Best WWII Movies: From Heroes to Heartbreak, Epic Battles to Personal Struggles
234 titles
- 201
The BunkerMovie · 1981 · 150m · War, DramaThis historical drama depicts the intense final weeks of Adolf Hitler's life as he shelters in underground bunkers beneath Berlin. The film closely examines the strained atmosphere within his inner circle during this critical time, leading up to and including the Battle for Berlin. It reveals the complex power dynamics, emotional struggles, and devoted loyalty among those close to Hitler. As Berlin descends into chaos and defeat becomes inevitable, the film offers a stark look at the end of a dictatorship that profoundly shaped world history.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.2 - 202
DunkirkMovie · 2017 · 107m · War, Action, DramaThis is the story of the remarkable rescue of Allied soldiers trapped in Dunkirk, France, between May 26th and June 4th, 1940, during World War II. Cut off from the beaches and harbor by the German army, soldiers from Belgium, Britain, Canada, and France were surrounded.IMDb 7.8TMDB 7.5 - 203
RememberMovie · 2015 · 94m · Drama, Thriller, MysteryHaunted by dementia, an elderly man, aided by a fellow Auschwitz survivor and a handwritten letter, embarks on a quest to find the individual who murdered his family.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.3 - 204
HiroshimaMovie · 1995 · 190mHiroshima, a 1995 Japanese/Canadian film by Koreyoshi Kurahara and Roger Spottiswoode, examines the decision-making behind the United States' atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki near the end of World War II. The film features an all-non-American cast and was created for television, with no theatrical release, though it is now available on DVD. Combining dramatizations, historical footage, and eyewitness accounts, the movie shifts between documentary and recreated scenes. Both the dramatizations and much of the original footage are presented in sepia tones to visually integrate them. The film includes English and Japanese dialogue with subtitles, and the majority of the actors are Canadian and Japanese.IMDb 7.8TMDB 8.0 - 205
The Round UpMovie · 2010 · 115m · Drama, History, WarThis film recounts the events of the 1942 Vel' d'Hiv Roundup, a significant historical event. It details the circumstances and happenings surrounding this period.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.5 - 206
Little BoyMovie · 2015 · 106m · Comedy, Drama, WarAn eight-year-old boy is determined to bring his father home from World War II, willing to do anything to achieve that goal. The film explores the profound love between a father and son.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.2 - 207
PattonMovie · 1970 · 172m · War, Drama, History"Patton" follows General George S. Patton, a highly regarded tank commander in World War II. The film begins in North Africa, showcasing Patton’s impressive military strategies and leadership as he advances through the invasions of Sicily and France with the aim of conquering Germany. Alongside this historical account, the movie explores Patton's complex character: a courageous and brilliant leader who struggles with a volatile temper and a rebellious streak. "Patton" presents a powerful look at the war's successes and difficulties, prompting viewers to consider the conflicting aspects of one of America’s most famous military leaders.IMDb 7.9TMDB 7.5 - 208
The SunMovie · 2005 · 111m · Drama, HistoryThis film explores the final days of Emperor Hirohito during the end of World War II. It offers a new perspective on his reign as the war nears its conclusion.IMDb 7.3TMDB 6.7 - 209
The Zookeeper's WifeMovie · 2017 · 126m · Drama, History, WarThis is the story of Jan and Antonina Zabinski, the keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, who risked their lives to protect hundreds of people and animals when the Nazis invaded.IMDb 7.0TMDB 7.3 - 210
Look Who's BackMovie · 2015 · 116m · ComedyAdolf Hitler unexpectedly awakens at the location of his old Berlin bunker in modern times. He is initially perceived as a comedian and rapidly gains widespread attention through the media.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.8 - 211
Persian LessonsMovie · 2020 · 127m · War, DramaFrance, 1942, under Nazi occupation. Gilles is arrested with other Jews and transported to a German concentration camp. To avoid immediate execution, he convinces the SS guards he is Persian. This deception earns him a dangerous assignment: to teach the camp commander, Koch, Farsi. Koch harbors dreams of opening a restaurant in Iran after the war. Gilles survives by creating new "Farsi" words each day and teaching them to Koch.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.5 - 212
D-Day: Over NormandyMovie · 2017 · 57mNarrated by NFL legend Bill Belichick, this film uses stunning drone footage to revisit the pivotal locations of D-Day in Normandy. Commissioned by the World War II Foundation, the film captures breathtaking views of the landing beaches and battlefields, offering a powerful and unprecedented look at this historic event.IMDb 7.9TMDB 6.0 - 213
The House with a Clock in Its WallsMovie · 2018 · 105m · Comedy, Fantasy, FamilyAfter the sudden death of his parents, ten-year-old Lewis goes to live with his Uncle Jonathan in a large, old house filled with strange noises. He soon learns his uncle is a warlock and begins studying magic. However, when Lewis accidentally brings back a dangerous warlock, he must uncover the house's secrets to prevent global destruction.IMDb 6.1TMDB 6.2 - 214
HellboyMovie · 2004 · 122m · Fantasy, ActionDuring the last days of World War II, the Nazis try to use black magic to win the war. Allied forces raid the camp where they're performing the ritual, but before they can finish, they accidentally summon a baby demon. Allied soldiers rescue the creature and name him "Hellboy." Sixty years later, Hellboy works for the Bureau of Paranormal Research & Defense, fighting evil alongside Abe Sapien, a merman with psychic abilities, and Liz Sherman, a woman who can control fire, protecting America from supernatural threats.IMDb 6.9TMDB 6.7 - 215
Winston Churchill: Walking with DestinyMovie · 2010 · 101m*Walking With Destiny* chronicles Winston Churchill's time outside of power, his early warnings against Adolf Hitler and Nazism, and his advocacy for Jews facing persecution. As historian John Lukacs notes, while Churchill didn't win the war in 1940, the war likely would have been lost without him. Sir Martin Gilbert, Churchill's biographer and historical advisor to the film, suggests that if warnings about Nazi Germany's treatment of Jews had been taken seriously in the 1930s, the Holocaust might have been prevented. The film explores the enduring relevance of Churchill's legacy in the modern world and examines why his leadership continues to inspire political figures today.IMDb 7.7TMDB 6.4 - 216
USS Indianapolis: Men of CourageMovie · 2016 · 128m · Action, WarThis is the gripping true story of the USS Indianapolis crew, lost in the Pacific for five days after delivering the atomic bombs that brought World War II to a close. While waiting for rescue, they faced brutal conditions: desperate thirst, starvation, and constant attacks from sharks.IMDb 5.3TMDB 5.9 - 217
American Traitor: The Trial of Axis SallyMovie · 2021 · 107m · History, DramaMildred Gillars, an American woman, and her lawyer work to restore her reputation. During World War II, she was known as "Axis Sally" for broadcasting Nazi propaganda to American soldiers. Her story reveals the sinister side of Nazi propaganda and details her capture in Berlin after the war, followed by a treason trial in the United States.IMDb 5.7TMDB 5.5 - 218
The Emperor in AugustMovie · 2015 · 136mIn July 1945, as World War II nears its end, Japan accepts the Potsdam Declaration. A lengthy cabinet meeting continues without resolution. The United States then drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. General Korechika Anami struggles with the decision-making process, while the Emperor of Japan is concerned for his people. Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki leads the cabinet meeting, observed by Chief Secretary Hisatsune Sakomizu. Meanwhile, Major Kenji Hatanaka and other young officers oppose surrender and attempt to seize the palace and a radio station intended to broadcast the Emperor's announcement of the war's end.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.4 - 219
The CaptainMovie · 2018 · 118m · War, Drama, HistoryGermany, 1945. During the final, desperate weeks of World War II, deserter Willi Herold finds a discarded Nazi captain's uniform. He takes it to stay warm, but soon discovers that many Germans are willing to follow anyone who appears to be in charge.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.2 - 220
Hell Hath No FuryMovie · 2021 · 94m · Action, WarMarie DuJardin, a French national accused of betrayal by her own people, is saved by American soldiers. Their offer is simple: to live, she must guide them to a hidden stash of gold before the Nazis find it and take it for themselves.IMDb 4.8TMDB 6.4 - 221
Memorial DayMovie · 2011 · 108m · Action, Drama, WarMemorial Day, 1993. Thirteen-year-old Kyle Vogel finds his grandfather Bud's World War II footlocker and is told to leave it alone. He doesn't. Bud, who has never discussed the war, makes a deal with Kyle: he can choose three souvenirs, and Bud will tell the stories behind them. Memorial Day becomes a journey into Bud's difficult wartime history and, unexpectedly, into Kyle's own future military experiences. As the two men face combat together, they discover how that day on the porch profoundly impacted both of their lives.IMDb 6.1TMDB 6.1 - 222
Alone We FightMovie · 2018 · 91mFaced with overwhelming challenges, a small group of American soldiers enters enemy territory on a critical mission: to prevent a German force from breaching the Allied defenses.IMDb 3.0TMDB 4.1 - 223
Days of GloryMovie · 2006 · 128m · Drama, History, War1943. Four men – Said, Abdelkader, Messaoud, and Yassir – who have never been to France enlist in the French Army to fight alongside 130,000 other "indigenous" soldiers and liberate the country from Nazi occupation. A story of forgotten heroes.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.7 - 224
We Shall Not Die NowMovie · 2019 · 152mThis film recounts the Holocaust through the firsthand accounts of those who endured it.IMDb 8.0 - 225
UnbrokenMovie · 2014 · 137m · Drama, WarThis is the story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner whose life took a dramatic turn when he was captured by the Japanese during World War II.IMDb 7.2TMDB 7.4 - 226
D-Day to BerlinMovie · 2004 · 150mFrom D-Day to the fall of Berlin, the Allied military campaign stands as one of history's most significant offensives. The series chronicles the Allies' extraordinary advance across Europe, from Normandy to victory in just eleven months. While celebrating Europe’s liberation from Nazi rule, the series also explores the emergence of Stalin's power and its lasting impact on the continent. Through firsthand accounts from British, American, and German soldiers, alongside archival footage, this three-part series vividly recreates the brutal realities of the war.IMDb 7.3TMDB 6.7 - 227
The Devil's ArithmeticMovie · 1999 · 95m · TV Movie, Drama, ThrillerHannah Stern, a young Jewish American, doesn't connect with her family history until a strange event changes everything. She's suddenly in a Nazi death camp in 1941, facing a terrifying reality. There, she meets Rivkah, another prisoner, and they become unlikely friends amidst extreme hardship.
Sharing their suffering, Hannah and Rivkah develop a powerful bond that connects them across time. This connection gives them strength to survive the camp's brutal conditions. As Hannah learns about her ancestors' past, she begins to understand the importance of her Jewish identity and faith.
The film examines resilience, the strength found in human connection, and how profound experiences can change us. The emotional story of these two young women is a moving reminder of the human spirit's ability to endure even the worst situations.IMDb 6.3TMDB 6.8 - 228
Battle for SevastopolMovie · 2015 · 110m · War, Drama, RomanceThis is the story of Lyudmila Pavlichenko, the most successful female sniper in history.IMDb 7.0TMDB 7.3 - 229
Operation FinaleMovie · 2018 · 124m · Drama, History, ThrillerIn 1960, a group of Israeli secret agents is sent to Argentina on a mission: to locate Adolf Eichmann, the key figure in the Holocaust, and bring him to Israel for trial.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.7 - 230
HurricaneMovie · 2018 · 107m · War, Drama, ActionDuring World War II, Polish pilots, facing discrimination, join the Royal Air Force to combat the Luftwaffe. Their mission: to defend Great Britain and their homeland, Poland, from the advancing German forces.IMDb 5.9TMDB 5.9 - 231
Dachau: Death CampMovie · 2021 · 50mThis film features interviews with people who experienced the events and their descendants. It offers a distinctive look at the Nazi's initial concentration camp.IMDb 6.3TMDB 6.5 - 232
Persona Non GrataMovie · 2015 · 139mThis is the story of a Japanese diplomat, often called the "Schindler of Japan," and the life that led to his decision to issue over 2,000 visas to Jewish refugees in Kaunas, Lithuania, saving over 6,000 lives. He believed in serving his country, Japan, even if it meant trying to prevent its involvement in a looming global war. As European Jews fled the Nazis and the advancing German army, he witnessed their desperate struggle. Torn between his country's alliance with Nazi Germany and his growing sense of moral duty, the film follows his journey from Manchuria to Lithuania, culminating in a pivotal moment that would define him as a hero.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.6 - 233
Road to BerlinMovie · 2015 · 82mSet in the summer of 1942, the film is based on a novella by Emmanuil Kazakevich and the war diaries of Konstantin Simonov. Communications officer Ogarkov and private Dzhurabaev fight to break through German lines. Facing perilous circumstances, they develop a deep bond of trust and friendship.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.2 - 234
Shadow in the CloudMovie · 2021 · 83m · Horror, Action, WarDuring World War II, a B-17 Flying Fortress carries a pilot with highly classified documents. As the plane flies, he begins to experience a sinister presence within the aircraft.IMDb 5.0TMDB 5.8
