Warmovies never really went away from Hollywood. It’s a genre that’s been kept alive thanks to ongoing war efforts in any corner of the world at some point.While many of these stories are set in the stones of history, quite a few films tell stories born from the imaginations of creatives who put themselves in the harshest of mindsets for the sake of a good story.
World War II is still the favored breeding ground to tell stories about the events that defined or shaped the last grand war humanity fought. However, recent conflicts sparked by political interest make for compelling storiesabout unsung heroes who dared to bring the truthto the people. Some of these stories explore the minds of soldiers and the toll war takes on them.
A great war movie does not always have the largest budget, but they have solid writing. With that said, let’s take a look at recent war films that went under your radar, so you can give them a watch.
20The Siege of Jadotville (2016)
Some of the most underrated war movies touch on conflicts you likely haven’t heard before. Our understanding of war is usually relegated to grand-scale disputes, but the harsh reality is that war is fought daily for various reasons.
The Siege of Jadotvilleis a film directed by Richie Smyth and written by Kevin Brodbin, starring Jamie Dornan, Mark Strong, and Emmanuelle Seigner. It depicts the story of an Irish commanderwith a battalion of 150 UN peacekeepersbesieged by Congolese troops in 1961 during the Katanga conflict for mining interests.
19The Eight Hundred (2020)
The most realistic war movie never follows a single point of view. The chaotic nature of war makes it impossible to address the suffering of a single character.The Eight Hundredwas the largest box office earner of 2020.
The film is directed by Guan Hu, with a screenplay by Dong Runnian, and features the acting talents of Zhang Yi, Huang Zhizhong, and Jiang Wu.The story is set during the Battle of Shanghai in 1937, as a group of Chinese soldiers defend a warehouse to a standstill against Japanese forces during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
18The Monuments Men (2014)
The Monuments Menis a film written and directed by George Clooney with the assistance of Grant Heslov. This star-studded ensemble production includes Clooney alongside Matt Damon, John Goodman, Cate Blanchett, and Bill Murray.
The story is based on a book by Robert M. Edsel about the efforts of a group of art experts and historians tasked with recovering stolen artwork during World War II.The mission turns into a race against timeafter the team finds out about the Nero Decree, a mandate placed by Hitler to destroy all prevalent artworks should the Third Reich fall.
17The Outpost (2020)
The USA spent 20 years in Afghanistan, leaving with very little to show for it. Getting there was challenging, and a film likeThe Outpostexists to tell the story about the soldiers' sacrifice who endured hardships there. The movie is directed by Rod Lurie and adapted by Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson from Jake Tapper’s book.
We get the acting talents of Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones, and Orlando Bloom. The Outpost recountsthe story of a US military outpost in Afghanistan, at Camp Keating, where a group of soldiers held the bloodiest standoff against the Taliban in 2009, making the Bravo Troop 3-61 CAV one of the most decorated units during the conflict.
16Without Remorse (2021)
Taylor Sheridan strikes again! The prolific writer is the man behindWithout Remorse, directed by Stefano Sollima; this action-thriller features Michael B. Jordan, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Jamie Bell.
This story follows Navy SEAL John Clark,a man seeking justiceafter his pregnant wife is murdered. This leads to uncovering a larger conspiracy tied to an international conflict looking to pit the USA and Russia in an all-out war.
Related:20 Films Depicting Potential World War 3 Scenarios
15Father, Soldier, Son (2020)
So few films take the time to dig deep into a soldier’s psyche, but no one does more efficiently asFather, Soldier, Son. This documentary, directed by Leslye Davis and Catrin Einhorn, follows the life story of Sgt. First Class Brian Eisch and his sons.
It’s a gut-punching taleexploring the embellishment of military lifeand how it’s not like recruiters sell it. Eisch endures a taxing injury that diminishes his well-being while his sons explore their options for the future, trying to live up to the role model presented by their father.
14Operation Mincemeat (2021)
Some of the most outlandish actions taken during wartime were related to deception and deceit. The British Army fought for a long time on its own against the Germans, and when they finally joined forces with the Allies,they had to play a perfect game of chessagainst German strategists to hide the massive incoming full-frontal invasion.
Operation Mincemeatis directed by John Madden, based on a screenplay by Michelle Ashford, and features the acting talents of Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyen, and Kelly Macdonald. It’s a great story about the inner workings of intelligence and perceived notions in a time when technology didn’t allow the luxuries we have today.
13The Forgotten Battle (2020)
Never let it be said that foreign films can’t muster the same emotion and nuance as American productions.The Forgotten Battletells a story that was too common back in WWII. People following orders sometimes had to forge the most unlikely alliances with their enemies to survive.
In this movie, directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr., we follow the desperate relationship betweena glider pilot, a Nazi soldier, and a resistance fighterin the Battle of the Scheldt, offering a unique perspective in a conflict many people forget was fought by human beings with actual feelings.
12Devotion (2022)
Devotionis an uplifting story by rights. The film, directed by J.D. Dillard, written by Jake Crane and Jonathan A. Stewart, tells the story of Jesse Brown, the first Black aviator in US Navy history, and his enduring friendship with fellow fighter pilot Tom Hudner.
This drama stars Jonathan Majors, Glen Powell, and Thomas Sadoski as they help turn the tide in the pressing Korean War, where so many US Navy fighter pilots had to cover for ground forces.
11Sand Castle (2017)
Don’t let anybody tell you there’s no such thing as a quiet war film.Sand Castleis a movie directed by Fernando Coimbra and written by Chris Roessner, starring Nicholas Hoult, Logan Marshall-Green, and Henry Cavill.
It’s a tale set in the early stages of the Iraq War,where a group of American soldiersare tasked to repair a water pumping station in a hostile village. The film is a dashing exploration of the complexities related to warfare and nation-building amidst a conflict.
