One would like to think the human race will one day be able to put aside our differences and stop senselessly killing each other. But as history tends to repeat itself, this is unfortunately not likely to happen. Despite a bleak outlook, most of the human race is not pro-war. Portrayals of the horrors of war have been depicted in artwork for centuries, and as long as cinema has been around, war has been around, so it didn’t take long for this new and exciting artistic medium to take up the mantel for the most prolific art form to present Anti-war themes.
In the post-World War I era, the first major anti-war film was All Quiet on the Western Front in 1930. It vividly illustrated the physical and psychological horrors and lasting consequences of war and the profound disillusionment of what it is like to go to war. There have been anti-war films in every major country that has gone to war, but the United States takes the cake for the most. While there are plenty of incredible anti-war films out there, such as Dr. Stranglove, which provides hilarious and brilliant commentary on the ridiculousness of war, this list will focus on movies that not only directly provide a scathing critique of war but make a blatant attempt to ensure no one who sees these films will want to ever go to war.
With that said, here are 10 of the best anti-war films ever made.
10 Come and See
Come and See is a Russian film and may not be at the top of this list, but it would probably win the most visceral and disturbing spot. It is considered one of the absolute most challenging war movies to watch, and rightfully so, as It revolves around a young boy who is enthusiastic about joining the Belarusian resistance but soon learns reality is much different. Once in the war, nothing is how one would imagine as the young man is volleyed around from one horrible situation to another, simply trying to survive. This war film is strictly designed to make one fear war, and it does just that. It is a film that is unforgettable and profoundly upsetting.
9 The Great Dictator
Charlies Chaplin isn’t exactly known for taking things very seriously. Still, in the first talking film of his career, Chaplin made this satirical comedy speak volumes regarding the darkest subject matter there is. The Great Dictator is a stark critique of fascism as Chaplin plays Adenoid Hynkel, who is a parody of Adolf Hitler. The film has plenty of laughs, but Chaplin makes sure to hammer in his strong anti-war opinion. At one point, all jokes aside, Chaplin takes a moment to give what is one of the most replayed and incredible monologues in cinema history. In this monologue, he denounces evil and promotes compassion and love. The Great Dictator is not as visceral or remotely grotesque as many anti-war films, but especially when it was made; it sent a powerful message that still rings relevant today.
8 The Deer Hunter
The Deer Hunter is one of the most critical denunciations of the Vietnam War. It stars huge names such as Robert DeNiro, Meryl Streep, John Cazale, Christopher Walken and has a massive three-hour runtime. However, only a tiny chunk of the film is a traditional war movie. The majority depicts a group of American men before the war and then after they return home. It is an eminently effective narrative decision as it does not leave much up to the imagination, and it doesn’t focus too much on the combat but more on the stark contrast of the before and after and the permanent psychological damage that is done. The Deer Hunter was nominated for nine Academy Awards and won five of them, including Best Picture, and Christopher Walken won for Bust Supporting Actor.
7 Platoon
Oliver Stone is known for his blunt and powerful commentary, so it is no surprise that, being a Vietnam War veteran, he made one of the most critical films of the Vietnam War. Platoon follows a group of U.S. soldiers who are torn between their two leaders with radically different ideologies and perspectives regarding war. The protagonist is Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen), who is caught up in the split between his platoon as some side with the cynical Sergeant Barens (Tom Berenger) or the other more ideological and virtuously grounded Sergeant Elias (Willem Dafoe). Sergeant Barens is the authoritative representation of how men lose their humanity at war and will stop at nothing to complete their mission. Platoon was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won Best Picture, along with Oliver Stone taking home Best Director.
6 All Quiet on the Western Front
As stated in the intro, All Quiet on the Western Front, the 1930 film was essentially the first serious anti-war movie ever. The remake in 2022, which took home a litany of Oscars, is outstanding and takes the spot on this list over the original because it is dreadfully harder to watch due to the advanced special FX and the way it is directed and shot. The film tracks a young German foot soldier who enters the war as an idealist, but after witnessing many deaths in trenches for months, he changes his outlook and determines no country is worth dying for. The battle scenes are incredibly explicit, and the goal of the original and the remake are to accurately depict the horrors of war to ensure no one who watches would ever have the desire to go, and they do just that.
5 Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now is undoubtedly the most famous of the Anti-war films. This Vietnam War movie is a decline into delirium as men lose their humanity in a war zone. The film is notorious for its difficulties during production, and it has been noted that the bouts of craziness they dealt with on set contributed to the madness in the film. The story follows Captain Willard (Martin Sheen), who takes on a dangerous mission to head upriver, find, and take out Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando), who has completely gone mad. As the men head upriver in a Navy patrol boat, the further they go, the more they sink mentally. Apocalypse Now takes a more nuanced approach to addressing war as opposed to focusing on a platoon, the aftermath of war, or horrific battle scenes; it follows a few men isolated in the jungle and how war can change a man gradually and cause severe psychological damage.
4 Saving Private Ryan
Spielberg did what All Quite on the Western Front aimed to do with a war movie and did it more disturbingly. Even compared to the 2023 remake of All Quiet on The Western Front, Saving Private Ryan is one of the most difficult-to-watch films of all time. The story revolves around the Allied invasion of Normandy as Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) is ordered to bring home Private Ryan (Matt Damon). This film is so precise in depicting the horrors of war that it has been noted by those in the military as being one the most realistic war movies ever made, as the scenes of them in battle are disturbingly accurate. Saving Private Ryan was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, and Spielberg took home the best director.
3 Paths of Glory
Like many on this list, Stanley Kubrick is one of the greatest directors ever to live, and he is not a stranger to commentary on war. Paths for Glory is a thought-provoking criticism of patriotism and the hierarchy in war. The story is centered around a commanding officer who orders a general to attack a German trench and tells him he will promote him if he does so. When the General calls his subordinate to handle the attack, and it all ends disastrously, the General demands the court-martial of three random soldiers to save his own ass. The film is not as brutal as others, but it does an exemplary job of how individuals are no one in war, and everyone is disposable for someone higher up’s own selfish greed.
2 Schindler’s List
Schindler’s List is another Steven Spielberg masterpiece and possibly the most challenging film to watch on this list as it is not as violently charged as the others, but emotionally, it is almost outmatched. The film is about a Businessman, Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), who joins the Nazis. He has a factory that he staffs with Jewish workers. When Jews begin being exterminated, Schindler arranges to have his workers protected to keep his factory in operation but shortly recognizes that by doing so, he can save innocent lives. The film is eerie and chilling. It is not filled with people being blown to bits, but it is much stronger than that in showing the horrific nature of Nazi Germany’s fundamental goal to exterminate the Jews.
1 Grave of the Fireflies
One might be shocked to find an animated film at the top of the anti-war movie list, but Grave of the Fireflies is not only one of the greatest films made by the acclaimed Studio Ghibli, but it is a deeply unsettling and emotional story that will ensure anyone who watches it will never view war the same way again. During the final days of WWII in Japan, the story follows two children, a teenage boy and his five-year-old sister, who are forced to survive on their own after their mother dies in an air raid that dropped napalm in their neighborhood, setting everything ablaze.
The story rips at one’s heart as it puts innocent children in the spotlight as the victims of war. This animated film will make one feel more profoundly and vehemently towards the atrocities of war than any gory war epic out there. The late great Rodger Ebert said that Grave of the Fireflies is a “powerful dramatic film that happens to be animated,” and critic Ernest Rister compares Grave of the Fireflies to Schindler’s List and states that “It is the most profoundly human animated film I’ve ever seen.” Grave of the Fire Flies is haunting and beautiful and is one of those rare films that is truly difficult to watch and not shed a tear.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
