Historical epics have long captivated audiences with grand battle sequences that utilize cinema’s power to depict huge armies, violent confrontation, and earth-shattering chaos. Whether it’s ancient showdowns or modern warfare, these sequences remain some of the most effective scenes ever captured on screen.

The best historical epics ever all know how to depict an effective battle, and all-time great directors like Stanley Kubrick, Steven Spielberg, and Ridley Scott mastered the difficulties of capturing the intensity of conflict on screen. Whether through the use of practical effects or with modern CGI, all of these battles were truly spellbinding.

The Last Of The Mohicans (1992)

Mᴀssacre at Fort William Henry

Daniel Day-Lewis has had some all-time great movie roles across his acclaimed career, with his role as Nathaniel “Hawkeye” Poe in The Last of the Mohicans being a highlight. Set during the French and Indian War of 1757, this epic war drama depicted the shocking Fort William Henry Mᴀssacre.

This was a real siege that lasted for six days in August 1757 and saw the deaths of nearly 2,000 Native Americans from various tribes. Under the accomplished direction of Michael Mann, The Last of the Mohicans effectively captures the horror of this violent time, representing firm evidence of why this aspect of American history should not be ignored.

The Last Samurai (2003)

Final Samurai Charge

While The Last Samurai did receive criticism for propagating a white savior narrative through Tom Cruise’s leading role, it still remains an effective and powerful historical epic. Depicting Saigō Takamori’s 1877 Satsuma Rebellion, the film explores the Westernization of Japanese soldiers as an American military officer is hired to train the country’s army.

Although some may take issue with the film’s content, nobody can deny the power of the final battle in The Last Samurai, which saw soldiers face off against one another in an epic confrontation where bows and arrows clashed with modern gunfire. As a melding of worlds, The Last Samurai made for riveting viewing.

Kingdom Of Heaven (2005)

Siege of Jerusalem

Ridley Scott knows perhaps better than any filmmaker how to stage an epic battle, and a prime example of this came in the Siege of Jerusalem scene in Kingdom of Heaven. Grand in scale and scope, this powerful sequence saw thousands of crusaders defend the city against Saladin’s enormous army.

With buildings crumbling and violence at every turn, this unflinching display of pure bloodshed captured the shocking circumstances of the Third Crusade. Through grand visuals, an emotional score, and stylish sH๏τs of men in battle, there’s no modern filmmaker who can match Scott’s exceptional ability to stage a battle.

Waterloo (1970)

Battle of Waterloo

Waterloo stands as one of the most impressive war movies ever made due to the sheer commitment of those involved to get things right without taking any shortcuts. Through the use of 15,000 extras (via War History Online) and carefully recreated battles, Waterloo depicted its famous battle without the use of special effects.

With an impressive cast including Christopher Plummer and Orson Welles, the film centered on not just the Battle of Waterloo but also the lead-up to the Hundred Days campaign. As a real treat for wartime history buffs, Waterloo was a grand and ambitious venture.

Glory (1989)

The Battle of Antietam

Glory was the movie that won Denzel Washington his first Oscar, but it was actually the incredible battle scenes that were the star of this show. As an exploration of one of the Union Army’s earliest African American regiments during the American Civil War, Glory showcased a dimension of the conflict that is rarely focused on.

Audiences were thrust straight into the battlefield as the movie begins with Matthew Broderick’s voiceover narrative before quickly moving into the Battle of Antietam, where Captain Robert Shaw was injured. While there were plenty more extraordinary battle sequences throughout Glory, this frantic opening scene prepared audiences for everything that was to follow.

Braveheart (1995)

Battle of Stirling Bridge

While most will remember Mel Gibson’s extraordinary speech stating, “They may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom” from Braveheart, this wouldn’t have been nearly as effective without a great battle scene to back it up. The best example of this was the Battle of Stirling Bridge, which saw hordes of men brutally attacking one another.

As a historical epic set in the First War of Scottish Independence against King Edward I of England in the late 1200s, there was no gunfire in the battles in Braveheart. This made for even more intense viewing, as swordplay and hand-to-hand combat were the only ways to defeat their enemy.

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

The Omaha Beach Battle

Having already made historical masterpieces like Schindler’s List, Steven Spielberg outdid himself with the extraordinary filmmaking achievement that was Saving Private Ryan. As an effective ensemble World War II movie, this all-time great film not only featured a powerful emotional storyline but also boasted some of the greatest battle sequences ever committed to screen.

With heart-racing intensity, the Omaha Beach battle sequences in Saving Private Ryan perfectly encapsulated the shell shock and traumatizing impact of being in the heart of war. As soldiers struggle in the water while active gunfire pursues them, Saving Private Ryan remains the benchmark by which all other WWII films are judged.

Zulu (1964)

The Final Attack

With long stretches of waiting and war chants, the final attack in Zulu was a masterclass in building tension before conflict erupts. As a depiction of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, this battle sequence took its time creating a foreboding atmosphere before hordes of Zulu warriors attacked the British defending Rorke’s Drift.

Zulu stands as one of the finest historical epics ever made and even influenced Peter Jackson’s depiction of the Battle of Helm’s Deep in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. It’s impressive that even though Zulu was produced over 60 years ago, it’s as engrossing and effective as ever.

Gladiator (2000)

Opening Battle

Ridley Scott’s Best Picture-winning triumph Gladiator remains one of the most acclaimed historical epics of all time thanks to its extraordinary battle sequences. With an opening scene that vividly depicts the chaos of war, Gladiator wasted no time introducing audiences to the violent and unforgiving conflict of Ancient Rome.

With mostly historically accurate weaponry, it was thrilling to witness the use of not just arrows but also catapults and bolt shooters. Although many will remember Maximus Decimus Meridius’s individual battles in the Colosseum, it was this grand opening sequence that best showcased Scott’s immense talent for grand spectacle.

Spartacus (1960)

Slave Army Versus Roman Legions

While the history of cinema includes plenty of jaw-dropping battle sequences, nothing can compare to the epic intensity of the finale of Spartacus. As a masterclass in filmmaking from director Stanley Kubrick, it’s shocking to think he was able to pull off a feat of this scale in the age before CGI.

Through the combination of Kubrick’s uncompromising vision of wide, symmetrical sH๏τs combined with urgent close-ups of soldiers in battle, Spartacus was a brutal and awe-inspiring depiction of war. Unlike most typical Hollywood stories, Spartacus also loses the battle, which adds to the emotional intensity and power of this sequence.

Source: War History Online