10 World War 2 Movies Praised For Accuracy & Realism By Experts

War movies are often judged by their adherence to historical fact, and authenticity can make a war movie feel much more compelling and immersive. Few conflicts receive as much attention in the war genre as World War II. The global scale of the conflict and the extreme violence of the combat surpassed anything that came before it, and there are countless fascinating stories from across the globe waiting to be given the big-screen treatment. Whether World War II movies focus on the Pacific Theater, the European campaign or the home front, they should all commit to historical accuracy.

War movies with glaring historical inaccuracies rarely reach the same level of prestige as those with high levels of realism. This desire for authenticity has caused many military historians and other experts to comment on popular movies. War movies can be a great tool to educate people about the realities of the Second World War, so lazy attempts at realism can inadvertently spread false information. The best World War II movies don’t just provide interesting stories; they can also serve as a window into their past by representing realistic depictions of combat.

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10 Movies About The Home Front In World War II

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10 Saving Private Ryan (1998)

The D-Day landing sequence is a fantastic depiction of the chaos of war

Steven Spielberg’s World War II masterpiece Saving Private Ryan is among the best war movies of all time. It’s emotional and intense, but its commitment to historical accuracy is just as important to its appeal. In an interview with The Telegraph, military historian Paul Woodage said that he had spoken to many D-Day veterans, and they all praised the representation of Saving Private Ryan. Woodage stated “They all said it was most realistic in terms of the intensity and increased sensory experience – everything happening around you.” Spielberg’s explosive Normandy landings are an assault on the senses.

9 The Longest Day (1962)

The Longest Day employed military historians from Allied Nations and Germany

Like Saving Private Ryan, The Longest Day also depicts the D-Day landings at Normandy, and it also strives for historical accuracy. Producer Frank McCarthy was committed to showing the events as accurately as he could, and he hired military consultants from both sides of the conflict. (via War History Online) McCarthy also recruited 700 actual soldiers to act as background extras, just to make sure that every inch of the movie seemed as authentic as possible. His efforts certainly paid off, and The Longest Day is often cited as one of the most accurate World War II movies ever.

8 Memphis Belle (1990)

A realistic depiction of a remarkable B-17 bomber

Memphis Belle tells the story of an American B-17 bomber which completed 25 missions during the war. The film’s narrative draws from a documentary by William Wyler, and it represents aerial combat with forensic attention to detail. In a video for History Hit, military historian James Rogers recognized the film’s commitment to authenticity, not just in its combat scenes, but also in the way it shows the perils of returning home. One of Memphis Belle‘s tensest moments comes long after the Allies escape from the Germans and they are trying to land their damaged plane at a British airfield.

7 Oppenheimer (2023)

The Academy Award front-runner sticks to the facts

Oppenheimer is an Oscar favorite and a box office hit, proving that World War II films are still big business. Christopher Nolan’s biopic of the father of the atomic bomb is based on American Prometheus, an incredibly detailed biography by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherman. Science historian Jenny McGrath noted the film’s attention to detail in an article for Business Insider. McGrath praised Oppenheimer‘s representation of a number of facts about both Oppenheimer’s work and his personal life. Christopher Nolan’s faithful adherence to American Prometheus makes Oppenheimer incredibly authentic.

6 Patton (1970)

An authentic portrayal of a larger-than-life character

Patton is a biopic about General George Patton, one of the most famous American generals of World War II. The most famous scene is arguably Patton’s opening speech, as he stands in front of an enormous American flag and addresses an unseen crowd about the nation’s appetite for war. Military historian Carlo D’Este wrote for HistoryNet that the speech is almost identical to one which Patton regularly delivered to new recruits. He also praised the way in which Patton portrayed such a controversial figure without sugarcoating his darker side.

5 Dunkirk (2017)

Christopher Nolan’s depiction of Operation Dynamo pays close attention to detail

Christopher Nolan’s well-documented commitment to practical effects gives Dunkirk an extremely immersive feeling. The production used period-appropriate aircraft, and Nolan had several World War II-era ships repainted to match the British military’s designs. Tom Hardy is outstanding in Dunkirk as a Spitfire pilot, managing to tell an emotional story with minimal dialogue and muted facial expressions. His portrayal is also historically accurate, according to World War II Air Force expert Lt. Col. Matt Ziemann, who praised the scene in which Hardy’s character burns his Spitfire to keep it out of enemy hands. (via Insider)

4 Unbroken (2014)

Angelina Jolie’s survival movie gets its aerial combat scenes spot-on

In the same video in which he reviewed the accuracy of Dunkirk‘s flying scenes, Lt. Col. Matt Ziemann also examined several other World War II movies. He praised the attention to detail of Angelina Jolie’s biopic of Louie Zamperini, who survived for 47 days adrift in the ocean before being captured and sent to a series of Japanese prisoner of war camps. Ziemann noted the accurate depiction of the Japanese aircraft’s attack tactics, and the American response from within a bomber jet. (via Insider) The battle is only a brief scene, but it’s executed with diligence.

3 Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

The biopic of Desmond Doss was praised by his own son

Hacksaw Ridge tells the real-life story of Desmond Doss, a pacifist who worked as a combat medic in World War II without even carrying a gun. Doss was a resolute pacifist, so he ran into battle without ever intending to harm anyone, and he managed to save many lives on the battlefield. Doss passed away before Hacksaw Ridge was released, but his son Desmond Jr. praised “the level of accuracy in adhering to the principle of the story in this movie.” (via People) Hacksaw Ridge‘s most eye-catching scene takes place at the Battle of Okinawa.

2 Das Boot (1981)

The German classic went to great lengths to ensure maximum authenticity

German World War II movie Das Boot follows the crew of a military submarine called the U-96. The story isn’t based on any particular event or battle in the war, but the production still took care to make sure that the movie was as historically accurate as possible. The cast of Das Boot were trained as submariners so that their actions would make sense, even far in the background. (via War History Online) The movie was filmed inside a scale replica of a German U-Boat, which tilted and shook using a hydraulic system for added authenticity.

1 Downfall (2004)

The depiction of Hitler’s final moments earned top marks from one of his most knowledgeable biographers

Downfall depicts the last few days of Adolf Hitler’s life as he watches his Nazi regime crumble around him. The film is based on the memoir of Traudl Humps, his private secretary at the time, and it features documentary footage of Humps. Ian Kershaw is a British historian who has written seminal biographies on Hitler, and he praised Downfall‘s portrayal of the dictator in his review of the film for The Guardian. He particularly praised the way that Downfall captured the grim reality inside Hitler’s bunker, with Nazi officials trying enjoy themselves while also discussing the best methods of suicide.

Sources: The Telegraph, War History Online, History Hit, Business Insider, HistoryNet, Insider, People, War History Online, The Guardian