10 Actors Who Have Made 2 Or More Great War Movies

A great war movie relies on an amazing actor to convincingly convey the intense emotions of the battlefield. Several brilliant actors have built their careers starring in multiple acclaimed war films. War films often require actors to portray traumatic situations and experiences that test the limits of human endurance and morality. The best actors in these roles create empathetic characters that move and impact audiences. Throughout the history of film, some actors have proven especially skilled at embodying the physical, mental and emotional demands of war films. Their raw yet nuanced performances lend significant authenticity to these movies.

Some leading men are so convincing in wartime roles that they have starred in multiple acclaimed war films over the course of their careers. Their versatility, commitment and depth make them invaluable for lending credibility and power to films set in the devastating landscape of war. These actors immerse themselves so fully into characters facing the trials of battle that they compel audiences to deeply feel each loss, sacrifice and hard-won triumph. Their dedication to the genre has created many of cinema’s most impactful portraits of courage and resilience. With several war movies releasing in 2024, it’s possible one of these actors may be making another appearance on the battlefield.

10 Matt Damon

Starred in Courage Under Fire (1996), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Oppenheimer (2023)

Matt Damon has starred in several critically praised war movies over his celebrated career, including Courage Under Fire, Saving Private Ryan, and the recent Oppenheimer. In each film, Damon embodies the resilience that’s required of a soldier with skill. His portrayals are often credible and emotional. In the sharpshooter role in Saving Private Ryan, he anchors the squad with practical strength. As the opiate-addicted Gulf War vet in Courage Under Fire, Damon brings to life the trauma of combat. His skill at conveying the psychological toll of war with restraint earns him roles in these complex, unflinching war stories. Damon’s dedication makes him a powerful performer in the genre.

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9 Mark Wahlberg

Starred in Three Kings (1999), Lone Survivor (2013)

Whether starring in the searing combat drama Lone Survivor or the scathing dark comedy Three Kings, Mark Wahlberg brings depth and humanity to the war film genre. In David O. Russell’s Three Kings, Wahlberg taps into the absurdity of the Gulf War with wit as one of several soldiers on a rogue gold heist, and his comic timing electrifies the film’s anti-war message. But in Lone Survivor, Wahlberg carries the entire emotional weight of the ruthless mission aftermath alone. Both films rely extensively on Wahlberg’s ability to compellingly switch between high-stakes satire and the unflinching realism of war.

8 Sean Penn

Starred in Casualties of War (1989), The Thin Red Line (1998)

Sean Penn brings his trademark intensity to the war genre, collaborating with visionary directors like Brian De Palma and Terrence Malick. In Casualties of War, Penn taps into the ethical descent of soldiers in Vietnam with restraint as the squad’s moral center. In Malick’s WWII epic The Thin Red Line, Penn makes a brief, but noteworthy impression among cast standouts like Adrien Brody and John Cusack. Penn’s ability to capture war’s philosophical toll rather than graphic violence makes him uniquely suited to the genre. Both films demonstrate his talents for finding humanity amid the cruelty of men at war, conveyed through subtle emotional depth rather than dramatics.

7 Tom Hanks

Starred in Saving Private Ryan (1998), Bridge of Spies (2015), Greyhound (2020)

Whether storming Omaha Beach in Saving Private Ryan or matching wits with the Soviets in Bridge of Spies, Tom Hanks brings profound emotion and intelligence when illuminating war’s harsh realities. But his gift lies in humanizing history by playing reluctant heroes weighed down by duty’s demands. In Saving Private Ryan, he grounds the violence in palpable anguish as a commander grudgingly risking men to uphold Army PR. In Bridge of Spies, Hanks’ principled restraint as a civilian negotiator captures the weighty toll of navigating moral dilemmas.

The true WWII story Greyhound shows his ability to convey the isolation of leadership as a WWII captain shepherding men despite inner doubts. Hanks excels at portraying war’s psychology, as well as the collision of personal values with global events beyond one’s control. His ability to expose war’s hidden human truths makes him invaluable to the genre.

6 Denzel Washington

Starred in Glory (1989), Courage Under Fire (1996)

In the Civil War epic Glory, Denzel Washington shines as Private Silas Trip, bringing depth and defiance to the role that earned him an Oscar. While an ensemble piece, Washington steals scenes with his smoldering charisma. Years later in Courage Under Fire, Washington switches gears to portray a Gulf War lieutenant colonel unraveling a mystery with stoic restraint. Director Edward Zwick maximizes Washington’s range between the two films, allowing him to go from fiery rebel to cool-headed leader. Washington eschews stereotypes to uncover the complex humanity within all soldiers. His rare versatility at expressing the internal toll of war, not just the battles.

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5 Cillian Murphy

Starred in The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006), Anthropoid (2016), Dunkirk (2017), Oppenheimer (2023)

Rather than leading with a tough exterior, Cillian Murphy brings nervous intelligence to his war film roles, investing them with tense fragility. In everything from Dunkirk to Anthropoid, he burrows into characters cracked open by the paranoia and trauma of conflict. In some of Cillian Murphy’s best movies, he sidesteps the soldier’s stereotypical steely resolve, instead tapping into war’s underlying current of dread and self-doubt to keep the emotional investment high. Whether he’s portraying a revolutionary, spy or soldier, Murphy exposes each man’s naked humanity when faced with life-or-death choices. His vulnerability paired with a range makes Murphy uniquely skilled at depicting war’s psychological toll.

4 Willem Dafoe

Starred in Platoon (1986), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), The English Patient (1996)

Few actors project intensity on screen like Willem Dafoe, making him ideally suited to tap into the extremes of war. In Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July and The English Patient, Dafoe brings an electrifying physical presence even in supporting roles. He channels war’s frenetic energy through his mercurial shifts from caged to explosive. Rather than charming, Dafoe conveys characters that are cracked open, operating on raw nerves and trauma. More chameleon-like character actor than leading man, Dafoe disappears into unglamorous roles enhanced by his signature charisma and simmering power. His willingness to be unpredictable and unrestrained is what is the most captivating.

3 Ralph Fiennes

Starred in Schindler’s List (1993), The English Patient (1996), The Hurt Locker (2009)

The intensity that Ralph Fiennes brings to his war film roles is refined, unearthing the humanity buried beneath rigid exteriors. Whether as an SS officer in Schindler’s List or a burned spy in The English Patient, some of Ralph Fiennes’ best characters tap into emotional depths beyond his characters’ detached surfaces. He exposes the moral battles and inner conflicts simmering behind his self-control. Even in smaller roles, like the contractor in The Hurt Locker, Fiennes suggests entire backstories through subtle gestures and unspoken pain. His gift for signaling hidden psychological trauma through crisp, controlled performances makes him indispensable for illustrating war’s scars.

2 Brad Pitt

Starred in Seven Years in Tibet (1997), Troy (2004), Inglourious Basterds (2009), Fury (2014), Allied (2016)

War films lean heavily on Brad Pitt’s blend of commanding screen presence and emotional accessibility. His charisma and versatility shine no matter the role. Though powerful in combat sequences, Pitt’s true gift lies in expressing how the trauma of war irrevocably transforms people. From Seven Years in Tibet to Allied, Pitt taps into war’s lingering psychological violence long after bombs cease falling. With his Inglourious Basterds character, Pitt grounds epics and bloody tales alike with tangible pain that resonates across war-ravaged eras and locales by burrowing into each character’s grinding inner turmoil. Pitt’s empathy and magnetism personalize the genre’s incredible narratives.

1 Kirk Douglas

Starred in Paths of Glory (1957), Spartacus (1960), Town Without Pity (1961), The Hook (1963), Seven Days in May (1964), The Heroes of Telemark (1965), In Harm’s Way (1965), Cast a Giant Shadow (1966)

With rugged charisma and conviction, Kirk Douglas powered a wave of hard-hitting war dramas spanning eras in his 1950s-60s prime. Whether facing down cruel generals in Paths of Glory or leading a slave revolt in Spartacus, Douglas projected authority and passion. His physicality and flair for impassioned speeches brought larger-than-life heroes to the forefront while underscoring broader injustices. Douglas uniquely balanced his defiance with vulnerability, seen from Nazi occupation stories to naval fleet dramas. His dynamic onscreen leadership made Douglas the quintessential big-screen warrior of his era. On top of showcasing his dramatic range, Douglas’ prolific war movies critiqued militarism and corruption through the struggles of dedicated individuals.