Many of the greatest films of all time are war films; the best ones balance impressive spectacle, exhilarating action, and important themes that teach us more about ourselves and warn us away from the human penchant for self-destruction. While there are hundreds of great war movies out there, most of the classics revolve around ground combat. Films like Saving Private Ryan and The Longest Day focus on the Normandy invasion, while movies like Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, and Apocalypse Now revolve around the muddy action in the jungles of Vietnam. These are all considered highlights of the war movie genre, but where are all the great naval war movies?
In the list below, we’ve assembled 17 of the greatest naval war classics of all time. From black-and-white masterpieces to modern takes on the subgenre, and encapsulating everything from sailor revolts to submarine chases, this is the ultimate collection for the naval warfare enthusiast.
Updated May 2023: To keep the article fresh and relevant by adding more information and entries, this article has been updated by Amira Abdel-Fadil.
17 Hornblower: The Even Chance (1998)
The Hornblower: The Even Chance is the first of many great film adaptations of the saga written by C.S. Foster. It tells the tale of one of the most beloved naval heroes in fiction; the 17-year-old Horatio Hornblower who has just joined the British Naval forces just before the French Revolution. With war at hand and a shipmate that is the epitome of what a bully is, tension arises. The film truly captures the essence of the book. The narrative is exciting and captivating as we see Hornblower becoming one great Naval leader with some great lessons on leadership. All in all, the motion picture is entertainment at its finest and so are all the other sequels.
16 Dunkirk (2017)
The three-times winning Oscar motion picture Dunkirk dives into the incident where thousands of British soldiers were stranded on the port in Dunkirk 1940 as Germans were after them. The only way to escape was via the open sea. Cut off from the rest of their army, the six-week-long battle was a living hell. With a tough situation at hand, Britain tries its best to send private boats to rescue and evacuate the soldiers through Operation Dynamo.
The retelling of this story of hopeless escape and survival is a tough watch with little dialogue; with most of the focus being on the cinematography and score to create the necessary atmosphere. The film tells three perspectives, one being those who were on land, those who were in the sea, and those who were in the air.
15 Mister Roberts (1955)
Mister Roberts is yet another Oscar-winning comedy-drama motion picture. It is loosely based on the 1946 novel of the same name by Thomas Heggen, based on his own experiences. It is centered around the last period of World War II. A US cargo officer, Doug Roberts, is the ship’s first lieutenant, responsible for the re-supply of the ships serving in the South Pacific.
Despite his efforts on his side going smoothly, he desperately wants to join the action so that he and his team could lend more of a helping hand. Yet, the captain of the ship, Lt. Cmdr. Morton gives him a hard time as they are in constant disagreement, and it becomes very hard for Roberts and his crew to actually join a combat vessel. It is a great tribute to those who serve on non-combat ships and that the enemy is not always on the opposing side.
14 The Cruel Sea (1953)
The Cruel Sea is an Oscar-nominated and underrated film set in World War II based on the best-selling 1951 novel of the same name by formal naval officer Nicholas Monsarrat. The story revolves around the Royal Navy where British Convoys led by Cmdr. Ericson are on a mission to fight German U-boats in the North Atlantic. However, the inexperience of the officers who are fresh out of their training, the roaring sea, and the constant challenging attacks from the enemy make this one of the most grueling battles of the Atlantic.
This film zooms in on the relationships that form from such pressuring times, and the incredible struggle they had to face every day. It is as realistic as it gets and far from pretentious where you truly get a piece of what the experience was truly like. It is one of the most highly rated films among those who served in the Navy.
13 In Harm’s Way (1965)
Directed by Otto Preminger, the taboo-tackling auteur famed for the classic films Laura and The Man with the Golden Arm, In Harm’s Way is a sprawling epic that covers the first year of American involvement in World War II. It does so through the eyes of Naval Captain Torrey, played by John Wayne, who faces trouble both on duty and on the home front. He eventually teams up with Commander Paul Eddington, played by Kirk Douglas, to tackle a critical mission in the Pacific. One of John Wayne’s best-ever war movies, In Harm’s Way is a sweeping black-and-white war odyssey that provides an in-depth look at the jobs and the lives of naval officers.
12 Run Silent, Run Deep (1958)
Run Silent, Run Deep tells the thrilling tale of the USS Nerka and the dangerous obsession of its captain. The captain, played by the great Clark Gable, is bent on sinking the Japanese vessel that once destroyed one of his ships. It is a classic piece of World War II naval war cinema and has stellar performances from Gable and his foil Burt Lancaster.
11 Greyhound (2020)
Greyhound chronicles the efforts of Commander Ernest Krause, played by Tom Hanks, in the Battle of the Atlantic, one of the most dangerous and complicated naval battles of World War II. The film is based on the 1955 C. S. Forester novel The Good Shepherd and was adapted for the screen by Hanks. The film takes a detailed and realistic approach to portraying naval warfare, and impressed fans and critics enough to score a sequel, which is to be released on Apple TV+.
10 The Enemy Below (1957)
As with Greyhound, The Enemy Below takes place during the Battle of the Atlantic, though this film takes a slightly different approach. The film depicts the bitter rivalry between American destroyer Captain Murrel, played by Robert Mitchum, and Nazi Captain Von Stolberg, played by Curt Jurgens. As they battle it out, their desire to destroy one another turns into a mutual respect for each other’s capabilities.
The combat action is brilliantly realized, the tension is palpable throughout, and the character drama is thoughtful and moving. It’s a rare naval war picture that focuses less on the ships and more on the people who operate them.
9 Midway (1976)
The 1976 film Midway dramatizes the 1942 Battle of Midway, following both sides of the war, while also covering drama on the home front. Its star-studded cast includes Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, and Japanese mega-star Toshirô Mifune. It’s a classic big-budget World War II spectacle that contains some of the best naval action ever committed to celluloid.
8 Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)
Tora! Tora! Tora! tells the story of the attack on Pearl Harbor from both perspectives of the event. It is a sprawling movie that is packed with rich details and thrilling action. A United States-Japanese co-production that was directed by three high-profile filmmakers, Tora! Tora! Tora! is the ultimate film to ever cover the tragedy of December 7, 1941.
In addition to being one of the best naval warfare movies of all time, it’s also a classic aerial warfare movie, as the action is split evenly between both modes of combat. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards and is one of the best war films of the 1970s.
7 The Hunt for Red October (1990)
The Hunt for Red October is about a Soviet submarine, known as “Red October,” that embarks on a rogue mission to the United States. When CIA operative Jack Ryan gets wind of this, he sets out to put an end to the sub’s journey.
Featuring great performances by Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin, The Hunt for Red October is a naval action classic, and quite possibly the best film in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan franchise. As Collider points out, “the attention to detail in recreating claustrophobic submarine interiors while allowing enough room for film equipment, not to mention lighting those monotone spaces dynamically, is stellar.” Adding to the wonderful attention to detail is the effective and memorable pulse-pounding score that further immerses the viewer in the action. All in all, The Hunt for Red October is a definitive submarine-chase flick that is worthy of any naval war fan’s time.
6 The Caine Mutiny (1954)
The Caine Mutiny is a classic World War II-set drama that follows a crew newly assigned to an old, worse-for-wear vessel called the Caine. Captain Queeg, played by the inimitable Humphrey Bogart, faces dangerous storms and mutiny charges in this 7-time Academy Award-nominated classic. Great performances, exciting action, and a boatload of quality character drama makes The Caine Mutiny a must-see.
5 Crimson Tide (1995)
Crimson Tide depicts a post-Cold War scenario in which a group of Russian extremists threatens the world with their nuclear capabilities. A submarine captain comes into conflict with his crew with regard to how they will deal with the looming threat. Naval action, thrilling suspense, and a mutiny ensue.
Crimson Tide features stand-out performances by Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington and is one of director Tony Scott’s best films. Critic Roger Ebert agreed, saying that Crimson Tide is, “the rare kind of war movie that not only thrills people while they’re watching it, but invites them to leave the theater actually discussing the issues.”
4 Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
Unlike most of the films on this list, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World doesn’t take place during World War II. Instead, the action is set in 1805, and centers around the overconfident Captain Jack Aubrey, played by Russell Crowe in one of his most iconic roles. When Aubrey is tasked with capturing an elusive French ship, he and his crew embark on an epic journey filled with battles between both enemies and friends. The film is expertly directed by Peter Weir, and also features one of Paul Bettany’s finest performances as Dr. Stephen Maturin, the ship’s surgeon.
3 Battleship Potemkin (1925)
Battleship Potemkin is a highly revered silent masterpiece that tells the story of a sailors’ revolt in the Soviet Union. It is a thrilling movie and one of the best-looking pieces of silent cinema, as the incredible Sergei Eisenstein directs with a stylish flair that makes the film feel surprisingly modern even today. The film is worth the watch for the famous “Odessa Steps” sequence alone, which is one of the most studied and celebrated pieces of filmmaking of all time.
2 Das Boot (1981)
Das Boot is set during World War II and tells the story of a German submarine on patrol in the Atlantic Ocean. The film is unique in that it takes an almost documentary-like approach to storytelling, centering less on character and more on the workings and mission of the submarine. One of the best German films ever made, the film was directed by Wolfgang Petersen, whose direction was praised by Roger Ebert as “an exercise in pure craftsmanship.” It is also regarded as an anti-war masterpiece.
1 The Sand Pebbles (1966)
Taking the top spot on our list of the greatest movies to portray naval warfare is Robert Wise’s The Sand Pebbles. The film is a sweeping three-hour historical epic set in 1926, depicting the American naval operation known as the “Yangtze Patrol,” which was intended to maintain peace at the treaty ports along the longest river in China. Steve McQueen plays the rebellious machinist Jake Holman, who joins the crew of the USS San Pablo, a gunboat sent to quell disputes between Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists and warlords in the area. Jake’s independent attitude sparks hostility among the gunboat crew, while jingoistic posturing escalates into bloody conflict.
The 1966 film was released to widespread acclaim, as well as garnered some controversy due to its hard-to-ignore parallels to the then-escalating conflict in Vietnam. The film boasts one of the King of Cool’s all-time greatest performances, which scored him his first and only Academy Award nomination. It is a triumph of large-scale, historical storytelling, and an indisputable classic naval war movie.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
