Oliver Stone's Platoon is arguably the best movie in his trilogy of films set during the Vietnam War, as well as one of the greatest war films ever made. Thanks to its outstanding ensemble cast (with the likes of Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen, Forest Whitaker, and Johnny Depp among others) and its strong dramatic elements, Platoon became a standout in its genre.
But it is not the only one of its kind that deserves the praise it has gotten over the years. Moreover, there are some forgotten and underrated war dramas that deserve attention from fans of the genre just as much as classics do.
The Grand Illusion (1937)
Jean Renoir's The Grand Illusion is often considered by critics as one of the greatest movies ever made, as well as a masterpiece of French cinema. Indeed, the movie's humanism is what makes it stand out from the variety of war dramas of its time and later on.
Set during WWI, it follows a group of French soldiers who become prisoners of war and start plotting an escape. However, their class differences make their relationships more complicated.
The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)
David Lean's The Bridge on the River Kwai is well-known for its beautiful cinematography, much like all of Lean's work. It is a lengthy epic that was immensely successful at the time of its release, both critically and commercially.
Based on the 1952 novel, it is set in 1943 Japan where British POWs are held captive in Burma and forced to build a bridge over the local river Kwai. However, they don't know that the allied forces plan to destroy the bridge.
Ivan's Childhood (1962)
Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, Ivan's Childhood was the director's debut and instantly showcased what Tarkovsky would become known for: themes of spirituality and the metaphysical, dreamlike visuals, and complex topics.
Based on a 1957 short story, the movie uses a non-linear narrative to tell the story of the 12-year-old Ivan, a Russian boy who works as a scout during WWII for the Soviet officers.
The Deer Hunter (1978)
One of Robert De Niro's most well-known performances, The Deer Hunter is an epic war movie about the Vietnam War, but at its core, its dramatic storyline is what really drives the story forward and lets its characters develop in the most drastic ways.
Set in the late 1960s, it follows three Russian-American friends working as steelworkers in Pennsylvania. After going to Vietnam as soldiers, their lives and the lives of those around them are changed forever.
Come And See (1985)
Often considered to be one of the greatest anti-war movies of all time, Come and See is a brutally honest movie that uses elements of hyper-realism, surrealism, and existentialism, among others, to depict the atrocities of WWII.
The story follows a young Belarusian teenager named Flyora who becomes a Soviet partisan in the times of the Nazi German occupation of Belarus. While in his local resistance group, he experiences all of the horrors that his village has to suffer from.
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket is a war movie that doesn't just focus on the terrible side of war itself - but also on the things that recruits must go through to become soldiers.
The story follows a platoon of US Marines who are training in a boot camp to be sent off to the Vietnam War. They are treated badly by their drill instructor and are further traumatized by their experiences of the war itself.
Paths Of Glory (1957)
Another one of Kubrick's creations that was released 30 years prior to Full Metal Jacket, Paths of Glory is usually described as an anti-war movie - and one of the best in the subgenre.
Based on the novel of the same name, it takes place during WWI and follows a French officer whose soldiers refuse to go on a dangerous attack mission. They are then accused of cowardice and the officer must defend them.
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Marlon Brando, it has spectacular acting, but what really makes the movie stand out is its psychological aspect, which creates the entire dramatic plot that is so powerful.
Loosely based on the famous Joseph Conrad novella Heart of Darkness, the movie is instead set in Vietnam (as opposed to the original setting of late 19th-century Congo). The story follows an army captain on a secret mission to assassinate a renegade officer.
Grave Of The Fireflies (1988)
One of Studio Ghibli's many masterpieces, Grave of the Fireflies was not directed by Hayao Miyazaki, but by another outstanding animator - Isao Takahata. It is a heartbreaking story that is perfectly depicted with the magic of animation.
Based on a semi-autobiographical short story of the same name, it follows two siblings - older brother Seita and his younger sister Setsuko - who are trying to survive the last months of WWII as they live their lives in Kobe, Japan.
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan is one of the director's most acclaimed works which has been praised for its exceptional realism. At its core, this movie may be an epic, but it still largely relies on its dramatic storyline that viewers can empathize with so easily.
Taking place during the Invasion of Normandy in WWII, it follows a squad of soldiers looking for a paratrooper who is the last survivor of four brothers, three of whom died in action.
