The Academy sure does love war movies. Over the course of theOscars' history, they have given dozens upon dozens of films in the war genre golden statuettes for their artistic value, including the very first Best Picture winner, theunfortunately obscure but tragically underratedWings. A whopping 22 films have earned the top Academy Award, and plenty of them are among the most influential classics in the genre.
More than perhaps any other kind of war film, the Academy loves movies set during World War I and World War II. From old artworks with incredible historical value like the epic dramaThe Best Years of Our Lives, to more modern meditations on the concept of war like the masterpieceSchindler’s List,many movies set during these horribly bleak periods of human history have been recipients of Hollywood’s most coveted award.
10’Mrs. Miniver' (1942)
Directed by William Wyler
In the incredibleMrs. Miniver, winner of six Academy Awards, a British family struggles to survive the first months of World War II, dodging bombs while realizing just how fragile the human condition really is. This is one ofthe best war movies that won Best Picture, wearing its heart on its sleeve and displaying the full power ofWilliam Wyleras a director.
While very obviously a propaganda film,Mrs. Minivermight very well be the best propaganda film made during World War II—And that’s saying a lot.Balancing tragedy, romance, and nice touches of comedy, Wyler created a really heavy drama that soars thanks to a smartly written script and a timeless performance by the greatGreer Garson, who deservedly won an Oscar for her work.
Watch on Indieflix
9’From Here to Eternity' (1953)
Directed by Fred Zinnemann
Though it’s perhaps best remembered nowadays for earningFrank Sinatrathe Oscar that he needed to really cement himself as an outstanding actor,From Here to Eternityhas an awful lot more going for it. Winner of a whopping eight Academy Awards, it’s a romantic drama about a private cruelly punished for not boxing on his unit’s team at an American Army base in 1941 Hawaii, just shortly before the Pearl Harbor attack.
This is one of thegreatest romance films that have won Best Picture, thanks to a number of timeless performances and a towering depiction of the darkest side of the U.S. military,a subject that wasn’t explored in movies very often at the time. It’s an incredible film, definitely deserving more recognition than it gets.
Watch on TCM
8’Wings’ (1927)
Directed by William A. Wellman
As the first winner of the Best Picture Oscar,Wingsis a film of tremendous historical value. Even beyond that, however, it’s an excellent movie in its own right. It tells the epic romantic story of two young WWI fighter pilots, one rich and one middle-class, who fall in love with the same woman.
Technically impressive and with a narrative that has aged beautifully, remaining utterly enthralling almost a century later,Wingsisoh so much more than just a museum piece.For those looking for a good gateway into the fascinating world of silent film and early Hollywood cinema, this riveting depiction of World War I is the perfect option.
Watch on Tubi
7’Patton' (1970)
Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner
Pattonis a biopic about the titular GeneralGeorge S. Patton Jr., following the World War II phase of his controversial career. StarringGeorge C. Scottoffering a monumental performance in what’sperhaps his greatest movie,Pattonis a psychologically complex dissection of the titular character, touching on themes of the implications of leadership in times of war.
Richly layered and unrelenting as it dives deeper and deeper into the psyche of its lead character over the course of its nearly three hours of runtime,Pattonisthe perfect depiction of war as hell. While it sometimes has a hard time not painting its protagonist as a hero,it ultimately succeeds as one of the most nuanced biopics and character studies ever made.
Watch on Amazon
6’All Quiet on the Western Front' (1930)
Directed by Lewis Milestone
Nowadays, general audiences may be more familiar with its highly acclaimed and Oscar-lauded 2022 German remake. However, the original American version ofAll Quiet on the Western Frontremains the superior portrayal of this harrowing, highly character-driven story about the devastating inhumanity that the horrors of war engender.
This is far and away one ofthe best movies of the 1930s,making its Best Picture win not only understandable, but incredibly satisfying as well. The movie’s battle sequences are astonishing for a picture of its age, but it’s at its best when it quiets down and spends time with its richly complex and engaging characters.
5’The Best Years of Our Lives' (1946)
Though he’s best known for his amazing historical epicBen-Hur, director William Wylermade another epic on a much more restrained scale that’s perhaps his very best work:The Best Years of Our Lives, where three WWII veterans return home to the American Midwest to discover that they and their families have been changed permanently.
Both during the war and in the post-war period, many films tackled the effects of the conflict and its impact on American life. Few pictures, however, evaluated the effects of such horrific events on veterans with quite as much complexity, pathos, and sincerity as Wyler’s magnum opus.Even today, it’s an engrossing watch with tons of staying power.
Watch on Prime
4’The Bridge on the River Kwai' (1957)
Directed by David Lean
English auteurDavid Leanwas the master of epics, one of the most rivetingembodiments of the artistic values of classic Hollywoodduring its Golden Age and beyond. One of his best films isThe Bridge on the River Kwai, a psychological drama of gargantuan proportions where a group of British prisoners of war are forced to build a railway bridge for their Japanese captors, not knowing that the Allied forces are planning a raid to destroy it.
River Kwaiis as much of a celebration of bravery as it is a critique of the irrationality of honor and the roles that people play in a war.Playing with the tropes of the war genre and examining all the façets of war in-depth, Lean crafted an outstanding masterpiece that was more than deserving of its sweep at the 1958 Oscars, where it took seven statuettes home.
The Bridge On The River Kwai
Watch on AMC+
3’Casablanca' (1942)
Directed by Michael Curtiz
With a pair of legendary performances byHumphrey BogartandIngrid Bergman, as well as one ofthe greatest screenplays in film history,Casablancais a timeless classic that any movie fan should watch at least once in their lives. It’s the sweeping romantic tale of a cynical American expatriate struggling to decide whether or not to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French Morocco.
Casablancais a cinematic achievement like no other. Dark yet unabashedly romantic, deeply philosophical and hopeful,it’s an interesting exploration of themes of luck and the power of the past. There are few war films that get better and better with age, andMichael Curtiz’s greatest masterpiece is certainly one of them.
Casablanca
Watch on Max
2’Schindler’s List' (1993)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
His career has been full of ups and downs, but denying thatSteven Spielbergis one of the best, most influential, and most iconic filmmakers in the history of American cinema would be silly. Everyone has a different favorite Spielberg movie, but the best is probably his highly acclaimedSchindler’s List, a hard-hittingbiopic about this controversial figure, a German industrialist in Nazi-occupied Poland who grew increasingly concerned about his Jewish workers after witnessing their persecution by the German regime.
Dripping with emotion and poignancy,Schindler’s Listis not only one of the most profoundly affecting war films ever made, but one of the most profoundly affecting movies in general. Its depiction of the subject-matter is both sensitive and harrowing, displaying the atrocious horrors of the Holocaust while leaving plenty of room for hope and humanity.
Schindler’s List (1995)
1’Lawrence of Arabia' (1962)
David Lean really was the undisputed leading exponent of the cinematic epic, andLawrence of Arabiais the crown jewel of his amazing filmography. One ofthe best epics that won Best Picture, it’s a biopic following the story of T.E. Lawrence, the English officer who united and led the Arab tribes against the Turks during World War I.
Everyone involved inLawrence of Arabiais at the top of their game, from Lean offering the most sprawling and visually impressive direction of his career toPeter O’Tooledelivering the strongest performance of his illustrious career.It’s a really satisfying feeling when a war movie as timeless and admirable as the masterwork that isLawrence of Arabiawins Hollywood’s top award.
