War movies have the power to highlight the brutality of battle, showcase the horrors of conflict, and every year there are several war movies released that leave their mark on this emotional and effective genre of filmmaking. War movies offer a historical perspective on past events and, with the power of hindsight, can comment on the complexities and political consequences of warfare. Through individual character studies, war movies showcase the human side of battle and often highlight the bravery, comradery, and resilience that conflict brings up. War movies are based on both fact and fiction and can give great insight into the often-brutal nature of human existence.
War movies that are being released in 2024 cover the full spectrum of this genre and range from intense true stories about heroic individuals to fantasies following the foundation of dystopian societies. Films like the critically acclaimed The Zone of Interest delve into the horrors of concentration camps in World War II, while George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga showcases the prequel story of a woman in the midst of an epic war. There are plenty of different types of war movies being released in 2024.
9 One Life
January 5, 2024 (UK Release)
![Every War Movie Releasing In 2024](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/one-life-anthony-hopkins-1.jpg)
The story of British humanitarian Nicholas Winton, One Life is directed by James Hawes and stars Anthony Hopkins as a man attempting to rescue Jewish children from Czechoslovakia before the onset of World War II. The real-life operation One Life was based on is known as “Kindertransport.” One Life also features Johnny Flynn as a young Winton and Helena Bonham Carter as Babi Winton. One Life is the feature film directional debut of Hawes who previously directed episodes of Doctor Who and Black Mirror.
8 The Zone Of Interest
February 2, 2024 (UK Release)
The Zone of Interest
- Release Date
- December 15, 2023
- Director
- Jonathan Glazer
- Cast
- Christian Friedel , Sandra Hüller , Ralph Herforth , Luis Noah Witte , Johann Karthaus
- Runtime
- 105 Minutes
A historical drama written and directed by Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest tells the story of Rudolf Höss, played by Christian Friedel, a commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp, as he and his wife strive to build their perfect house next to the camp. The trailer for The Zone of Interest shows a chilling World War II film, the movie premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2023 and has received critical acclaim for its dark and effective narrative. Glazer previously showcased his ability for unnerving filmmaking with his previous feature, the effective 2013 science fiction film Under the Skin.
7 Escape From Germany
April 30, 2024
![Paul Wuthrich wearing a suit and hat in the Escape From Germany trailer](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/escape-from-germany.jpeg)
Telling the true story of 85 missionaries serving their church in Nazi Germany in 1939, Escape from Germany is based on the personal diaries of the missionaries who as political tension was escalating attempted to flee the country that was on the brink of starting World War II (via Movie Fone.) Escape from Germany is directed by T.C. Christensen and stars Paul Wuthrich, Sebastian Michael Barr, and David McConnell. This story, which explores faith and religion, is set for release in April 2024.
6 Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes
May 24, 2024
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
- Release Date
- May 24, 2024
- Director
- Wes Ball
- Cast
- Kevin Durand , Freya Allan , Peter Macon , Owen Teague , Eka Darville , Sara Wiseman , Neil Sandilands
- Rating
- r
The long-awaited sequel to 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is set to continue the battle between primates and humans and showcases the aftermath of the revolutionary ape Caesar’s conquest of mankind. Set several generations after that war, apes have emerged victorious, and humans have regressed into a feral state. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes examines the impact that war has on societies, and how, over time, myths and constructed narratives begin to overtake the truth in the stories that civilization tells itself about its origins.
5 Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
May 24, 2024
![A close up shot of a young Immortan Joe facing off against an intense Dementus in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/young-immortan-joe-facing-off-against-a-foe-in-furiosa-a-mad-max-saga-1.jpg)
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
- Release Date
- May 24, 2024
- Director
- George Miller
- Cast
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II , Chris Hemsworth , Anya Taylor-Joy
- Genres
- Adventure , Sci-Fi , Action
A spin-off and prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is set to continue the post-apocalyptic series with a film focusing on Imperator Furiosa played by Anya Taylor-Joy. As the world continues to fall apart, Furiosa must make her way home as two tyrants war for dominance of the Citadel. Chris Hemsworth portrays Warlord Dementus in this highly anticipated continuation of the long-running Mad Max series. The film is scheduled for release in May 2024 and is already facing backlash for the use of CGI seen in the Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga trailer.
4 The Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim
December 13, 2024
The Lord of The Rings: The War of The Rohirrim
- Release Date
- December 13, 2024
- Director
- Kenji Kamiyama
- Cast
- Brian Cox , Miranda Otto , Gaia Wise , Luke Pasqualino , Laurence Ubong , Shaun Dooley
- Studio(s)
- New Line Cinema , Warner Bros. Animation , Sola Entertainment
Set 261 years before the events of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The War of the Rohirrim is an animated prequel to the book series written by J.R.R. Tolkien and tells the story of a legendary king, Helm Hammerhand, played by Brian Cox, facing off against an army Dunlendings in a bitter war. Reports about The War of the Rohirrim show its connection to Peter Jackson’s Lord of The Rings movies, rather than the Prime Video television series Rings of Power, and it is being produced by Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema, the studios behind Jackson’s trilogy.
3 The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
Unspecified 2024 release
![Custom image of Henry Cavill and a still of the cast of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/henry-cavill-ministry-of-ungentlemanly-warfare.jpg)
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is an action spy movie directed by Guy Ritchie. Following the Special Operations Executive, a secret World War II organization founded by Winston Churchill, this film focuses on a group of soldiers fighting back against Nazi forces. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare stars Henry Cavill and Eiza González. It is based on the book Churchill’s Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII by Damien Lewis and continues the warfare theme of Ritchie’s previous feature film The Covenant.
2 War Blade
Unspecified 2024 release
![Joseph Millson as Robert Banks in the trailer for War Blade](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/war-blade-1.jpg)
The latest film by Nicholas Winter, War Blade follows Agent Robert Banks, played by Joseph Millson, tasked with saving a French resistance fighter from a secret Nazi bunker. War Blade is a World War II adventure film that involves Agent Banks teaming up with a nurse and a group of allies who suspect the secret bunker holds much more than just prisoners (via 101 Films International.) Winter is known for previously directing the films Robin Hood: The Rebellion, Breathe, and Bone Breaker, and if produced by Picture Perfect.
1 Civil War
Unspecified 2024 release
![Kirsten Dunst looking upset in the teaser trailer for Alex Garland Civil War](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/civil-war-trailer-kirsten-dunst.jpg)
The latest release by Alex Garland, who previously directed Ex Machina, Annihilation, and Men, is set in the near future as the United States stands on the brink of civil war. Civil War stars Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Cailee Spaeny, and will be released by A24 (via Deadline.) With a planned release in Spring of 2024, Civil War will likely continue to showcase Garland’s strong writing skills that have been seen in his novels, the miniseries Devs, and even features he has written but not directed, such as 28 Days Later and Never Let Me Go.
Sources: Movie Fone, 101 Films International, Deadline