Among the most essential war movies ever made, there are some classics that you should see even if the genre isn't your typical top choice. Even the best war movies of all time can be harrowing experiences with the brutal depictions of battle and the horrors faced by the soldiers. That can be even worse when the movie doesn't earn that kind of violence by delivering a story that fails to reflect and comment on the nature of war.

However, there are plenty of titles that do give a glimpse at what these conflicts were like while also delivering brilliant filmmaking, exciting stories, and commanding performances. Some of these are war movies based on true events, while others are more fictionalized takes on real wars. They cover movies set in World War II, the Vietnam War, the American Civil War, and many other battles fought across the world. From acclaimed filmmakers like Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan, these war movies are a must-watch for anyone.

See 10 War Movies Everyone Should Watch At Least Once

1. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

As U.S. troops storm the beaches of Normandy, three brothers lie dead on the battlefield, with a fourth trapped behind enemy lines. Ranger captain John Miller and seven men are tasked with penetrating German-held territory and bringing the boy home.

> Saving Private Ryan

2. Apocalypse Now (1979)

A U.S. Army officer serving in Vietnam is tasked with assassinating a renegade Special Forces Colonel who sees himself as a god.

> Apocalypse Now

3. Platoon (1986)

Chris Taylor, a neophyte recruit in Vietnam, finds himself caught in a battle of wills between two sergeants, one good and the other evil. A shrewd examination of the brutality of war and the duality of man in conflict.

> Platoon

4. Full Metal Jacket (1987)

A pragmatic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects the Vietnam War has on his fellow recruits from their brutal boot camp training to the bloody street fighting in Hue.

> Full Metal Jacket

5. Paths Of Glory (1957)

After a failed attack on a German position, a general orders three soldiers, chosen at random, court-martialed for cowardice and their commanding officer must defend them.

> Paths Of Glory

6. Black Hawk Down (2001)

Action/war drama based on the best-selling book detailing a near-disastrous mission in Somalia on October 3, 1993. On this date nearly 100 U.S. Army Rangers, commanded by Capt. Mike Steele, were dropped by helicopter deep into the capital city of Mogadishu to capture two top lieutenants of a Somali warlord.

> Black Hawk Down

7. Glory (1989)

Robert Gould Shaw leads the U.S. Civil War's first all-black volunteer company, fighting prejudices from both his own Union Army, and the ConfederatesGlory (1989).

> Glory

8. The Deer Hunter (1979)

An in-depth examination of the ways in which the Vietnam War impacts and disrupts the lives of several friends in a small steel mill town in Pennsylvania.

> The Deer Hunter

9. The Thin Red Line (1998)

Adaptation of James Jones' autobiographical 1962 novel, focusing on the conflict at Guadalcanal during the second World War.

> The Thin Red Line

10. The Hurt Locker (2008)

During the Iraq War, a Sergeant recently assigned to an army bomb squad is put at odds with his squad mates due to his maverick way of handling his work.

> The Hurt Locker

War movies, in all their varied forms, offer crucial windows into the human experience under unimaginable pressure. They compel us to confront the brutal realities of conflict, celebrate immense courage, and reflect on the profound sacrifices made. The films on this list are not just cinematic achievements; they are powerful reminders of history's lessons and the enduring resilience of the human spirit.