War movies, in all their gore and glory, have been around since the very beginning of cinema. It's a genre of film that has entertained, educated, and inspired countless generations, and is likely to continue doing so for the foreseeable future. While there have been many great PG-13 war films, the topic of war is by definition a mature one, so it's no surprise that some of the greatest war movies of all time have been R-rated.
Exploring the depths of darkness and human misery in the context of one of the worst things a person can ever experience, these adult-only war movies may not be easy to watch, but they are a necessary reminder of the horrors of warfare and the terrible cost of armed conflict. The best of them expertly illustrate that point, while also underscoring the importance of empathy and the enduring power of the human spirit in the face of extreme adversity. Read on to discover our ranked selection of the best R-rated war movies of all time, including both acclaimed classics and modern hits.
8 'Journey's End' (2017)
Adapted from R. C. Sherriff's eponymous 1928 play, Journey's End is a 2017 British film set during World War I. Written by Simon Reade, the movie stars Asa Butterfield as a young soldier who is sent to the front lines in Northern France, joining a group under the questionable leadership of a decorated commander whose mental health is steadily deteriorating from the trauma of war and life in the trenches. The film boasts an incredible ensemble cast, with Sam Claflin, Paul Bettany, Tom Sturridge, Toby Jones, and more joining Butterfield in significant roles.
Journey's End premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival to critical acclaim. Adapted from one of the most celebrated anti-war plays of all time, the film is a rewarding experience that successfully translates its beloved source material to the screen. Powered by the brilliant performances of its talented cast, Journey's End is a masterfully directed and compellingly written war movie that brings the century-old story of Sherriff's play to life in a way that feels genuinely engaging and heartfelt.
7 'Platoon' (1986)
Platoon is a 1986 Vietnam War movie that's most notable for being the first Hollywood film about the conflict that was made by an actual veteran of the war, writer-director Oliver Stone. Inspired by Stone's personal experiences, the movie stars Charlie Sheen as a young soldier who is assigned to an infantry platoon stationed near the Cambodian border, where he finds himself and his fellow soldiers torn between the conflicting philosophies of their two senior officers (played by Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe). The film boasts an ensemble supporting cast that includes Keith David, Kevin Dillon, John C. McGinley, Forest Whitaker, and Johnny Depp.
Platoon has received praise over the years for its honest, sobering portrayal of the Vietnam War, which distinguishes the film from the host of pro-military films that lionize US soldiers fighting in Vietnam. The movie earned widespread critical acclaim in its time and was a huge box office success, becoming the third-highest-grossing domestic film of the year and winning four Academy Awards. Its success led to the creation of two spiritual sequels, 1989's Born on the Fourth of July and 1993's Heaven & Earth, but the first film is easily the best of the trilogy.
6 '1917' (2019)
1917 is an epic World War I film that follows two British soldiers tasked with delivering an important message to another battalion. The story begins on April 6, 1917, with the Imperial German Army retreating from a section of the Western Front to overwhelm British forces at a different point. With phone lines cut, the only way to warn the soldiers is to physically deliver a message calling off a scheduled push forward -- a desperate race against time with the lives of 1,600 men on the line. The film features an ensemble cast led by George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman, with Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Claire Duburcq, Colin Firth, and Benedict Cumberbatch in supporting roles.
1917 was a huge critical and commercial success at the time of its premiere, grossing over $446 million worldwide and earning several accolades, including three Academy Awards and two Golden Globes. The film presents a moving story about wartime heroism that's further elevated by its powerful performances, gorgeous cinematography, and masterful direction. It's an epic, immersive audio-visual experience, and the movie had the rare honor of being named one of the best films of 2019 by both the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute.
5 'Oppenheimer' (2023)
Based on Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin's 2005 biography American Prometheus, Oppenheimer is a biographical drama thriller written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan that follows the life of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, the "father of the atomic bomb." Presented in a non-linear narrative, the film explores Oppenheimer's life before and after he worked on developing the first nuclear bomb during World War II. Cillian Murphy stars as Oppenheimer, leading an ensemble cast that also includes Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, and Kenneth Branagh.
Easily one of the most celebrated films of recent years, Oppenheimer was a massive commercial success and a critical darling at the time of its premiere. A near-perfect film in every way, the movie presents a complex, layered portrait of its titular subject while also illustrating the tensions of WWII and the catastrophic potential of Oppenheimer's work. It features some truly stellar performances and practical effects, earning the movie 13 Academy Award nominations and seven wins, including for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Cillian Murphy), and Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.).
4 'Saving Private Ryan' (1998)
Inspired by the books of Stephen E. Ambrose, Saving Private Ryan is an epic World War II film that follows a group of soldiers in Normandy, France, as they attempt to locate the titular Private Ryan and bring him home safely after the tragic deaths of his brothers. Suffering further losses along the way, the soldiers begin to question the logic of risking their lives to save one man, but over the course of the mission, they learn the true value of sacrifice in the face of overwhelming violence. The film's cast is led by Tom Hanks and Matt Damon, with Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore, Jeremy Davies, Vin Diesel, and more in supporting roles.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest movies of all time, Saving Private Ryan is arguably Steven Spielberg's second-best war film (more on that later). Released in July 1998 to critical and commercial success, the movie garnered several awards, including five Oscars and two Golden Globes, and became the second-highest-grossing movie of the year. With unmatched realism and a powerful, inspiring story, Saving Private Ryan has had a huge impact on the war movie genre, and in 2014, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, cementing its status as a cultural landmark.
3 'Apocalypse Now' (1979)
A dark psychological war film, Apocalypse Now is a Vietnam War story loosely adapted from Joseph Conrad's 1899 novella Heart of Darkness. The movie stars Martin Sheen as Captain Willard, a soldier who is sent to Cambodia on a secret mission to assassinate a rogue colonel (Marlon Brando). Besides Sheen and Brando, the film also features Robert Duvall, Frederic Forrest, Albert Hall, Sam Bottoms, Laurence Fishburne, Dennis Hopper, and Harrison Ford in significant roles.
Widely regarded as Francis Ford Coppola's masterpiece, Apocalypse Now suffered a long and troubled production and premiered unfinished at the Cannes Film Festival, winning the Palme d'Or despite its incomplete status. The film had mixed reviews in its day but enjoyed a successful run at the box office and earned eight Academy Award nominations. A true landmark in the history of cinema, Apocalypse Now has since been re-evaluated as one of the greatest war films of all time, and two re-edited versions were released, one in 2001 (Apocalypse Now Redux) and one in 2019 (Apocalypse Now Final Cut), featuring new and extended scenes.
2 'All Quiet on the Western Front' (2023)
Adapted from Erich Maria Remarque's eponymous novel, All Quiet on the Western Front is a German war drama set during the First World War. The film stars Felix Kammerer as a young German soldier who lies about his age to join the army, only to find his patriotic ideals shattered by the realities of war. In parallel, the movie also explores the armistice negotiations that led to the war's end. Besides Kammerer, the film features Albrecht Schuch, Thibault de Montalembert, Daniel Brühl, and more in supporting roles.
All Quiet on the Western Front earned universal acclaim after its premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, praised by critics for its direction, performances, cinematography, and hard-hitting examination of war and trauma. Subsequently released on Netflix, the film became one of the streamer's most-watched movies. An expertly crafted production that honors its source material while adding fresh perspective to its story, the film received several accolades, including the Academy Awards for Best International Feature, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Production Design.
1 'Schindler's List' (1993)
As amazing as Saving Private Ryan is, Schindler's List is by far the best war film directed by Steven Spielberg. Adapted from Thomas Keneally's 1982 novel Schindler's Ark and scripted by Steven Zaillian, this historical drama film stars Liam Neeson as the titular German industrialist Oskar Schindler, a real-life individual who helped save over a thousand Jewish refugees during World War II by employing them in his factories. The film also features Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, Caroline Goodall, Jonathan Sagall, Embeth Davidtz, and more in key supporting roles.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, Schindler's List premiered in 1993 to universal acclaim and box office success. Everything about it, from the tone and narrative to the cinematography, performances, and music, is utter perfection. Filmed almost entirely in black and white, the film is a gripping emotional drama, equally breathtaking and heartbreaking, and it earned several accolades, including seven Academy Awards, seven BAFTAs, and three Golden Globes. The movie was selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2004.
Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Like Schindler's List R Drama History War 13 8.8/10 Release Date December 15, 1993 Runtime 195 Minutes Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming RENT BUY
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