the best war films of all time ever created. Fresh out of the Vietnam War, the public and by extension, writers and directors looked at the war genre with a new lens and created a more gritty and realistic look at the action. Films started to incorporate more genuine visuals of the brutality of war and the psychological issues of the soldiers, before, during, and after the events that changed so many lives.

1970s classics like Apocalypse Now and The Deer Hunter are war films that have defined the genre. They push the boat out in of storytelling and introspective character studies that show, on a human level, the impact of war. There were less sanitized and glamorous shots of war, instead replaced by the harsh realities suffered by those involved by directors like Francis Ford Coppola and Michael Cimino. The 1970s crafted some of the finest films about war ever made and set a new standard for war and action films going forward.

10 The Inglorious Bastards (1978)

Starring Bo Svenson And Fred Williamson

Directed by Enzo G. Castellari, The Inglorious Bastards tells the story of a group of American soldiers who have been sentenced to death in for their crimes during the war. On their way to the prisoner's camp, the journey is interrupted by a Nazi air raid, and the gang takes the opportunity to escape, going on the run in occupied before teaming up with the French Resistance and Nazi defectors to complete a mission to assault an armored train carrying a deadly V-2 missile.

A fantastic war film not based on a true story allows the narrative to get creative and produce a fantastic 'unlikely team on a mission' film that is entertaining and intriguing to watch. While it plays the genre in a slightly more comic and adventurous way, such as the gang stumbling upon a group of naked German nurses at a river, the action and acting throughout is well-directed and paced. It has also influenced later films, infamously giving its name and basic concept to Quentin Tarantino's 2009 film, Inglourious Basterds.

9 Midway (1976)

Starring Charlton Heston And Henry Fonda

A naval war film that tells the story of the Battle of Midway, a vital point in the Pacific Theater of Operations of World War II, six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and focuses on the U.S. Navy's attempts to defeat the Japanese fleet. Midway features an ensemble cast including Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, and James Coburn, who all perfectly encapsulate their roles, spliced alongside genuine historical footage to create a uniquely blended war epic.

The film, directed by Jack Smight, highlights the importance of the Navy during wartime and their ingenious use of communications and tactics to plan out military operations. It provides genuine insights into the battles and shows large-scale battle sequences that are the hallmark of some of the best naval war films ever made. The film is respectful to the history of the battle and portrays the continued action in a suspenseful and enjoyable way throughout.

8 Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)

Starring Martin Balsam And So Yamamura

In the 1970 epic war film Tora! Tora! Tora!, the story chronicles the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, uniquely told from both the American and Japanese sides of the war-changing bombing. The American perspective, directed by Richard Fleischer, and the Japanese perspective, directed by Kinji Fukasaku and Toshio Masuda, perfectly intertwine to create a gripping narrative of the intricate events and decisions that led up to the attack occurring.

Featuring the iconic line from Commander Yamamoto: "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."

The film has been widely praised for both it's historical accuracy and incredible attention to detail in its aim to provide an accurate from both sides. The horrifying and destructive action sequence of the actual attack on Pearl Harbor is harrowing and is choreographed in such a realistic and visual spectacle. The balance used to tell the story, and the impact the actual events had on the war, makes this one of the best war films about World War II ever conceived.

7 Waterloo (1970)

Starring Rod Steiger And Orson Welles

Directed by Sergei Bondarchuk, Waterloo is an epic and expansive tale of the last battle of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Bonaparte is played to perfection by Rod Steiger, and his clash with the Duke Of Wellington (Christopher Plummer) at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, is shown in all its brutality and glory, with cannon fire, brigading, and cavalry charges that see uncountable deaths and destruction in the march to victory.

As well as the incredible cast, cinematography, and overall directing and pacing, Waterloo has one of the best battle scenes in the history of the genre. The film toes the line right down the middle, exploring the military ranks and positions of both sides and the minute events that make up the war effort at large. The visual spectacle of the film is mind-blowing, with 15,000 authentically dressed and choreographed extras who took part in the battle scenes and completed them without any special effects. Truly one of the most stunning and captivating action sequences in all of cinema.

6 A Bridge Too Far (1977)

Starring Dirk Bogarde And James Caan

In A Bridge Too Far, the film follows the true story of a failed Allied Forces attempt to capture key bridges and strongholds in Nazi-occupied Netherlands. 'Operation Market Garden' involved training and airlifting 35,000 men behind enemy lines in the Netherlands and focuses on the historical facts of the situation and everything that played into the ultimate failure of the mission, with Britain taking thousands of losses and failing to secure any of the targeted areas.

The film's cast is completely star-studded, with icons like Sean Connery, Michael Caine, and Robert Redford to name a few. The film explores many themes of war and encapsulates the ambition and bravery of the units, and also some of the issues and miscalculations from above that can cost men their lives while carrying out the missions. The destruction scenes of the bridges and the intense battle sequences are beautifully choreographed, and A Bridge Too Far has been hailed for its spectacular scale and its range of various special effects.

5 Kelly’s Heroes (1970)

Starring Clint Eastwood And Telly Savalas

Clint Eastwood stars in Kelly's Heroes as Private Kelly, a former lieutenant who was scapegoated for a botched assault by his infantry. He captures Colonel Dankhopf of Wehrmacht Intelligence and, after interrogation and a night of drinking, learns about a cache of Nazi gold worth $16 million just over German lines. Kelly then forms a rag-tag group of soldiers who he enlists in his mission to make it to the town behind enemy lines and steal the gold for themselves.

Directed by Brian G. Hutton, the film has a somewhat more light-hearted take on the war, focusing on a small, motley crew who go AWOL in search of a golden fortune. The film is not without its gruesome war moments, with several of the gang being blown up or shot to death in a minefield, with action that would rival any of the best World War II films. The plot of Kelly’s Heroes is unique and intriguing, and the chemistry between the cast, particularly through Eastwood's character, makes it an exciting and adventurous look into lesser-seen parts of the war.

4 Cross Of Iron (1977)

Starring James Coburn And Maximilian Schell

Cross of Iron, directed by Sam Peckinpah, is set on the Eastern Front in WWII and follows the story of two high-ranking military officers who form an intense, bitter rivalry. Corporal Rolf Steiner (James Coburn) is a veteran soldier and leader of his battalion before Captain Stransky (Maximilian Schell) is transferred to his unit from his cushier previous post in hopes of finding glory and winning the Iron Cross award. The two clash throughout the film, with both having different plans and strategies and fighting over leadership and decisions.

The film is noted for having a bleak and anti-war tone throughout its narrative, featuring many instances of death, sexual assault, grueling battles, and graphic violence that, at times, can be hard to watch. Coburn's performance as Steiner is electric, and while Cross of Iron was overshadowed by Star Wars being released a few months later, it has garnered much appreciation in later years. Quentin Tarantino has stated he used it as inspiration for Inglourious Basterds, and Orson Welles called it "the best war film he had seen about the ordinary enlisted man since All Quiet on the Western Front."

3 Patton (1970)

Starring George C. Scott And Karl Malden

A film that chronicles the life and career of U.S. General George S. Patton (George C. Scott), one of the most revered yet divisive figures in U.S. military history. It starts back in World War II when General Patton is placed in command of the II Corps and begins to assert his authority on the downtrodden group of soldiers. Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, with a screenplay inspired by Patton: Ordeal and Triumph by Ladislas Farago and General Omar Bradley's memoir, A Soldier's Story.

George C. Scott won the Best Actor for his portrayal, though he declined the award.

Scott's portrayal of General Patton has gone down as one of the best and most realistic of a non-fictional character ever. The incredible opening monologue that Scott delivers with the Stars and Stripes flowing behind him is an all-time iconic image and monologue in cinematic history. Patton went on to win an amazing seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Original Screenplay to confirm it as one of the best war films ever produced, not just from the 1970s.

2 The Deer Hunter (1978)

Starring Robert De Niro And John Cazale

The Deer Hunter, directed impeccably by Michael Cimino, follows a trio of Slavic-American steelworkers from a town in Pennsylvania whose lives are changed forever as they prepare to leave for military service in Vietnam and experience the true horrors of War. The three would-be soldiers are played by Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and John Savage, and the film perfectly captures their descent into hell during and after their time away in one of the most compelling and intense war films ever made.

The directing is sympathetic and mature, and it features one of the most recognizable and powerful scenes in film history, showing Nick (Walken) playing Russian Roulette after being diagnosed with PTSD.

A regular occurrence when discussing the best films of all time, The Deer Hunter has been celebrated since its release, with most of the spotlight being shone on the incredible leading cast, who all give beautiful, heartbreaking performances. The directing is sympathetic and mature, and it features one of the most recognizable and powerful scenes in film history, showing Nick (Walken) playing Russian Roulette after being diagnosed with PTSD. The Deer Hunter was nominated for nine Academy Awards, winning five, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best ing Actor.

1 Apocalypse Now (1979)

Starring Marlon Brando And Robert Duvall

Legendary director Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now is widely regarded as the best war film of all time, and for good reason. It follows the story of Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) as he is tasked on a mission to assassinate Colonel Walter Kurtz (Marlon Brando) as he has left his post and set up a base for himself in the jungle. Kurtz is commanding a squad of American, Montagnard, and local Khmer troops in a brutal war against the Viet Cong and other hostiles who view him as a demigod in a surreal and epic tale within the brutal confines of the Vietnam War.

Apocalypse Now is a nightmarish, haunting take on the war genre, with a full exploration into the human condition in horrifying circumstances. In a film that can be viewed in multiple different versions and cuts without losing anything, it transcends the typical war film, with instances of violence and beauty of shots like the helicopter assaults and the destruction of nature. The cinematography, acting, directing, and soundtrack all combine to create a cinematic experience that is truly unforgettable. Not just the best war film of the 1970s, but Apocalypse Now is the best war film of all time.