War Movies to Watch and Questions to Consider

Watching war movies and asking difficult questions that arise from the plot can be an exceedingly helpful catalyst for thinking clearly, carefully, and Christianly about a host of issues related to war and peace.
 
The following list includes some war movies and TV shows that I have found to raise some important questions related to violence in this war-torn world. Of course, watching these movies is not necessarily enjoyable – in fact, no realistic movie about war should be “enjoyable” at all. Yet the following are worth watching as a catalyst to think further about war and one’s own position on such matters. 
 
Of course, some who read this blog may not need to watch movies to face such questions, for they have lived (or are living right now) the nightmare of war. 
 
And for some sensitive souls, staying away from such movies may be a good idea.
 
[shameless self-promotion alert…]  My recent book Christians, the State, and War: An Ancient Tradition for the Modern World (2022) provides a helpful theological and historical argument for grappling with some of the tough and vexing questions raised in these movies. 

Here are the movies in chronological order (I may add to this list in coming years):
 

• All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

This is a classic antiwar movie (banned in Nazi Germany) based on the 1929 novel by Erich Maria Remarque. What is he saying about war, and do you agree? 
 

• Triumph of the Will (1934)

What does this propaganda film reveal of popular German views of Hitler? What were the techniques used by LeniRiefenstahl to carry out her propaganda? And would it be convincing to you as a German in 1934? 
 

• Paths of Glory (1957)

How does war lead to a nation dehumanizing its own soldiers? And is that dehumanization ever justified? And can it be mitigated? Furthermore, when – if ever – is it right to refuse an order deemed to be foolhardy or unjust? If so, what is the criteria for making such a decision?
 

• Fail Safe (1964)

What questions do this movie raise about both fear of and lack of complete information about one’s enemy when it comes to making vital decisions? Can we trust technology to give us enough data to make an informed decision? Do you agree with the president’s final decision? If yes, why? If no, what other option was there? 
 

• The Mission (1986)

Which what was the Christian response to the advance of the slave-seeking Portuguese – take up arms or non-resistance? Why? Was there a third way?
 

• Romero (1989)

How do you stand up against a violent and corrupt military junta? What do you think of Archbishop Romero’s response to the injustice in El Salvador? 
 

• The Day After (1983)

Can a nuclear war ever be fought and won? Can a nuclear weapon be used justly? What role does nuclear deterrence play in keeping the peace?
 

• Casualties of War (1989)

What should you do when your commanding officer tells you to commit a war crime? 
 

• The Longest Day (1962) and Saving Private Ryan (1998).   

Compare the two movies. What are they saying about heroism, sacrifice, manhood, war, and the right use of violence?
 

• Band of Brothers (2001)

Watch the scene in the final episode where the German officer addresses his surrendered troops. How is the experience of a German soldier in World War Two any different from that of the Allied troops? And does that matter?
 

• We Were Soldiers (2002)

What do you think about the Christian officer’s (Mel Gibson) fusion of piety and soldering? 
 

• Tears of the Sun (2003)

What would the world be like without soldiers who seek to suppress evil? Is this movie a portrayal of an exception to the loss of good government, or a picture of what would happen virtually anywhere where government breaks down?
 

• Machine Gun Preacher (2011)

What happens when there is no functioning government to protect citizens (in this case, children)? Do you agree with the pastor’s actions? 
 

• American Sniper (2014)

Is it possible to do violence (even for a just cause) and not be injured in some way? If so, what does that say about soldiering? And what is the lesson for the care of solders after war?
 

• Eye in the Sky (2015)

What is the advantage and/or disadvantage of such modern weaponry? What is it impact on the user? And was the missile strike the right thing to do?
 

• Hacksaw Ridge (2016)[1]

How does one remain a pacifist in total war? Do you agree with Desmond Doss’ solution to his dilemma?
 

• Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Assassin (2024) 

This movie is not out yet (coming November 2024), but the trailer looks like it will be worth the watch. How did Bonhoeffer justify his shift to entering a conspiracy against Hitler? Should pastors – or Christians in general – ever help plot and/or carry out an assassination? If so, what is the threshold for such support? Also, should there be a difference between a pastor’s response and a layperson’s response to war?
 
Finally, on a sort-of-related-note, here are a few other online lists of movies that I have found for a variety of reasons to be interesting and helpful:
 

• https://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/blog/15-films-that-best-capture-the-horrors-of-war-1.4896031

• https://screenrant.com/war-movies-great-controversial/​

• https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/war-movies-celebrating-sacrifice/

 


[1] Here is a recent book chapter committed to the movie: https://academic.oup.com/book/49426/chapter-abstract/418531258?redirectedFrom=fulltext#:~:text=Mel%20Gibson's%20Hacksaw%20Ridge%2C%20about,America%20since%20the%20Vietnam%20era.