The 10 Best War Movies Of The 1980s

This article contains references to war crimes.

The 1980s witnessed the debuts of some of the most celebrated and influential war movies of all time. Following in the footsteps of acclaimed productions from the 1970s such as Apocalypse Now, Cross of Iron, and The Deer Hunter, the decade played host to several standout entries, moving viewers with their authentic depictions of war, explorations of the intricate social impact of armed conflict, and evocative narratives.

While the desolating landscape of WWII serves as the backdrop for several of the decade’s most acclaimed genre offerings, many of the 1980s war movies focus on the more recent Vietnam War. The heavy human cost of the conflict meant that many films from the 1980s chose to cultivate anti-war rhetoric, highlighting the devastating social ramifications of war while simultaneously paying tribute to the heroics and personal sacrifices of those involved in the fighting.

10 Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)

Directed By Barry Levinson

Loosely based on the real-life story of Adrian Joseph Cronauer, the war-comedy Good Morning, Vietnam is a glorious blend of riotous humor and philosophical musings on the nature of war. Carried by the late, great Robin Williams in one of his most celebrated roles, Barry Levinson’s picture was universally acclaimed by fans and critics alike, lending a much-needed air of levity to one of the darkest social periods in American history.

Good Morning, Vietnam‘s success and lasting cultural impact is largely due to Williams’ incredible lead performance, made all the more impressive by the revelation that large portions of the actor’s radio broadcasts within the film were almost entirely improvised. Receiving an Academy Award for Best Actor nomination for his bow as Cronauer, Williams’ infectious energy serves as the cornerstone for one of the decade’s most celebrated offerings, irrespective of genre.

9 Casualties Of War (1989)

Directed By Brian De Palma

While Casualties of War stands as one of the finest war films of the 1980s, it is decidedly not an easy watch. The 1989 title is a war film based on the notorious true story of the rape and murder of a young Vietnamese woman perpetrated by a squad of U.S. Army soldiers; a horrifying incident that invoked an international outcry. Carried by a pair of powerhouse performances from leading duo Michael J. Fox and Sean Penn, in addition to impeccable direction from Brian De Palma, Casualties of War is an unflinching depiction of the darkest aspects of the Vietnam War.

Penn particularly shines in his role as revolting war criminal Sergeant Tony Meserve, the film’s chief antagonist and foil to Fox’s naively principled Private Eriksson. The Academy Award winner lends terrifying authenticity to his morally devoid charge, carrying De Palma’s poignant commentary on the visceral actions of soldiers during wartime with the strength of his raw performance.

8 Gallipoli (1981)

Directed By Peter Weir

Set against the backdrop of one of the First World War’s most devastating and costly military campaigns, 1981’s Gallipoli is a seminal piece of Australian cinema. Peter Weir’s film follows a pair of idealistic young sprinters who enlist in the Australian armed forces in search of glory and adventure, only to see their dreams of battlefield heroics swiftly dashed by the brutal reality of wartime.

One of the best World War I movies ever made, Gallipoli also opts for powerful anti-war rhetoric, aided by a pair of raw performances from leading duo Mel Gibson and Mark Lee that perfectly capture the destruction of innocence brought about by armed conflict. While certain aspects of the film have been criticized for a lack of historical accuracy, Weir’s picture remains a poignant and moving tribute to the bravery of the countless Anzac soldiers who died in the conflict that rarely fails to elicit an emotional response.

7 Born On The Fourth of July (1989)

Directed By Oliver Stone

Earning eight Academy Award nominations and featuring Tom Cruise in one of his most lauded dramatic roles to date, 1989’s Born on the Fourth of July is based on the remarkable life of Ron Kovic. A United States Marine Corps sergeant who was left paralyzed from injuries sustained in the Vietnam War, Kovic’s subsequent disillusion with the war led him to become a prominent anti-war activist who frequently clashed with his own government.

One of acclaimed director Oliver Stone’s best movies, Born on the Fourth of July underlines the intense physical and psychological toll that armed conflict exacts upon its participants, highlighted by Kovic’s substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder upon his return to civilian life. Placing a desolating emphasis on war’s aftermath, Stone’s direction and Cruise’s visceral lead performance combine for a cinematic experience that inspires and devastates in equal measure.

6 Come And See (1985)

Directed By Elem Klimov

Contentiously one of the most harrowing war films ever made, Elem Klimov’s Come and See is the quintessential example of a near-flawless war film that most viewers can only bring themselves to watch once. The director pulls zero punches in bringing one of the most disturbing experiences in the history of cinema to life, chronicling an array of wartime atrocities through the eyes of a young boy who joins the Belarusian partisans after his family is murdered by the Nazis.

Aged 14 at the time of the film’s production, Russian actor Aleksei Kravchenko is central to the film’s success and lasting impact, turning in a haunting bow that stands as one of the most impressive child performances in the history of the cinema. The film’s intensely powerful narrative, nuanced philosophical musings, and graphic depiction of war crimes combine for a devastating tale that remains imprinted on the viewer’s mind long after the credits roll.

5 The Big Red One (1980)

Directed By Samuel Fuller

One of the most ambitious and impressive WWII films ever conceived, Samuel Fuller’s The Big Red One stands as one of the more underrated genre offerings out there. Chronicling the experiences of a U.S. Army squad from the arid deserts of North Africa to their harrowing discoveries at Falkenau concentration camp, Fuller’s picture harbors legitimacy from the very get-go; hardly surprising, given the fact that the film is partly based on the director’s real-life experiences as a soldier during the war.

The Big Red One’s
title is inspired by the distinctive red numeral “1” patches that adorned the 1st Infantry Division’s shoulders during WWII.

In addition to an array of explosive action sequences, the film’s sense of gritty realism is aided by a standout performance from fellow veteran Lee Marvin in the film’s leading role as the squad’s unnamed Sergeant. A well-acted and deftly paced depiction of the average infantry soldier’s experience during WWII, Fuller’s outing stands as a hidden gem for the genre to this day, as well as one of the 1980s’ most underrated war films.

4 Empire Of The Sun (1987)

Directed By Steven Spielberg

Featuring a 12-year-old Christian Bale in his first major role, Empire of the Sun is one of cinema’s quintessential coming-of-age stories, in addition to one of the finest war films of the decade. Steven Spielberg’s 1987 picture chronicles the story of a young boy caught up in the Japanese invasion of China during WWII, capturing an evocative snapshot of the conflict through the innocent eyes of a child.

Empire of the Sun eschews the bloody carnage typically associated with WWII in favor of a hauntingly introspective commentary on the loss of innocence precipitated by armed conflict. Aided by an incredible score from John Williams and another one of the most impressive child roles in cinematic history from the aforementioned Bale, Spielberg’s picture never fails to tug on the heartstrings and stands as one of his most criminally unappreciated offerings to this day.

3 Das Boot (1981)

Directed By Wolfgang Peterson

A gripping account told from the perspective of a German U-boat crew, Wolfgang Peterson’s Das Boot isn’t just one of the best genre offerings from the 1980s, but one of the most celebrated and influential war films ever conceived. Earning six Academy Award nominations, Peterson’s claustrophobic 1981 epic captures the aura of WWII submarine warfare in a manner that has never been successfully replicated. It’s a war movie steeped in realism, with the director’s laser-focused attention to detail producing one of the most immersive cinematic experiences of all time.

Complemented by an utterly gripping narrative, nerve-wracking combat sequences, and an array of superb performances from the cast, Das Boot is an indispensable entry for any connoisseur of the genre. An utterly devastating conclusion to proceedings serves as a poignant capstone for one of the most influential war films ever seen on the silver screen.

2 Platoon (1986)

Directed By Oliver Stone

Arguably Stone’s most impressive picture, and undoubtedly one of the greatest films concerning the Vietnam War ever made, it’s hard to overstate the lasting cultural impact of Platoon . Spearheaded by a trio of incredible performances from Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, and Tom Berenger, the 1986 war movie received a glowing critical response and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.

A Vietnam veteran himself, Stone’s real-life experiences of the war are expertly channeled into Platoon, underlined by the grounded nature and realism of the war film’s battle sequences, in addition to the immersive cinematography that it utilizes. The end result is an unsettling commentary on the futile nature of armed conflict that breathes authenticity and an epic battle between the concepts of morality and reality that is universally regarded as one of the genre’s most seminal offerings.

Directed By Stanley Kubrick

A nihilistic masterpiece from Stanley Kubrick, Full Metal Jacket is a desolating commentary on the Vietnam War that also stands as one of the most acclaimed war films in the history of cinema. The film is split into two distinct portions, beginning with a platoon’s experiences during boot camp and concluding with a deep dive into the average foot soldier’s experience of the Vietnam War.

Kubrick’s direction and an array of award-worthy performances from the cast capture the moral ambiguity and air of futility that has become synonymous with the wider conflict in unflinching fashion. Full Metal Jacket is darkly funny at times but is depressing enough to make viewers weep at others. Kubrick’s endlessly rewatchable war movie is as engrossing as it is grueling, a showcase of the director’s inimitable style of filmmaking that stands as the decade’s finest war film.