Steven Spielberg’s illustrious career has seen him direct and produce numerous war films that have left everlasting marks on cinema history.
While Saving Private Ryan is often lauded for its visceral portrayal of World War II, it’s not the only masterpiece in Spielberg’s war film repertoire.
Here, we rank his top seven war films based on audience scores given by viewers on Rotten Tomatoes, one of the most popular film review websites on the internet.
7. Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
Fresh Audience Score: 69%
Flags of Our Fathers, produced by Spielberg and directed by Clint Eastwood, tells the story behind one of the most iconic photographs in history: six U.S. Marines raising the American flag atop Iwo Jima during World War II. However, the movie isn’t just about battlefield heroism – it highlights the propaganda machine that turned these men into symbols of victory, even as they struggled with the horrors they had witnessed.
Flags of Our Fathers presents an unflinching look at the cost of war, not just on the battlefield but also in the aftermath, as soldiers are paraded as heroes while grappling with survivor’s guilt. While it wasn’t as universally praised as some of Spielberg’s other war-related projects, it’s an introspective take on wartime marketing remains powerful.
6. War Horse (2011)
Fresh Audience Score: 74%
A sweeping, emotionally charged epic, War Horse tells the story of a boy and his beloved horse, Joey, who is sold to the British army during World War I. The film follows Joey’s incredible journey across battlefields, affecting the lives of soldiers on both sides of the war.
Jeremy Irvine, in his breakout role as Albert, brings heartfelt sincerity to his performance, while Spielberg’s direction transforms what could have been a simple sentimental tale into a grand, old-fashioned war film. John Williams’ score and the film’s stunning cinematography make War Horse a visually breathtaking and deeply moving experience.
5. Empire of the Sun (1987)
Fresh Audience Score: 90%
A young Christian Bale leads Empire of the Sun, Spielberg’s adaptation of J.G. Ballard’s semi-autobiographical novel. The film follows Jim, a privileged British boy who becomes separated from his parents during the Japanese invasion of Shanghai in World War II. Forced to fend for himself in a war-torn world, Jim’s story is one of survival, loss, and resilience.
Spielberg’s knack for capturing the perspective of children in extraordinary circumstances shines once again in Empire of the Sun. With spectacular visuals, another haunting score by John Williams, and a deep performance by Bale, the film offers a look at the war through the eyes of a child forced to grow up far too soon.
4. The Bloody Hundredth (2019)
Fresh Audience Score: 91%
Among Spielberg’s many acclaimed war films, The Bloody Hundredth is a lesser-known candidate. This documentary, directed by Erik Nelson and produced by Spielberg, focuses on the legendary 100th Bomb Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces, also known as the “Bloody Hundredth” due to their devastating losses during World War II.
Featuring real-life footage and interviews with surviving veterans, the film pays tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of these airmen, and its historical significance makes it one of the most impactful war-related projects Spielberg has been involved with.
3. The Last Days (1998)
Fresh Audience Score: 92%
Produced by Spielberg, The Last Days is a harrowing documentary that chronicles the lives of five Hungarian Jews who survived the Holocaust. The film goes beyond recounting historical events: it personalizes them, making the horrors of the Holocaust feel immediate and devastating.
Winning the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, The Last Days is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable cruelty.
2. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Fresh Audience Score: 95%
Few war films have left as profound an impact on audiences as Saving Private Ryan. The film’s opening D-Day sequence remains one of the most intense and realistic depictions of combat ever put to screen.
Starring Tom Hanks as Captain John Miller, the film follows a group of soldiers tasked with rescuing Private James Ryan (Matt Damon), the last surviving brother of four soldiers. While the mission itself is fictional, the emotions of brotherhood, sacrifice, and the futility of war it depicts are deeply real.
Saving Private Ryan won Spielberg his second Oscar for Best Director and remains one of the most respected war films of all time.
1. Schindler’s List (1993)
Fresh Audience Score: 97%
Schindler’s List stands as Spielberg’s greatest war-related film and one of the most powerful films in history. Chronicling the true story of Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), a German industrialist who saved more than a thousand Jewish lives during the Holocaust, the film is a deeply emotional masterpiece.
Shot in black-and-white, Spielberg captures the horrors of the Holocaust with devastating realism. The cast is rounded up by Ralph Fiennes as Nazi officer Amon Göth, and Ben Kingsley as Jewish accountant Itzhak Stern.
The film, which Spielberg himself has called the most important movie he has ever made, has won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.