Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

red dog 1

(32,473 posts)
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 04:00 PM Thursday

What are your five favorite WW2 movies?

1) Saving Private Ryan
2) Defiance
3) Windtalkers
4) Hacksaw Ridge
5) Kelly's Heroes

48 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
What are your five favorite WW2 movies? (Original Post) red dog 1 Thursday OP
Casa Blanca ret5hd Thursday #1
The Great Escape. Easterncedar Thursday #2
Mine too. LoisB Thursday #17
Here are mine: Paladin Thursday #3
I'll play. justaprogressive Thursday #4
don't forget "Das Boot" Shellback Squid Thursday #5
Battle of Britain 4K on the way Omaha Steve Thursday #25
"Das Boot" was the first one that I thought of. Big expensive production of a great story. FadedMullet Friday #36
pink submarines lapfog_1 Thursday #6
;-{) Enemy at the Gates Goonch Thursday #7
I was listening to a hockey game on the radio, maybe a couple years back... Harker Thursday #16
Here: Chasstev365 Thursday #8
Bridge Over the River Kwai. From Here to Eternity. The Great Escape. Stalag 13. Casablanca debm55 Thursday #9
Bridge Over the River Kwai, Casablanca, Stalag 17 we have in common, Deb! Coventina Thursday #33
Uhhhh...Full Metal Jacket is Vietnam Zorro Thursday #10
Full Metal Jacket is Vietnam Shambala Thursday #11
2 dweller Thursday #12
The Great Raid LogDog75 Thursday #13
Great movie! red dog 1 Thursday #23
To Be or Not to Be both versions mucifer Thursday #14
Sound of Music GreatGazoo Thursday #15
In no order, and subject to revision... Harker Thursday #18
No order: Aristus Thursday #19
Add to the others mentioned GP6971 Thursday #20
Dirty Dozen is my favorite Skittles Thursday #21
Five favorites displacedvermoter Thursday #22
Allowing for artistic license, I found The Monuments Men... 3catwoman3 Thursday #24
I just re-watched it the other night red dog 1 Friday #47
12 o'clock high Historic NY Thursday #26
A lot of great movies mentioned. I would add The Thin Red Line. Borogove Thursday #27
My Fav Is Stalag 17. BBbats Thursday #28
I would add Mrs. Miniver Lulu KC Thursday #29
"Mrs. Miniver" was "worth a hundred battleships." Paladin Friday #40
Casablanca. greatauntoftriplets Thursday #30
Let's say the ones i saw with my WWIi vet dad. dem4decades Thursday #31
I got an in person autograph from PT 109 Omaha Steve Thursday #32
Very cool! displacedvermoter Friday #46
Squadron 303 - of course 303squadron Thursday #34
I like all the movies you listed, but Charlie Chapulin Thursday #35
Your two suggestions are great. I almost posted "The Thin Blue Line" so thanks for saving me the embarassment. FadedMullet Friday #37
Thanks for the correction, Charlie, I'll fix that right now. red dog 1 Friday #44
Red Dog - Do you believe all the great suggestions that folks are coming up with? FadedMullet Friday #38
Yeah, most of them are movies I've seen & liked. red dog 1 Friday #43
Cross of Iron Sewa Friday #39
I have always thought PCB66 Friday #41
Hard to say. Most blockbuster WW2 movies are crap, especially if they're American malthaussen Friday #42
12 O'Clock High VGNonly Friday #45
Thinking hard on this one: discntnt_irny_srcsm 7 hrs ago #48

Easterncedar

(5,497 posts)
2. The Great Escape.
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 04:06 PM
Thursday

I have watched it more times than I can count.

Das Boot I watched only once, but it has stayed with me through the decades ever since.

Paladin

(32,257 posts)
3. Here are mine:
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 04:08 PM
Thursday

1. "Twelve O'clock High"

2. "Bridge On The River Kwai"

3. "In Which We Serve"

4. "Schindler's List"

5. "Saving Private Ryan"

justaprogressive

(6,289 posts)
4. I'll play.
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 04:08 PM
Thursday

1) Is Paris Burning?
2) The Great Escape
3) 12 o'clock High
4) The Train
5) Run Silent, Run Deep

Shellback Squid

(9,859 posts)
5. don't forget "Das Boot"
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 04:14 PM
Thursday

fab film

Dam Busters
Bridge over the River Kwai
Das Boot
Battle of Britain (except the dog)
Great Escape

Omaha Steve

(108,400 posts)
25. Battle of Britain 4K on the way
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 10:49 PM
Thursday

Dear valued customer,

After our 2024 restoration and 4K release of A Bridge Too Far, we knew that following up with Battle Of Britain was the next logical step! It has been a joy watching this mammoth restoration come together, and we are very thankful for the work from the wonderful team at Fidelity In Motion for making it happen.

Our initial scan discovered a short two-minute section of the film was not present in the negative, instead replaced with white space in the middle of the reel. This, of course, sent us in hunt of the missing footage, to ensure our restoration is complete and uncompromised.

We are happy to say that a superior source for this two-minute section has now been found, and we are thrilled to see this scanned and built into the restoration.

While this means a disappointing further delay, we know that there is no other option for this key release - our proud #500 for Imprint Films.

Our new release date will be 18 February 2026. Your order, including any other titles, will be shipped together on or before this date.

Thank you for your patience and for your ongoing support of Imprint Films.

VIA VISION ENTERTAINMENT & IMPRINT FILMS

Harker

(17,397 posts)
16. I was listening to a hockey game on the radio, maybe a couple years back...
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 06:19 PM
Thursday

and there were players involved named Zaitsev and Kulikov.

Chasstev365

(7,077 posts)
8. Here:
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 04:20 PM
Thursday

The Longest Day
The Battle of Britain
A Bridge Too Far
Sink The Bismarck
Das Boot
Enemy at The Gates
Tora, Tora, Tora
Memphis Bell
Triump of the Spirt (Willem Dafoe Defoe Holocaust film)


debm55

(55,502 posts)
9. Bridge Over the River Kwai. From Here to Eternity. The Great Escape. Stalag 13. Casablanca
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 04:22 PM
Thursday

Coventina

(29,099 posts)
33. Bridge Over the River Kwai, Casablanca, Stalag 17 we have in common, Deb!
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 11:40 PM
Thursday

South Pacific

The Monuments Men (I'm an Art Historian, it's not a great movie, but I'm a sucker for the subject matter)

Zorro

(18,342 posts)
10. Uhhhh...Full Metal Jacket is Vietnam
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 04:29 PM
Thursday

Here's a few I like:

Fury
The Guns of Navarone
The Hill
Father Goose
Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison

Shambala

(257 posts)
11. Full Metal Jacket is Vietnam
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 04:36 PM
Thursday

My choices from the Pacific Theater.

From Here To Eternity
24 Eyes
Grave of the Fireflies
Tora Tora Tora
Unbroken


LogDog75

(1,095 posts)
13. The Great Raid
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 04:55 PM
Thursday

Based on the true story of Allied Forces attacking a Japanese prisoner of war camp holding over 500 Allied prisoners in occupied Philippines. The surprise raid in January of 1945 inflicted heavy casualties on the Japanese while Allied Forces had minimal losses. The successful raid freed over 500 prisoners.

GreatGazoo

(4,459 posts)
15. Sound of Music
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 06:12 PM
Thursday

Casablanca
Star Wars: New Hope (WW2 disguised as Sci-fi)
Wizard of Oz (preceded WW2 but uncannily prescient)
Hope and Glory

Harker

(17,397 posts)
18. In no order, and subject to revision...
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 06:25 PM
Thursday

"Fires on the Plain"

"Das Boot"

"The Burmese Harp"

"The Bridge on the River Kwai"

"The Dirty Dozen"

Ultimately for me, the only good war movie is an anti-war movie.

Aristus

(71,625 posts)
19. No order:
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 06:48 PM
Thursday

Saving Private Ryan.
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.
Casablanca.
The Winter War.
White Tiger.

Skittles

(169,460 posts)
21. Dirty Dozen is my favorite
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 07:07 PM
Thursday

I don't think I could name five

I love Full Metal Jacket but that ain't no WWII

displacedvermoter

(4,121 posts)
22. Five favorites
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 07:27 PM
Thursday

Midway (Henry Fonda version)
The Longest Day
Tora, Tora, Tora
Sink the Bismarck
Night of the Generals

red dog 1

(32,473 posts)
47. I just re-watched it the other night
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 01:52 PM
Friday

Very good film with a great cast, including George Clooney (as director and actor)

Lulu KC

(8,477 posts)
29. I would add Mrs. Miniver
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 11:10 PM
Thursday

I need to rewatch it for the zillionth time. I'm a sucker for the part with Dunkirk and what happened while Mr. Miniver was gone.

Paladin

(32,257 posts)
40. "Mrs. Miniver" was "worth a hundred battleships."
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 09:23 AM
Friday

That was what Winston Churchill said about the profound effect of "Mrs. Miniver" on the allied war effort. No slap in cinematic history had more influence than the one Mrs. Miniver laid on that arrogant downed Luftwaffe pilot.

dem4decades

(13,654 posts)
31. Let's say the ones i saw with my WWIi vet dad.
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 11:16 PM
Thursday

Longest Day
Guns of Naverone
PT 109
Dirty Dozen
The Great Escape

Were these the best, no but seeing them with him was special.

303squadron

(771 posts)
34. Squadron 303 - of course
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 11:51 PM
Thursday

Squadron 303
Zone of Interest
The Imitation Game
Hacksaw Ridge
Churchill

Casablanca is the greatest movie ever made!

Charlie Chapulin

(372 posts)
35. I like all the movies you listed, but
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 11:59 PM
Thursday

Full Metal Jacket is about Vietnam.

I would add The Thin Red Line to your list. And Letters From Iwo Jima.

FadedMullet

(683 posts)
37. Your two suggestions are great. I almost posted "The Thin Blue Line" so thanks for saving me the embarassment.
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 12:21 AM
Friday

red dog 1

(32,473 posts)
44. Thanks for the correction, Charlie, I'll fix that right now.
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 12:04 PM
Friday

I just saw The Thin Red Line (again) a couple of weeks ago

Letters from Iwo Jima is a Japanese film directed by Clint Eastwood.
Does it have subtitles?

malthaussen

(18,398 posts)
42. Hard to say. Most blockbuster WW2 movies are crap, especially if they're American
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 11:20 AM
Friday

Last edited Fri Jan 2, 2026, 01:01 PM - Edit history (1)

Possibilities include:

"A Time to Love and a Time to Die," based on Erich Marie Remarque's novel and featuring a cameo by Remarque
"Western Approaches," a British wartime flick that is a virtual forerunner of Reality TV, as it employs no actors, but just working sailors
"The Way Forward," one of David Niven's propaganda pieces
"The North Star" (aka "Armored Attack" ) because of its chequered propaganda history: it is the story of plucky Ukrainian partisans fighting off the Blitzkrieg in 1941, but after 1945 was edited for Cold War purposes to remind the viewer that those plucky Ukrainians were Commies and thus the evil bad guys after all
"Kelly's Heroes," because it is one of the better anti-war films I've seen
"The Fighting Lady," a docudrama about USS Yorktown (CV-10)
"Stalag 17," because it is just a good POW movie without the kind of bullshit in "The Great Escape."
"In Which We Serve," another British wartime flick about the RN. It juxstaposes scenes aboard ship with scenes on the home front, depicting the challenges faced by the sailors and their families
"Mr Roberts," because it features some great acting by Henry Fonda and Jack Lemmon, to say nothing of Jimmy Cagney and William Powell
"Operation Mad Ball," because it stars Jack Lemmon and is actually hilarious
"Red Ball Express," because it deals with a vital part of the war virtually ignored by film

Honorable mention to "Teahouse of the August Moon," because while it deals with the Occupation of Okinawa and not directly with WW2, it features Marlon Brando playing an Okinawan houseboy, and you can't get funnier than that.

Others may come to mind. I tend towards the relatively obscure and older films, made either during or immediately after the war when memory was still fresh. There are a number already recommended that I am not including in this list.

-- Mal

VGNonly

(8,370 posts)
45. 12 O'Clock High
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 01:16 PM
Friday

The Bridge on the River Kwai
Come and See
The Pianist
Hope and Glory
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
Das Boot
The Longest Day

discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,721 posts)
48. Thinking hard on this one:
Sun Jan 4, 2026, 02:04 PM
7 hrs ago

1) Defiance
2) Sisu
3) Kelly's Heroes
4) Enemy at the Gates
5) Saving Private Ryan

~no particular order.

Latest Discussions»The DU Lounge»What are your five favori...