a TV Near You

Military

The best current <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/military-tv-shows-and-series/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">military TV shows</a>&nbsp;of 2021&nbsp;come in many forms. Some top current military series are dramas, and other good current military TV shows are comedies. World War II, the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/tags/civil-war?ref=internalCrossLinking_tag">Civil War</a> and the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/all-vietnam-war-movies-or-list-of-vietnam-war-movies/all-genre-movies-lists?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Vietnam War</a> are just a few of the events covered in the programs on this list.

What are some of the series that you will find on this best current military TV shows list? A Navy boat may be the only hope for human survival on the TNT series, The Last Ship. Eric Dane stars in this dramatic show which premiered in 2014. LL Cool J plays an ex-Navy Seal in the popular program, NCIS: Los Angeles. Featuring the Army, Marines, the Navy, and more, the best current military shows include&nbsp;Seal Team&nbsp;and&nbsp;Magnum P.I.

Do you have a favorite military program currently airing on television? Vote up the best current military TV shows below, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section.&nbsp;

The Best Current Military TV Shows Airing Now

TV Program

The Best Current Military TV Shows, Ranked By Fans

Ranker TV

Fascinating Historical Weapons

Weird History

For as long as there have been humans, it seems there <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/firsthand-accounts-of-war/connor-clodfelter">has also been armed conflict</a>. However, while camouflage has become a key part of modern warfare, this tradition only goes back to the 1700s. The British made great strides in this regard during the 19th century during campaigns in India, and as the 20th century progressed camouflage became ever more important to armed conflict.Now, various&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://armycadets.com/features/army-cadets-experts-explain-the-history-of-camouflage/">militaries have explored new tactics to evade enemy detection</a>, and the race for the stealthiest getups is neverending. Below are just a handful of the many ways armies have sought to hide their true strength.

Images Of Historical Camouflage That Are Too Good To Hide

General

Lists about times real people around the world and throughout history who have suited up, taken up arms, and fought to the end in the name of whomever's side they were on.

Military Engagements

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes a simple number can be just as revealing. Military history is, after all, so often a story told in numbers. However, they aren't just the number of soldiers lost in a battle. Knowing how much a cannonball actually weighed can give a good idea of what a colossal pain moving it around would be - and of course how much worse it would be to get hit by a nearly 400-pound boulder. You're probably not going to walk that one off.&nbsp;From how much money female munitions factory workers earned to how shockingly brief the shortest war ever was, this collection takes a look at some of those revealing numbers to offer a new perspective on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/sieges-defenders/michael-muir">historical combat</a> across the ages.&nbsp;

Startling Combat Numbers From History That Blew Our Minds

Lists about life for soldiers and civilians alike during the Second Great War, which raged around the world from 1939-1945.

WWII

Graveyard Shift

WWII has been mined so aggressively by filmmakers&nbsp;you&#39;d expect the mine to have collapsed&nbsp;and been deemed unsafe for human habitation decades ago. Yet, WWII was <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/ww2-european-theater-stories/philgibbons" target="_blank">so extensive</a>, involved so many countries, continents, and people, and so thoroughly impacted the shaping of contemporary global society, the pull of its tractor beam is impossible to resist for those on the prowl for <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/people-who-hid-from-the-nazis/aaron-edwards" target="_blank">potent human drama</a>. You&#39;ve no doubt seen the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-world-war-ii-movies-of-all-time" target="_blank">cream of the crop of WWII movies</a>, pictures like The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Guns of the Navarone, The Great Escape,&nbsp;Open City, Saving Private Ryan, The Human Condition, and Army of Shadows. If you&#39;re hankering for more but aren&#39;t sure where to start, take a look at the pretty good WWII movies on this list.&nbsp;

Lesser-known WWII&nbsp;movies aren&#39;t necessarily bad&nbsp;movies. There are plenty of classic Japanese WWII movies you&#39;ve never seen simply because you may not seek out old Japanese movies (check out The Burmese Harp&nbsp;and Fires on the Plain). So don&#39;t immediately dismiss some of the forgotten WWII movies on this list just because you&#39;ve never heard of them. They&#39;re all decent WWII movies, despite middling reputations and a distinct lack of cultural capital. If you&#39;ve seen the classics and need a few more WWII movies worth seeing on your to-watch list, this list&#39;s for you.&nbsp;

Pretty Good World War II Movies

List of Good World War II Movies That Are Worth Watching

Aaron Edwards

Lists about armed forces and military tactics around the world.

Military Men

Entertainment

From dramatic to darkly comedic, these are the very best military shows on television, ranked from best to worst. Popular military TV shows have been a staple of television for years, so there&#39;s often debate about what the best military show of all time is. Don&#39;t let your favorite military television programs fall to the bottom of the list and be sure to vote them up so they have the chance to reach the top spot, whether they&#39;re a military drama or a show that follows special ops.

Everything from M.A.S.H. to Band of Brothers, most of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-jag-universe-ncis-series/ranker-tv" target="_blank">the shows in the NCIS universe</a>, and even that old standby of military sitcoms, Hogan&#39;s Heroes, is included on this list. There are lots of military shows on TV&mdash;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-military-tv-shows/ranker-tv" target="_blank">new army TV shows</a>, and old armed forces series&mdash;so checking out this ranked list will help you decide which to watch... maybe during your next <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-tv-shows-to-binge-watch/ranker-tv" target="_blank">Netflix binge</a>?

What is the best military show of all time? What are the greatest military shows? From Army TV shows to Navy TV shows and any other division of military shows you can think of, it&#39;s time to vote for the best of the best!

The Unit

The Best Military TV Shows

List of the Best Military TV Shows, Ranked By Fans

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.

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What films will you find on this top military <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-action-drama-movies/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">drama movies list</a>? 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. <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/firsthand-depictions-of-tom-hanks/katherine-walker?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Saving Private Ryan</a> 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.

The Best Military Drama Movies

The 50+ Best War Drama Movies, Ranked

Ranker Film

History

A global conflict that roared across continents, World War II was the defining event of a generation. It consumed the lives of at least 60 million people, soldiers and civilians alike, including six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. It was the dawn of the atomic age, the impetus for the Cold War, and revealed the staggering cost of modern warfare.

The battles of World War II were not stationary affairs. Like the storming of the beaches at Normandy, they spread over vast swaths of land and included air, sea, and ground assaults. Satellite <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/google-satellite-images-of-famous-places/eric-vega?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">images of famous</a> WW2 battlefields can offer a new perspective on these conflicts, not only anchoring them in place but also revealing the march of time. The following images are pinpointed to the central coordinates for WWII battles, some of which have been marked with a red circle. These points can be considered the epicenter of such famous engagements as the Battle of Stalingrad or Operation Dragoon.

What Famous WWII Battlefields Actually Look Like

Alby Thompson

Lists about the federal armed forces of the U.S. - its branches, history, practices, active members, and veterans.

The United States Armed Forces

When you think of the military, one of the first images that probably comes to mind is boot camp. Otherwise known as &quot;basic training,&quot; it's the military's way of preparing you mentally and physically for life in the armed forces. And how hard is basic training? Well, it depends who you ask... because a lot of military training is anything but basic.The most difficult military training programs test everything a person has... but which one is the most difficult? Everyone thinks they know what to expect from the Army after seeing a few movies, but most people don't know just how insane some of these programs can get.So, you might think you know what it's like to train for the Army, but getting a taste of what Delta Force goes through will be more than enough to make you think twice. These are the hardest training programs the US Military has to offer.

All US Military Training Programs, Ranked by Difficulty

Ranked recommendation lists for manga about everything, from military and ninja manga to cooking and zombie manga!!

Best Manga About EVERYTHING!

From incredible battles to depictions of military life, military manga has a lot to offer its readers. If warfare, politics, and military life fascinate you, use this list to guide you to your next great read.&nbsp;

You might be looking for military manga that deals with historical warfare. If so, a great choice is Osamu&nbsp;Tezuka&#39;s&nbsp;legendary manga&nbsp;Message to Adolf, which obviously relates to World War II. If you&#39;d rather read about more fantastical warfare, try Hajime Isayama&#39;s&nbsp;Attack on Titan,&nbsp;a manga&nbsp;in which humans must fight against man-eating monsters - but the monsters are not what they seem. No matter what you&#39;re looking for, if you&#39;re a fan of military manga, there&#39;s something on this list for you.

The rankings are determined by your votes, so vote up the manga about the military&nbsp;that you think deserve&nbsp;the top spots.

The Best Military Manga

Book

The 30+ Best Military Manga You Should Be Reading

Ranker Anime

The best 1990s <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/military-tv-shows-and-series/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">military TV shows</a> come in many forms. Some top &#39;90s military series are dramas, and other good 1990s military TV shows are comedies. World War II, the Civil War and the Vietnam War are just a few of the events covered in the programs on this list.

What are some of the series that you will find on this best 1990s military TV shows list? The U.S. Navy took center stage from 1995 &ndash; 2005 on the hit series JAG. David James Elliot and Catherine Bell led the show&#39;s talented cast throughout its 10 season run. &#39;Allo &#39;Allo is another good military show that aired on television during the 1990s.

Love and war combined to up the drama on the military series China Beach from 1988 &ndash; 1991. Other great programs that appear on this top 1990s military TV shows list include Tour of Duty, Sharpe, and All Quiet on the Preston Front.

What are the best 1990s military TV series? Did the military shows you think were the best make this list? Vote up the &#39;90s military shows you think are the best of the decade.

Cold War

The Best 1990s Military TV Series

The Best '90s Military TV Shows, Ranked By Fans

The best 2000s <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/military-tv-shows-and-series/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">military TV shows</a> come in many forms. Some top '00s military series are dramas, and other good 2000s military TV shows are comedies. World War II, the Civil War and the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/all-vietnam-war-movies-or-list-of-vietnam-war-movies/all-genre-movies-lists?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Vietnam War</a> are just a few of the events covered in the programs on this list.What are some of the series that you will find on this best 2000s military TV shows list? The HBO mini-series, Band of Brothers, took real-life stories of the U.S. Army's Easy Company and transformed them into an award-winning TV program. Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks served as executive producers of the project. The Unit is another good military show that aired during the 2000s.Foyle's War used the setting of WWII to create an entertaining and engaging detective series. Other great programs featured on this top 2000s military shows list include JAG, The State Within and Lock N' Load with R. Lee Ermey.Which 2000s military show is the best? Vote up your favorite '00s military TV show below, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section.&nbsp;

Sea Patrol

The Best 2000s Military TV Shows

2000s Military TV Shows | '00s Military Series List

Few things make you more proud to be a member of your country than watching a United States&nbsp;Navy Seal movies. Some of the films in this category are the most inspirational, patriotic movies in the history of film. There are even some movies with real Navy Seal team members&nbsp;in them. They are movies that honor those who have fought so bravely for our safety. It’s no wonder so many films tell stories about these elite seals. Perhaps the most intensely versatile branch of the American military is the Navy Seals. What are the best movies about Navy Seals? Vote up the best films below and see where your favorites rank!The movies on this list discuss the Navy Seals in one way or the other. Another famous movie Act of Valor actually featured a real member of the Navy Seals in the cast!This list has the best movies about Navy Seals including, Act of Valor, Lone Survivor, G.I. Jane, Navy Seals, Tears of the Sun, and Zero Dark Thirty. Vote for your favorite film and help it reach the top of the list.

Sniper

The Best Movies About Navy Seals

The Best Navy Seal Movies, Ranked By Fans

The motto of the United States Marine Corps is&nbsp;semper fidelis, meaning &quot;always faithful,&quot; but the motto of most marine movies is definitely&nbsp;semper badass. There are hundreds of films depicting the struggles and triumphs of some of the&nbsp;best marines (both fictional and real). In fact, some of the greatest marine&nbsp;characters&nbsp;just so happen to be some of the best characters ever written.&nbsp;Period. Movies starring marines like&nbsp;A Few Good Men&nbsp;and&nbsp;Full Metal Jacket&nbsp;remain classics decades after their release.

But that brings us to now. Given all these marines, who is the greatest marine character of all time? Who would you most want by your side in the mud or sand battling insurgents? Whether they&#39;re drill sergeants, lieutenants, or even disgruntled vets, we&#39;ve compiled a list of some of the best marines&nbsp;and need your help in voting the best characters up to the top.&nbsp;

So hop to it, marines, and vote up your favorite characters. And if your favorite fictional marine isn&#39;t&nbsp;listed, go ahead and add them to the list!

The Best Fictional Marines

Fictional Character

The 20+ Greatest Marines In TV & Film, Ranked

Ranker Entertainment

Lists that rank the best TV shows in every genre, from cartoons to horror, for those who were glued to their sets in the 1970s.

TV in the '70s

70s TV

&nbsp;The best 1970s <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/military-tv-shows-and-series/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">military TV shows</a> come in many genres. Some of the top &#39;70s military series are dramas, while other good 1970s military TV shows are comedies. World War II, the Civil War and the Vietnam War are just a few of the events covered in the programs on this list.

What are some of the series that you will find on this best 1970s military TV shows list? Hogan&#39;s Heroes appears near the top of this collection of military shows. This hilarious sitcom found humor in the most unexpected of places &ndash; a German POW camp amidst WWII. M*A*S*H is another good military show that aired during the 1970s, and was one of the most popular television shows of all time for many years.&nbsp;

A fictional British Army infantry regiment was featured in the ITV show Spearhead from 1978 &ndash; 1981. Other great series that are included on this top 1970s military TV shows list include Patrol Boat, Danger UXB and Spyforce.

What are the best 1970s military TV series? Did the military shows you think were the best make this list? Vote up the &#39;70s military shows you think are the best of the decade.

M*A*S*H

The Best 1970s Military TV Shows

The Best '70s Military Shows, Ranked By Fans

Military lists at Ranker - The ultimate source for hundreds of military lists and rankings

Military lists on Ranker

War Movies

Feeling patriotic? Check out this list of best army movies that has been&nbsp;ranked by fans of army films. All of the top army movies are on this list are all good, but if you believe that your favorite army movies are not high enough on the list, be sure ot vote them up. Good army movies give civilians a taste of what our soldiers go through in battle and throughout their daily lives. While not all of these films feature war, they all use the army as a central theme and feature some of the best soldier moves ever depicted on film. You might also be interested in <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/all-vietnam-war-movies-or-list-of-vietnam-war-movies/all-genre-movies-lists">Vietnam War movies</a> and <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/all-world-war-1-movies-or-list-of-world-war-i-movies/all-genre-movies-lists">World War I films</a>.&nbsp;Featuring <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-war-movies" target="_blank">war movies</a>, movies about soldiers, and military films, this list of the greatest army movies includes Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down, and Apocalypse Now.&nbsp;What are the best military movies? The best soldier movies create an emotional connection with the characters and depict exciting army action. Movies on this army movies list depict all time frames&nbsp;from recent, modern militaries&nbsp;to the armies of the past. If you're interested in the army, then these are the movies for you.Love movies with these types of themes? Check out some great <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-military-tv-shows/ranker-tv" target="_blank">military TV shows</a> here.&nbsp;

The Longest Day

The Greatest Army Movies Ever Made

The Best Army Movies Of All Time, Ranked By Fans

The Vietnam War - known in Vietnam as the Resistance War Against America - lasted from November 1, 1955, until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975.

The War in Vietnam

Looking closer at films, TV shows, docs, and miniseries that explore, recreate, and occasionally flub up real historical events.

Watching History

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, famous classics like Full Metal Jacket. The best Vietnam movies place the war in correct&nbsp;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 and ready for your votes. The beauty of this list is that you can vote for all your favorites not just one. 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 Vietnam&nbsp;war? Help decide by voting up the best Vietname war movies and vote down any that you think other fans should skip.

Rescue Dawn

The Best Vietnam War Movies

The Best Vietnam War Movies, Ranked By Film Fans

These are the most epic sieges in history, ranked by history buffs worldwide. Anyone can vote on this list of sieges, making it a collaborative list. So what do you think are the greatest sieges of all time? Make sure to add your own battles to these rankings if you see anything missing. Some of these famous battles are thousands of years old, but still remembered ... not for glory, but for the story they tell of humanities' epic struggles against itself.

Siege of Calais

The Most Incredible Sieges of All Time

Event

Greatest Sieges of All Time | List of Epic Seiges

Ranker Community

poll

Over 12,000 movie fans have voted to shape these rankings of the best military movies ever made. From war epics like Saving Private Ryan and The Longest Day, to modern classics like Zero Dark Thirty and Black Hawk Down, this list covers all eras of cinematic storytelling. Each movie on this list captures both the horror and heroism of war in vivid detail and evokes a range of powerful emotions from viewers.The Battle Of Algiers is an iconic film about the struggle for Algerian independence from France with gritty realism that has been praised by filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg. On the other hand Full Metal Jacket offers an unforgiving look at Marine Corps boot camp in Vietnam told through Stanley Kubrick’s unmistakable direction. Lastly Apocalypse Now takes us deep into the jungle during America's involvement in Vietnam with visceral visuals unlike anything seen before or since its 1979 release date.From classic dramas to action-packed thrillers, these are some of cinema's finest films about warfare - so don't forget to vote up your favorites.