The Greatest War Movies of All Time by Branch

This list includes war movies, best of all time, that cover all branches of the service.

The internet is full of “best of” lists for every topic under the sun. Why not? They are fun to read and spark a debate no matter how long or short the list is.

It’s harmless fun and gives people something to do while stuck in the house, either intentionally or by bureaucratic edict.

War movies abound, and filmmakers like to tell stories about old conflicts in new ways—just like this list is telling an old story in a new way.

There aren’t too many lists that break down the greatest war movies of all time by the branch of the military.

Part of the reason is that there aren’t many movies about the Coast Guard winning a major battle that turned the tide of war. Sorry guardsman—you’re great and all, but it’s true.

In this post:

War Movies

Full Metal Jacket – Marine Corp

This is Stanley Kubrick’s last entry into war films; he didn’t leave anything out. The film follows “Joker” through basic training and the Vietnam War.

It shows how far the recruits are pushed in training to make them instruments of war and the repercussions of it.

R. Lee Ermey, as Gunnery Sgt. Hartman stole the show with his true-to-life depiction of a drill sergeant preparing young men for war.

Full Metal Jacket

Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D'Onofrio (Actors)

Saving Private Ryan – Army

This movie by Steven Spielberg stands out for its stunning and breathless opening sequence that shows the brutality of taking Omaha Beach in WWII.

It’s one of the all-time greatest war movie scenes that shows how horrible war is and how the U.S. Army overcame it to accomplish their goals.

Tom Hanks leads the viewer through the movie on his journey to find Private Ryan and take him home.

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Top Gun – Navy

Top Gun is the epitome of the 1980s U.S.A. versus Russia film-making.

Hotshot Navy pilot Maverick, played by Tom Cruise, navigates flight school and copes with loss using his trademark reputation for being a loner and risk-taker.

The movie has amazing onboard footage of high-speed dog fights and training, culminating with a showdown with the hated Russians.