Regardless of the plot or the message attempted to convey, crafting a good war movie is not easy for a director. After all, a story about different groups of people whose final purpose is to kill each other is quite a violent and dramatic theme to bring to the big screen. Nevertheless, over the years, there has been a significant number of movies that successfully represented the sheer brutality of the war while not sacrificing the artistic value of the story.

Although, sadly, not all the classic war movies were recognized at the Academy Awards, others were and even won the prize for Best Picture. Some of these films might have faded away as time ed, while others are still impressed in our memory as cults. However, regardless of their fate, many of them, if they were to be distributed nowadays, would still be honored with the same regard.

10 All Quiet On The Western Front (1930)

Directed By Lewis Milestone

Despite its older age, All Quiet on the Western Front is still one of the most hauntingly realistic and beautifully crude films about war ever produced. Based on the 1929 novel written by Erich Maria Remarque, the movie portrays a group of young German soldiers who, motivated by a genuine love for their country, decide to World War I only to come face to face with the horrifying reality of the situation.

All Quiet on the Western Front was the first movie based on a finished novel to win an Academy Award for Best Picture, and its impact remains inextinguishable. Unsurprisingly, the United States Library of Congress's National Film Registry selected and preserved it for its cultural, historical, or esthetical significance.

The anti-war message of the film is no less relevant in modern society. The grim portrayal of the gruesome reality of warfare through the eyes of well-meaning and idealistic young men would nowadays still be a powerful and needed artistic production that would move the audience.

9 The Best Years Of Our Lives (1946)

Directed By William Wyler

If other movies preferred to represent the sheer horror of the war on the battlefield, The Best Years Of Our Lives opted for a different, albeit equally impactful, artistic representation. William Wyler, the director, decided to portray the tragedy and pain of the post-war period, depicting the struggles of three veterans of the United States Armed Forces as they return home after WW2 and have to adjust, as different people, to a changing society.

The movie is a poignant depiction of the consequences of war on human beings, highlighting its profoundly inhuman nature.

The Best Years Of Our Lives earned critical and commercial success when it premiered, becoming the highest-grossing film of the 1940s decade. The movie is a poignant depiction of the consequences of war on human beings, highlighting its profoundly inhuman nature. The representation of the enduring trauma that plagues soldiers once they come home would still resonate in 2025, especially considering that the issue of veterans' struggles and reintegration is still pressing nowadays.

8 Casablanca (1948)

Directed By Michael Curtiz

Differently from other films on this list, Casablanca is not merely a war movie, but a devastatingly epic romance in the background of WW2 in Casablanca. The story features Humphrey Bogart as an American expat in Vichy-controlled Morocco. His character is forced to choose between love and duty when his former girlfriend comes back into his life and asks for help.

Casablanca has a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Casablanca's heart-shattering depiction of doomed lovers, political intrigue, and moral ambiguity still hold relevance in the present. With its emotionally intense dialogues and the themes of sacrifice and resistance represented through the stories of the two charismatic main characters, the film has a timeless quality that would make it an ideal candidate for the Oscar in 2025. Funnily enough, the movie's popularity even grew as time went by, and is considered one of old Hollywood's most rewatchable classics.

7 The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)

Directed By David Lean

Based on the novel by Pierre Boulle, The Bridge on the River Kwai premiered in 1957 as a profoundly intense character-driven war epic about duty and the ambiguity of war. The film takes place during World War II and focuses on a group of British prisoners who are forced to build a bridge for their Japanese jailers. The movie is considered one of the best made, and it was the highest-grossing in 1957.

The psychological and intellectual depth, beautiful visuals, and the powerful performance of Alec Guinness as a complex and duty-bound character would still make the movie a complete success nowadays. The raw brutality illustrated could emotionally resonate with the audience, while the themes of honor and loyalty are timeless subjects to bring to the big screen. As a consequence, this masterpiece would still have a chance at winning in 2025.

6 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Directed By David Lean

It might be excruciatingly long, but Lawrence of Arabia is completely worth the four hours it lasts. From the exceptional direction of David Lean to the magnificent interpretation of Peter O'Toole as the titular character, the film is one of the finest masterpieces in the history of cinema. The story follows the experience of the famous Arab Rivolt figure T. E. Lawrence in the Ottoman Empire areas during WW1, depicting his divided loyalty between Britain, his native country, and the Arab communities.

Beyond its historical significance, which would earn the movie the interest and praise of the audience and critics even today, Lawrence of Arabia is an utterly introspective character study of a beloved figure that represented a symbol of hope and bravery for millions of people. The themes of heroism and colonialism explored make the relevance of this cinematic gem enduring over time. Unsurprisingly, it was recently announced that a TV series inspired by the war movie might be in development.

5 The Longest Day (1962)

Directed By Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton, Gerd Oswald, Bernhard Wicki, & Darryl F. Zanuck

With a stellar international cast, including Sean Connery, Richard Burton, and Henry Fonda, it is no surprise that The Longest Day was a success when it premiered in 1962, becoming the highest-grossing black-and-white film at the time. The movie depicts the Normandy landings that occurred during WW2, in 1942, through the perspectives of Americans, British, French, and Germans.

What truly sets this movie apart from other war films of the time (and now) is the unfiltered realism portrayed. The Longest Day, in fact, adopts a documentary-like approach. To make the story as accurate as possible, the director and producers asked for the consultation of some Allied and Axis D-Day participants, with some of them interpreting themselves. The large-scale production, historical validity, and emotionally charged narrative would guarantee the film an award for Best Picture even in 2025.

4 Platoon (1986)

Directed By Oliver Stone

If the other films on this list were mainly concerned with the two world wars, Platoon, on the other hand, depicts the brutality of the Vietnam War. Directed by Oliver Stone, with a magnificent cast that includes names like Willem Dafoe, Tom Berenger, and Charlie Sheen, the 1986 movie is a masterpiece of storytelling and cinematography.

The story is loosely inspired by Stone's experience in the war and narrates about a young US Army volunteer as he encounters the brutal reality of Vietnam. One of the best war movies of the 1980s, Stone does an excellent job of demonstrating the moral divisions that armed conflicts raise within men by depicting the conflicting ideologies of two sergeants- the ruthless Barnes and the decent Elia.

With its criticism of war and the representation of its horrors, in 2025, the world would not simply enjoy Platoon but would also benefit from it. Similarly, the personal narrative, driven by the autobiographical subject, allow the story to always resonate with the audience on an emotional level.

3 Schindler's List (1993)

Directed By Steven Spielberg

Schindler's List is a poignant portrayal of the atrocities of WW2 through the real-life story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved the lives of more than a thousand Jewish people from the Holocaust. The story depicts Schindler's transformation from a self-serving industrialist to a hero. Directed by Steven Spielberg and graced by the powerful performances of Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes, Schindler's List remains one of the greatest war movies ever made.

Similarly to Platoon, the movie's themes of human resilience and the importance of never turning the other way before injustice in the world would not only be appreciated but also raise relevant discussions about society and morality. At The Oscar 2025, the film would likely win a Best Picture Award and, hopefully, provide once again the lessons that it taught 30 years ago.

2 Braveheart (1995)

Directed By Mel Gibson

​​​​​Directed and starring Mel Gibson, Braveheart (1995) is an epic tale that explores themes of sacrifice and freedom. The story features William Wallace, a Scottish warrior during the First War of Scottish Independence, and his battle against the oppression of Edward I of England. Contrary to many other films on this list, which mainly portrayed more recent battles, Braveheart delves deep into the brutality of medieval armed conflicts.

Perhaps the film might have a few technical flaws that mainly concern its historical inaccuracy, which was heavily pointed out when it came out. However, those mistakes do not take away from the legendary and larger-than-life nature of the production. The action scenes, dramatic allure, and music all add a heavy emotional weight to the story, making it a likely strong contender for the Oscar in 2025.

1 The English Patient (1996)

Directed By Anthony Minghella

With actors like Ralph Fiennes, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Willem Dafoe in the cast, one should only expect an epic production. And indeed, The English Patient did not disappoint. Perhaps, the film is not as stuck in our memories as the other cults on this list, but it is certainly not because it is less impressive.

Its romantic narrative makes it a standout amongst many other films of this genre. The story, loosely based on real-life s, features Count László Almásy, a Hungarian explorer who begins a ionate relationship with a married woman before and during the war.

The poetic storytelling of the movie as well as the timeless representation of love and loss make The English Patient a cult war movie that would still win an Oscar in 2025.

The film delves into subjects like guilt and redemption, all analyzed through Laszlo Almbasy's painful flashbacks. The poetic storytelling of the movie as well as the timeless representation of love and loss make The English Patient a cult war movie that would still win an Oscar in 2025. Unsurprisingly, the production is considered one of Ralph Fiennes's best movies.