Since the birth of cinema,war movieshave acted as powerful vehicles for delivering gut-wrenching anti-war messages exploring the deteriorating effects of conflict. While some films may present themselves as being anti-warfare, in the process, they often end up glorifying battle, and bloodshed looks like a heroic act to be lauded and praised. However, there have been some truly effective anti-war films that showcased the soulless, unnecessary, and inhumane nature of allowing citizens to fight and die for political causes from which they will not even benefit.
Thegreatest war movies of all timeall echo themes around the need to end conflict, yet not all were entirely anti-war. Some of the most compellinganti-war movies were produced while conflicts were still ongoingand acted as pleas for those with the power to do so to end the needless violence and ensure soldiers were able to reunite with their families before facing unspeakable harm. With films that convey both the personal and the political,the best anti-war movies showcase the harrowing realism at the heart of all forms of violence.
Johnny Got His Gun
Cast
Joe Bonham, a young American soldier, suffers devastating injuries from an artillery shell on the last day of World War I, leaving him a quadruple amputee without the ability to see, hear, or speak. Trapped within his own mind, Joe battles to retain his sanity and find a way to communicate with the outside world. Using Morse code, he taps out messages on his hospital bed, pleading to be put on display as a living example of the true horrors of war.
The famedRoman HolidayscreenwriterDalton Trumbo adapted his own 1938 novelJohnny Got His Gunfor one of the most terrifyingly bleak anti-war films ever made. Set in the midst of the First World War, this starred Timothy Bottoms as Joe Bonham, a young soldier who awoke to the discovery that after being hit by an artillery shell, he has lost eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and limbs. Yet, despite being unable to communicate, he remained conscious, a prisoner in his own body without the means to warn the world of the true price of warfare.
Born on the Fourth of July
Ron Kovic, driven by a strong sense of patriotism, enlists in the Marine Corps and is deployed to Vietnam. His life takes a drastic turn when he sustains a severe injury, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Returning to a nation divided over the war, Kovic struggles with his newfound disability and the disillusionment with his former beliefs. His path to recovery and self-discovery leads him to become a passionate anti-war activist, using his voice to advocate for peace and the rights of veterans, redefining his purpose and legacy.
Born on the Fourth of Julywas Oliver Stone’s powerful anti-war story that detailed the life of Ron Kovic (Tom Cruise) over 20 years. While the young Kovic grew up with an unwavering desire to fight for his country, his military service during the Vietnam War left him paralyzed.This true story turned Kovic into a passionate anti-war activistas he could share with the world his own difficult experiences and the empty life of alcoholism and injury that awaited him when he returned home after trading his ability to walk to fight for a war he didn’t believe in.
The Great Dictator
The Great Dictator is a satirical comedy-drama film that tells the story of Adenoid Hynkel, a parody of Adolf Hitler, and a lookalike Jewish barber. Released in 1940, the film stars Charlie Chaplin, who also wrote and directed the project, as both Hynkel and the barber, in a commentary on the rise of fascism in Europe.
As the defining comedian of the silent age, it’s incredible to note that when Chaplin finally decided to open his mouth, he had something vital to say.The Great Dictatorwas a hilarious satire that showcased the true absurdity and egomania of the tyrannical leader Adolf Hitleras it poked fun at fascism, anti-semitism, and the Nazis. While Chaplin later said if he knew of the true extent of the Holocaust, he may not have madeThe Great Dictator(viaBBC), it remains the most pressing example of the general public’s opposition to the war as it was happening.
Platoon
Platoon is a war drama directed by Oliver Stone, featuring Charlie Sheen as a young soldier experiencing the harrowing realities of Vietnam. Released in 1986, the film chronicles his moral struggle within a divided platoon, led by the contrasting characters of Willem Dafoe and Tom Berenger. Platoon offers a raw depiction of the harsh conditions and ethical dilemmas faced by soldiers, contributing to its critical acclaim and multiple Academy Awards.
Platoonwas among the most realistic and pressing of all Vietnam War movies, whose harrowing ground-level view was made all the more effective due to writer and director Oliver Stone’s genuine war experiences. Stone was a veteran of the 25th Infantry Division from 1967 to 1968 and was twice wounded in action. He wrotePlatoonbased on his own wartime experiences. With a strong story elevated by fantastic performances from Charlie Sheen and Willem Dafoe,Platoonshowcased the war in a way no one before him had and delivered an honest and powerful plea toward ending bloodshed.
Schindler’s List
Schindler’s List is a historical drama directed by Steven Spielberg, chronicling the efforts of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved over a thousand Polish Jews during the Holocaust. Starring Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, and Ralph Fiennes, the film vividly portrays the atrocities committed during World War II while highlighting Schindler’s transformation from a profit-driven industrialist to a humanitarian savior.
The true story of Oskar Schindlerwas one of the most inspiring of the entire Second World War, as he wielded his power as a factory owner to save the lives of thousands of Polish-Jewish refugees from the Holocaust. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this powerful anti-war drama signaled the director’s maturity as this Best Picture winner earned a reputation as one of the greatest movies of all time. With a poignant performance from Liam Neeson as Schindler and an astounding villainous turn from Ralph Fiennes as the soulless Nazi Amon Göth,Schindler’s Listshowed the horror and humanity of WWII.
All Quiet on the Western Front
All Quiet on the Western Front is a 1930 film that follows a group of young German soldiers navigating the brutal conditions of World War I on the Western Front, revealing the stark disparity between their initial patriotism and the grim realities of war.
Despite being released nearly 100 years ago,All Quiet on the Western Fronthas remained among the most powerful anti-war movies ever, as its terror-inducing depiction of the First World War will forever be seared into viewers' minds. With an astounding performance from Lew Ayres as Paul Bäumer,All Quiet on the Western Frontshowcased the shell-shocked nature of veterans of the conflict. As a gruesome and morbid tale of war, director Lewis Milestone made a document that would stand the test of time and has remained highly relevant, with an excellent 2022 remake even being made.
The Deer Hunter
The Deer Hunter is a 1978 war drama film by director Michael Cimino that centers on three men in a small steel mill town in Pennsylvania during the Vietnam War. The film explores the effects of the war on small-town workers, with the trio of Russian-American friends bonding over one last hunting trip. Holding onto the hope of bringing home militaristic glory back to their friends and families, their reality quickly comes crashing down when they experience the war in Vietnam firsthand.
The Deer Huntershowcased the deteriorating effects of the Vietnam War on the psychology of soldiers better than any other film. What started as a group of three tight-knit friends from Pennsylvania heading off to fight for their country quickly turned into a heartbreaking story of personal destruction best encapsulated byChristopher Walken as Corporal Nikanor Chevotarevich, who won an Academy Award for his portrayal of a veteran who’d rather stay in Vietnam and play underground Russian roulette than address the horrors he went through. At over three hours long,The Deer Hunterwas a captivating and terrifying anti-war film.
The Thin Red Line
The Thin Red Line is a war film directed by Terrence Malick, based on James Jones' autobiographical novel. Released in 1998, it focuses on the Battle of Guadalcanal during World War II, exploring the psychological toll of combat on soldiers. The ensemble cast includes Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, and Nick Nolte, among others, and delves into themes of survival, fear, and the impact of war on human nature.
The Thin Red LinewasTerrence Malick’s powerful adaptation of James Jones’s 1962 novel, which fictionalized the Battle of Mount Austen in World War II. With an impressive cast including Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, and George Clooney, this darkly philosophical film captured the emotional depth and harrowing intensity of those engaging in conflict. WhileThe Thin Red Lineunderperformed at the box office and was overshadowed by the success ofSaving Private Ryanthe same year, it remains a vital document of anti-war cinema.
Full Metal Jacket
Full Metal Jacket, directed by Stanley Kubrick, follows U.S. Marine recruits through rigorous boot camp training and onto the battlefields of Vietnam, highlighting the war’s impact on soldiers' psyches. Released in 1987, the film stars Matthew Modine, Vincent D’Onofrio, and R. Lee Ermey.
Director Stanley Kubrick made several incredible anti-war movies throughout his career, all tackling different aspects of conflict.Full Metal Jacketitself played out like two different movies as viewers were subjected to the rigorous challenges of army boot camp before being dropped right into the pure intensity of ongoing conflict in Vietnam. While the entire film boasted a powerful anti-war message, the most effective aspect of this film wasVincent D’Onofrio’s portrayal of Private Leonard “Gomer Pyle” Lawrence, an overweight and ridiculed recruit who suffered a mental breakdown and ended his own life before even making it to the war.
Das Boot
Das Boot is a 1982 German war film directed by Wolfgang Petersen. The narrative follows the harrowing journey of a German U-boat crew during World War II, capturing the relentless tension and claustrophobia of underwater combat. With Jürgen Prochnow starring as the U-boat’s commanding officer, the film offers a stark, immersive portrayal of the psychological and physical challenges faced by the crew under extreme conditions.
The West German submarine movieDas Bootdepicted both the excitement and tedious nature of life for the crew of the U-96 during the Second World War. However, as the crew set out on a hazardous patrol in the Battle of the Atlantic, they experience the pure terror and claustrophobic nature of war at sea, where no matter where they turn, there’s no way to avoid the conflict of battle. As a grand and epic story,Das Bootcaptured the intensity of its conditions with a believability that most war movies never reach.
