16 Veterans Day Movies To Salute The Military

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Over the years, motion pictures have turned the spotlight on the men and women who served in the U.S. military. Indeed, a treasure trove of movies depicting their valor is available for us to enjoy. But which movies, you might ask?

In honor of Veterans Day, here are 16 of the best movies to salute the military. Rest assured — these movie gems are timeless and must-watch.

So check them out as you pay tribute to our military veterans in remembrance of their sacrifices, bravery and heroism.

“Full Metal Jacket”

Matthew Modine, R. Lee Ermey, Vincent D’Onofrio; directed by Stanley Kubrick

“Full Metal Jacket” is a war film peppered with a gush of dark comedy, vitriol, fury and aggression, based on Gustav Hasford’s 1979 novel, “The Short-Timers.” Poignant as it is, Stanley Kubrick’s movie pierces like a “full metal jacket” bullet, all while evoking the harrowing effects of the Vietnam War on the military recruits within the confines of brutal basic training and bloody war zones.

“Platoon”

Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe; directed by Oliver Stone

Charlie Sheen stars as a new Vietnam War recruit suddenly propelled into a milieu of conflicting ideologies over the morality of war. Can the neophyte soldier ever reconcile the evil and the good of the war itself? Either way, his experiences on the battlefield will change his life forever. The movie won Best Picture at the 59th Academy Awards, earning Oliver Stone the Best Director Oscar.

“The Great Escape”

Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough; directed by John Sturges

Loosely based on Paul Brickhill’s 1950 non-fiction book of the same name, John Sturges’ movie version follows a group of determined Allied prisoners of war as they plan and try their daring “great escape” from a German P.O.W. camp during World War II. The 1963 thriller about one's pure resolve is riveting, featuring famous ‘60s stars, including Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson and James Garner.

"Glory"

Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman; directed by Edward Zwick

As Col. Robert Shaw, Matthew Broderick navigates viewers through the lionhearted story of his infantry unit, the 54th Massachusetts Regiment— one of the first Black fighting units enlisted in the Union during the Civil War. Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes and Morgan Freeman star as members of the military unit. The period war drama beautifully captures the chaos, discipline and valor in engagements throughout the war.

“Courage Under Fire”

Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Lou Diamond Phillips; directed by Edward Zwick

Edward Zwick’s action-drama stars Denzel Washington as a military officer despondent over a friendly fire incident he caused during the 1991 Gulf War. As if adding insult to injury, his superiors subsequently assigned him to investigate the case of Army Captain Karen Walden (Meg Ryan), a chopper commander nominated for a posthumous Medal of Honor. Is she worthy to receive the U.S. Armed Forces’ highest honor? Can he finally find a way to stop his pain and suffering from his past missteps?

“Lone Survivor”

Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch; directed by Peter Berg

A film adaptation of Marcus Luttrell’s eponymous nonfiction book, Peter Berg’s biographical war film follows four Navy SEALs (Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch and Ben Foster) deployed to conduct a counter-insurgent mission to capture the notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shah in 2005 Afghanistan.

Absorbing and heart-wrenching, “Lone Survivor” highlights the perils of war that a soldier might have to reckon with in the face of uncertainty.

“Zero Dark Thirty”

Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Chris Pratt; directed by Kathryn Bigelow

A depiction of the nearly decade-long international search for al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, Kathryn Bigelow’s gripping 2012 thriller navigates the manhunt through the eyes of Maya (Jessica Chastain), a fictional CIA analyst and profiler, joined by an elite team of intelligence operatives and Navy SEALs. Ultimately, Maya’s fervor and dedication will lead to the exact whereabouts of the notorious wanted man. The rest is history as we know it.

“American Sniper”

Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller; directed by Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood’s biographical war film is loosely based on Chris Kyle’s 2012 bestselling memoir chronicling the war hero’s rise to become the deadliest marksman in U.S. military history.

Bradley Cooper plays Kyle, a Navy SEAL sniper famed for his pinpoint accuracy. His four tours of duty in the Iraq War are legendary, saving countless lives on the battlefield. However, his acts of valor would take a heavy toll on his marriage and personal life.

Eastwood’s dramatization of the battle scenes is awe-inspiring, while Cooper plays the titular marksman with outstanding gravitas and brooding intensity.

“Apocalypse Now”

Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall; directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Writer-director Francis Ford Coppola adapts Joseph Conrad’s 1899 novella, “Heart of Darkness,” against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. In contrast to the book’s narrated voyage up the Congo River, Coppola’s film follows U.S. Capt. Benjamin Willard’s (Martin Sheen) river journey from South Vietnam into Cambodia. His mission? A covert operation to terminate the command of Col. Walter Kurtz (Marlon Brando), a decorated war hero gone rogue.

“Apocalypse Now” explores the ravages of war as it peers into the souls of the hitman and his target, all the while dazzling viewers in its grandiosity.

"The Hurt Locker"

Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie; directed by Kathryn Bigelow

With "The Hurt Locker," Kathryn Bigelow made history at the 82nd Academy Awards as the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director. The war thriller follows the harrowing experiences of an Army bomb squad, led by Sgt. 1st Class William James (Jeremy Renner) during the Iraq War, underscoring the crew's psychological reactions to the stress of combat.

Intense and gripping, the war thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

“Saving Private Ryan”

Tom Hanks, Matt Damon; directed by Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg’s modern war classic evokes the brutal realities of war as well as the agonizing terror and horror of combat through the eyes of Capt. John Miller (Tom Hanks) and his men behind the enemy lines. Its opening scene alone, a 30-minute-long depiction of the Omaha Beach assault during the Normandy landings, will leave you breathless.

At the heart of the emotional story is Capt. Miller’s mission to search for the titular paratrooper, Pfc. James Ryan (Matt Damon), the last surviving brother of four male siblings — the other three having been killed in action. Will Miller and his men find Ryan in the end?

"Hacksaw Ridge"

Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington; directed by Mel Gibson

"Hacksaw Ridge" is a biopic about the war experiences of Army medic Desmont T. Doss (Andrew Garfield), the first American in history to be awarded the Medal of Honor after refusing to carry any weapons in combat.

In spite of a great deal of graphic violence, "Hacksaw Ridge" is thought-provoking. Mel Gibson's brilliant directorial vision and exposition are reminiscent of his movie "Apocalypto."

“Born on the Fourth of July”

Tom Cruise, Kyra Sedgwick; directed by Oliver Stone

A film adaptation of Ron Kovic’s autobiography, Oliver Stone’s 1989 classic stars Tom Cruise as the war hero who returns home from the Vietnam War paralyzed from the chest down. His emotional scars take a toll on his spirits, fueling bouts of alcoholism and despair. But Kovic eventually prevails with renewed hope. Notably, it is an anti-war film that shines a light on the trials and tribulations of war veterans.

“Patton”

George C. Scott, Karl Malden; directed by Franklin J. Schaffner

Winner of Best Picture at the 1971 Academy Awards, Franklin J. Schaffner’s war drama is a biopic about the controversial career of U.S. Gen. George S. Patton, chronicling the rise and fall from grace of the war hero during World War II.

George C. Scott embodies Patton with an unshakeable gusto — especially in the actor’s delivery of the opening monologue against the backdrop of an enormous American flag — earning the legendary star the Best Actor Academy Award.

“Black Hawk Down”

Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor; directed by Ridley Scott

Ridley Scott’s war-thriller movie, which is based on Mark Bowden’s non-fiction book, is a depiction of the U.S. military's 1993 raid in Mogadishu to capture two top lieutenants of a renegade warlord. As the mission gets underway, Somalian forces launch heavy fire at two Black Hawk helicopters lowering the U.S. ground-extraction convoy, bringing the choppers down. The ensuing battle is horrific beyond belief as the wounded U.S. soldiers fight for their lives.

“The Thin Red Line”

James Caviezel, Sean Penn, George Clooney; directed by Terrence Malick

James Jones’ autobiographical 1962 novel comes to life in Terrence Malick’s 1998 screen adaptation of the author’s personal experiences during World War II. Riveting and thought-provoking as it is, the film depicts the first major land offensive launched by the American forces against the Empire of Japan around the island of Guadalcanal.