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

Wars on Screen

Military

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

Lists about armed forces and military tactics around the world.

Military Men

Weird History

Since the dawn of civilization, there have been warriors who have sought to conquer neighboring territories under a single king or have dedicated their lives to defending their peoples&nbsp;against ruthless invaders. Though the motivations of these warriors have evolved through time -&nbsp;as well as their vicious efficiency, training, and arsenals -&nbsp;warfare has been a common occurrence throughout history. Those civilizations who have become known for their military dominance, however, did so with their own elite soldiers.

Whether&nbsp;it be the terrifying madness and savage reputation of the Viking berserkers and the Maori warriors, the life-long dedication and training of the Spartan Hoplites and the Aztec Jaguar warriors, or&nbsp;the advanced tactical brilliance and fearsome weaponry of the Mongol horde and the Samurai, history&#39;s&nbsp;elite super soldiers had their own set of&nbsp;weapons, tactics,&nbsp;and training that earned them <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scariest-warriors-in-history/claire-stephens" target="_blank">their frightening reputations</a>. But which of them was the toughest?

Who Is The Toughest Of History's Elite 'Super Soldiers'?

General

Who Is The Toughest Of History's Elite 'Super Soldiers'? 

Zach Seemayer

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

poll

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

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

Watchworthy

The general, as one <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://classics.mit.edu/Tzu/artwar.html">famous ancient text</a> on warfare put it, is “the arbiter of the people’s fate, the man on whom it depends whether the nation shall be in peace or in peril.”&nbsp;Few attributes have decided success or failure in military matters quite like wisdom. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/costly-mistakes/michael-muir">Stupidity</a> can throw away even the greatest advantages in men, firepower, and<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/clever-tactics-technology/michael-muir?ref=profile_own"> technology</a>. It is the cleverest generals who can innovate, inspire, or just find a way out of a jam nobody else could see.&nbsp;This collection looks at a diverse array of some of history’s smartest military minds, from the Japanese warlord who could end a siege with minimum fuss to the cruel but gifted English amateur who transformed his country’s military forever.

10 Of History's Cleverest Generals - And How They Used Their Wits To Change The World

Person

Military Conflicts

Few cinematic experiences are as exhilarating, or as terrifying, as <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/intense-final-fights-in-movies/jacob-shelton">the battle</a>. These moments, when two forces square off against one another, are frequently excuses for film studios and directors to show off just what movies can do, and there is often nothing quite like the adrenaline rush one gets while sitting in a movie theater as such moments unfold across the big screen.Battles are particularly important for both historical dramas and for science fiction and fantasy. In many cases, even <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/final-fights-in-movies-with-emotional-stakes/tyler-mitchell">battles</a> that are fictional draw on established facts, which helps to ground them in the plausible world of reality rather than simply in the fantastic.

Fictional Movie And TV Battles That Were Inspired By Real History

Fictional Movie Battles That Were Inspired By Real History

Thomas West

Graveyard Shift

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

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

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&#39;s the military&#39;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&#39;t know just how insane some of these programs can get.

So, you might think you know what it&#39;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

Aaron Edwards

Culture

It&#39;s fair to say that a lot of discourse today is derived from combat - like how political goals are often labeled &quot;the war on &#39;X&#39;.&quot;

This influence is also seen in everyday conversation;&nbsp;many common idioms and phrases have surprisingly violent beginnings. This collection showcases some of the most surprising expressions that have military origins.

Military Expressions People Use In Everyday Language Without Any Idea

Interesting

Throughout history, <a href="https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/getting-the-lowdown-on-customs-and-courtesies.html" target="_blank">militaries</a> have usually been organized with the goal of uniformity. While the specific <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/evolution-of-american-military-uniforms-throughout-history/daveesons" target="_blank">uniforms</a>, codes of conduct, and customs have all varied depending on time and culture, the goal is the same: to create a strong sense of shared identity. This creates camaraderie among soldiers&nbsp;while also making them easier to control. But occasionally, certain military units have emerged that stood out from their comrades.

Often, these have been small units made up of elite soldiers, tasked with protecting their ruler in combat. These were common both in ancient&nbsp;armies&nbsp;in places like Persia, Greece, and Macedon, as well as&nbsp;in more recent militaries like Napoleon&#39;s&nbsp;Grande Arm&eacute;e. But there have also been a handful of units that were known for having a <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/ww2-insignia/michael-muir" target="_blank">certain distinctive style</a>, or a specific purpose that set&nbsp;them apart. These units remind us that even in the military, the deeply human desire to stand out from the crowd makes itself felt.

9 Military Units That Marched To The Beat Of Their Own Drummer

Jim Rowley

Just because someone is fictional, deceased, or an entire universe doesn't stop Ranker from tossing them into Battle Royale-type tournaments against their worthiest foes.

Choose Your Fighter

In the era of the battle royale, it&rsquo;s no wonder that renewed interest has arisen in deciphering once and for all who the toughest warriors of all time were, both in the general sense and in the specific. Ranking various historical armies and their members is all well and good, but the real excitement comes from matching up the most notable military figures from the annals of history and trying to figure out which of them would win in an all-out fight to the finish.&nbsp;

Back in the days before firepower became the deciding&nbsp;factor in warfare, military leaders could play a more direct role in combat,&nbsp;and some of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/toughest-females/melissa-sartore" target="_blank">history&rsquo;s greatest men and women</a> weren&rsquo;t afraid to get their swords dirty right alongside their troops. It is these historical brawlers who make for the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-fight-partners/jacob-shelton" target="_blank">best hypothetical fight cards</a>&nbsp;and for some truly combative debates.&nbsp;

Who Was The Toughest Of History’s Legendary Warriors?

Which Of These Legendary Warriors Was The Toughest In History?

Stephan Roget

The best movies about soldiers coming home from war are some of the most powerful and moving films ever made. They're also some of the best movies about the horror of war, period. These films will make you cry, laugh, and cheer for these brave men and women who have sacrificed to protect our freedom. Look for classics like Born on the Fourth of July and modern films such as American Sniper.Some of these great soldier movies feature returning veterans dealing with PTSD or other mental health issues after their service is done. Others focus on soldiers who have been injured in combat or those who have lost friends in battle. Still, others tell stories about military families coping with a loved one's deployment or return from war. Whatever the plot may be, these films all feature characters (and actors) portraying fictional or real-life soldiers coming home from active duty to their loved ones at home – whether they're welcomed back with open arms or not.Which films do you think are good movies about a soldier returning home? Vote up your favorites below.&nbsp;

The Best Movies About Soldiers Coming Home

The 17 Best Movies About Veterans Returning Home

Ranker Film

No matter how much time you devote to studying military history, there's always <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/costly-mistakes/michael-muir">more you don't know</a>. After all, people have been fighting for <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/real-historical-combat/michael-muir">thousands of years</a>. In our listmaking here at Weird History, we've picked up a lot of new info – everything from the state of the technological art for medieval helmets 700 years ago, to specs of the ubiquitous tank that helped save the Soviets in WWII.Here's a roundup of the most interesting and illuminating military history facts we picked up in 2022. Vote up the ones that spark your attention!

Military History Facts We Learned In 2022

Gordon Cameron

The very best military science fiction shows on television, ranked from best to worst. This list of the greatest military science fiction shows also includes pictures from the shows when available. Popular military science fiction TV shows have been a staple of television for years, so there's often debate about what the most entertaining military science fiction show of all time is. Don't let your favorite military science fiction television programs in history get to the bottom of the list- be sure to vote them up so they have the chance to reach the top spot. The list of military science <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-scifi-television-series-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">fiction television shows</a> below includes information like the program's cast, creator and premiere date when available.List ranges from Stargate Universe to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and more.This list answers the questions, "What is the best military science fiction show of all time?" and "What are the greatest military science fiction shows?"

Battlestar Galactica

The Best Military Science Fiction TV Shows

Best Military Science Fiction TV Shows List

Nostalgia for the movies, TV shows, stars, music, food, fashion, and toys of the decade that was already so long ago.

Revisiting the 2000s

2000s TV

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

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

Military lists on Ranker

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&#39;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

History

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

War Movies

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.

Full Metal Jacket

The Best Military Movies Ever Made

The Best Military 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

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.