20 Greatest War Movie Masterpieces of All Time, Ranked

War movies have a long-lasting effect on audiences and remain one of cinema's most acclaimed genres. From black-and-white classics to epic modern thrillers, this body of work has produced timeless, memorable films that continue to grip viewers and influence popular culture.

Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth stands out as a visionary war film that blends dark fantasy with the brutal reality of the Franco regime. It follows the imaginative Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) as she seeks escape from an oppressive home life and her sadistic military stepfather, Captain Vidal (Sergio Lopez), delivering striking visuals, inventive storytelling, and a powerful, complex message of defiance.

Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds offers a wild, bloody take on WWII, with Brad Pitt and Christoph Waltz—whose supporting turn earned an Oscar—leading a team of elite U.S. Army infiltrators in occupied France. Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line provides a very different war experience: a reflective, philosophical drama that follows several U.S.