Ranking films is often a contentious issue as everyone prefers different genres and actors. While war films are one of the most popular genres, particularly among Daily Express readers, the debate on which is the best ever made is constantly split among viewers.
Entertainment site Parade has put together a list of the 52 best war movies of all time and some of the inclusions in the top 1= may shock some fans. Dunkirk, which received rave reviews for its immersive and powerful cinematic experience after being released in 2017, features as low as 10th in the list. Meanwhile, other, potentially lesser-known war movies feature higher in the rankings.
Parade said: “We’ve assembled a list of the 52 best war movies of all time, depicting war through many different prisms and perspectives.
“Encompassing everything from the awfulness of war to the far reaches of its absurdity, this list of military movies serves as our tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our prolonged times of peace–enjoy them on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day or any day.”
At the top of the list is Apocalypse Now which was released in 1979. It features a US Army officer serving in Vietnam who is tasked with killing a renegade Special Forces Colonel.
The oldest film in the top 10 is All Quiet on the Western Front. Although a recreation of the movie was released in 2022, the original version from 1930 comes third in the list.
In terms of recent war films in the top 10, both We Were Soldiers and Dunkirk feature. The former was released in 2002 while Dunkirk hit cinemas eight years ago.
Meanwhile, Patton, Air Force and Paths of Glory make up the top five. Full Metal Jacket, M*A*S*H and Midway also feature to finish the top 10.
Here are the top 10 best war movies ever made, according to Parade.
- Apocalypse Now (1979)
- Patton (1970)
- All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
- Air Force (1943)
- Paths of Glory (1957)
- We Were Soldiers (2002)
- Full Metal Jacket (1987)
- M*A*S*H (1970)
- Midway (1976)
- Dunkirk (2017)