War as a concept is bigger than any one person, meaning that, by their very nature, war movies tend to emphasize the collective rather than the individual. Showcasing the ineffable camaraderie between soldiers, iconic genre entries in the vein of Saving Private Ryan, Platoon, or Dunkirk all center their attention on units of men within the military, eschewing a focus on one central individual in favor of a more diverse depiction of the nature of army life and armed combat.

With that being said, this decidedly isn’t the type of war film. The genre also plays host to several excellent war movies that focus on just one person, capturing a uniquely intimate and immersive snapsH๏τ of wartime through the eyes of a single individual. Planting their viewers squarely in the main character’s shoes, many of the best war movies of all time have utilized this creative technique with first-rate results onscreen.

10

1917 (2019)

Directed By Sam Mendes

One of the finest war movies released within the past ten years, Sam Mendes’ 1917 chronicles a desperate race against time to call off a doomed offensive during the First World War. Boasting an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Mendes’ masterfully sH๏τ picture is one of the finest stories that the genre has to offer. Winning three out of the ten Academy Awards that it was nominated for, 1917’s ambitious use of spectacular long takes combines with a thrilling story to produce a cinematic experience for the ages.

The movie initially appears to center on two main characters, George Mackay’s Will Schofield and Dean-Charles Chapman’s Tom Blake, before switching its sole focus to Mackay’s charge after Blake is killed in a skirmish. Schofield remains the movie’s linchpin from this point forward, carrying the narrative from the death of his friend to his heroic charge through No Man’s Land.

9

Unbroken (2014)

Directed By Angelina Jolie

A war movie loosely based on a true story, 2014’s Unbroken focuses on Jack O’Connell’s Louis Zamperini. Directed by Angelina Jolie, the movie depicts the American Olympian’s experiences of WWII, chronicling Louis’ time spent in a brutal Japanese POW camp after his plane is sH๏τ down and the relentless abuse that he endured at the hands of a particularly sadistic prison guard, Mutsuhiro Watanabe.

Unbroken received mixed reviews from critics but still represents a first-rate war movie experience for any connoisseur of the genre. Roger Deakins’ inimitable cinematography and Alexandre Despat’s rousing score elevate the film above its more prevalent shortcomings, while O’Connell loses himself in a stirring performance. The Skins star leverages excellent chemistry with Japanese musician Miyavi as his tormentor, capturing an evocative snapsH๏τ of Zamperini’s bravery in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

8

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

Directed By Mel Gibson

An exemplary return to form for maligned director Mel Gibson, 2016’s Hacksaw Ridge follows the remarkable true story of Desmond Doss, brought to life in a magnificent turn by Andrew Garfield. A conscientious objector during WWII, Doss carried 75 men to safety amidst the hell of the Battle of Okinawa without firing a single sH๏τ, earning the Medal of Honor for his unbelievable bravery.

Appearing on multiple critics’ top ten lists for 2016 and boasting a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 84%, Hacksaw Ridge won two out of the six Oscars that it received nominations for. A pᴀssionate ode to courage, faith, and staying true to one’s principles, this WWII masterpiece pays tribute to the bravery of a single individual while retaining status as one of the finest war movies to come out of the 21st century.

7

American Sniper (2014)

Directed By Clint Eastwood

Based on the life story of the late Chris Kyle, 2014’s critically acclaimed outing American Sniper unsurprisingly brings the entirety of its focus to bear on Bradley Cooper’s тιтular charge. Kyle was credited with more than 150 kills throughout his time as a Navy SEAL, with Clint Eastwood’s war movie operating as a dramatized biographic dedicated to one of the most prolific marksmen in U.S. military history.

Earning six Academy Award nominations that included the lofty honors of Best Picture and Best Actor, American Sniper has been accused of playing out like blatant military propaganda in patches but still serves as an indispensable entry for any fan of the genre. Cooper produces what is arguably a career-best performance as Kyle, effortlessly carrying this poignant commentary on the physical and mental scars ᴀssociated with armed combat.

6

Rescue Dawn (2006)

Directed By Werner Herzog

2006’s Rescue Dawn is based on the real-life case of Dieter Dengler. An American pilot during the Vietnam War, Dengler was interned in a horrifying POW camp after being captured by the Pathet Lao, with Werner Herzog’s war movie looking to bring his incredible story to life onscreen. The movie expands its focus to encompᴀss many supporting characters as it progresses, but Christian Bale’s charge remains the star of the show throughout.

Despite its unenviable status as a box office bomb, Rescue Dawn is an intense and moving story of triumph against all odds. Spearheaded by a criminally underrated performance from Bale, the film garnered a first-rate Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 90%, rubber-stamping the movie’s status as a notable diamond in the rough for the genre, as well as one of cinema’s best prison escape films.

5

Patton (1970)

Directed By Franklin J. Schaffner

Reaping the benefits of an Academy Award-winning performance from George C. Scott as the eponymous character, 1970’s Patton is an epic biographical war movie concerning the life of the legendary U.S. general, George S. Patton. The movie dramatizes the exploits of “Old Blood and Guts” throughout WWII, with Scott’s generational bow capturing an immortal live-action portrait of one of the conflict’s most influential commanders.

In addition to Scott’s Best Actor nod, Patton took home seven Oscars, including the prestigious honors of Best Picture and Best Director. The epic war movie has been cited by many critics as one of the finest genre offerings of all time, a state of affairs that is reflected by the film’s superb Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 90%. To this day, Patton stands as one of the most impressive war films focusing on a single individual that cinema has ever witnessed.

4

Enemy At The Gates (2001)

Directed By Jean-Jacques Annaud

A ferociously prolific Russian marksman during WWII, the real-life sniper Vasily Zaitsev serves as the focal point of 2001’s WWII outing Enemy at the Gates. Widely regarded as one of Jude Law’s finest movies, Jean-Jacques Annaud’s picture chronicles a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly duel between Zaitsev and Ed Harris’ Wehrmacht sniper school instructor Erwin König against the backdrop of the Battle of Stalingrad.

While Enemy at the Gates only received middling reviews from critics, the war movie retains its status as a firm fan favorite to this day. Chronicling Zaitsev’s desperate attempts to outmaneuver his more experienced adversary as he simultaneously becomes embroiled in a love triangle and political turmoil on his own side, Annaud’s movie is notable for producing some spectacularly immersive depictions of battle to complement a visceral bow from Law as the film’s linchpin.

3

Jarhead (2005)

Directed By Sam Mendes

1917 director Sam Mendes has a particular knack for producing excellent war movies centered on one individual, a status quo that is perfectly exemplified by 2005’s Jarhead. Featuring Jake Gyllenhaal in the leading role, Jarhead is inspired by the memoir of U.S. Marine Anthony Swofford, a real-life veteran of the Persian Gulf War who serves as the movie’s main character.

Despite being criticized by various military experts for perceived inaccuracies in its depiction of Marine life, Jarhead has remarkably shaken off the shackles posed by a mediocre box office return and middling reviews to become a cult classic among war movie buffs. Gyllenhaal’s grounded turn as Swofford remains one of his most underrated dramatic performances, while Mendes’ typically ᴀssured style of direction serves up a gripping cinematic experience that holds up to this day.

2

Lone Survivor (2013)

Directed By Peter Berg

While Lone Survivor pays tribute to all nineteen soldiers who lost their lives during the ill-fated Operation Red Wings, the primary focus of Peter Berg’s 2013 war movie is undoubtedly Marcus Luttrell. The last man left standing after a reconnaissance mission set during the War in Afghanistan goes disastrously wrong, Berg’s movie dramatizes Luttrell’s remarkable true story, producing a gripping tale of heroism, courage, and the human drive to survive.

Boasting some of the most visceral and realistic combat sequences ever brought to life onscreen, Berg’s movie also centers on Luttrell’s SEAL squad members but eventually switches exclusive focus to Mark Wahlberg’s character after his team is picked off by the Taliban. Clocking in with a commendable Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 75%, Lone Survivor is a poignant tribute to the bravery and forтιтude of the men who inspired it, as well as one of the genre’s most criminally unappreciated offerings.

1

’71 (2014)

Directed By Yann Demange

Playing host to a career-best performance from Jack O’Connell, ’71 follows the fictional story of Gary Hook, a young British soldier who is thrust into a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly fight for survival after being separated from his unit at the height of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Yann Demange’s picture depicts Hook’s desperate attempts to get to safety as he is hunted by the IRA, producing a white-knuckle viewing experience that invariably leaves viewers with bated breath.

Clocking in with an enviable Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 96%, ’71 is a heart-pounding story that blends the war genre with that of a fully fledged thriller. An offering that pulls no punches in depicting the appalling social consequences brought about by the Troubles, Demange’s acclaimed picture focusing on a single individual remains one of cinema’s best movies about lesser-known wars more than a decade after it was released.