10 Greatest War Movie Masterpieces of the Last 100 Years, Ranked

One hundred years is a long time, and while cinema has changed dramatically, war remains a persistent subject. War’s enduring presence in film has produced many masterpieces, and this list ranks the ten best of the past century by story, acting, directing, influence, critical acclaim, depiction of the subject, originality, and overall quality.

The selections span eras and styles. Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk presents a non-linear account of the evacuation from three perspectives—land, sea and sky—and uses a split narrative to build a ticking-clock tension. Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List adopts stark black-and-white imagery to deliver a documentary feel with narrative weight, while Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan is noted for its disturbingly accurate portrayal of D-Day.

Classics and international films appear alongside modern entries.

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