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Kahlil Algya
One of the most famous Vietnam War movies, this epic film follows three friends from a small mill town, who often spend their time hunting deer in the woods near their Pennsylvania homes, after they enlist to fight in Vietnam. The young men deploy the day after a joyous farewell party, imagining glory and honor in their future. Reality quickly sets in, though. After witnessing countless horrors throughout the course of their service, they find themselves in the hands of the Vietcong, forced to play Russian roulette with each other as a means of entertaining their captors. The Deer Hunter earned five Oscars and is often referred to as the greatest film about the Vietnam War.
Platoon is another film that always lands itself a spot on a top Vietnam War movies list. It takes a look at the experience of American soldiers as they patrol, fight, and often perish in Vietnamese jungles during the Vietnam War. The story follows volunteer soldier Chris Taylor whose naive idealism quickly fades as the brutality of war becomes his reality. Taylor eventually finds himself caught between two unit Sergeants with opposing views of the war and their roles within it.
This post featuring our favorite Vietnam War films is part of our Greatest War Movies Series. Visit our website for our take on the best films set during the American Revolution, Civil War, World War I, World War II, and more.
The Vietnam War has been considered a disaster for a whole generation of young men who were killed, crippled, driven to drug use, or suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Through the art of filmmaking, audiences could view interpretations of how the war played out historically and how it was received by those who lived through it. Most Vietnam War movies are intense, often violent, and full of madmen at their most depraved.
Some of Hollywood's most exceptional filmmakers and stars have brilliantly been a part of these intense war films, with revered directors like Oliver Stone and Stanley Kubrick bringing the terrible conflict to life in remarkable fashion. These films often take a critical look at the war, as opposed to World War II movies, which tend to show valiant efforts and highlight 'American exceptionalism.' Here are some of the best films that capture the horrors and brutalities of the Vietnam War.
While generally considered one of the most acclaimed Hollywood films of the 1990s and in general, Forrest Gump would only technically qualify as an honorable mention on this type of list. This is mainly because the Robert Zemeckis-directed epic sprawls throughout various historical events of the 20th century beyond just the Vietnam War. Even still, the plot line surrounding the war deserves to rank among the best films involving this subject.
Some could make the argument that Forrest Gump leans too heavily on comedy to explore the themes of the Vietnam War adeptly, but the simplicity of the titular serves as a poignant juxtaposition to the conflict's destructive nature. The seemingly surface-level simplicity of Forrest and Bubba's time in Vietnam makes the inevitable ambush and death of the latter all the more devastating. Meanwhile, the saga of Gary Sinise's Lieutenant Dan and his struggles with PTSD remain a main highlight of the film as a whole. Forrest Gump isn't necessarily a film purely based around the Vietnam War, but its presence and aftermath are heavily prevalent in this American classic. Stream Forrest Gump on Paramount+.
The film, directed by Carey Scott, is co-written by Harold Uhl and David A.R. White and features the acting talents of Kevin Downes, David A.R. White, and Stephen Baldwin. The journey of these two men is filled with flashbacks and the vague memories these sons have of their fathers while trying to paint a better picture of who they were and find the strength to make peace with their passing and pay respect to their memories. Rent Faith of Our Fathers on Apple TV.
Another great film dealing with the aftermath of the Vietnam conflict. The War is directed by Jon Avnet with a screenplay by Kathy McWorter. The story is a powerful drama starring Kevin Costner, Elijah Wood, and Mare Winningham. We follow the story of veteran Stephen Simmons making the most of life after returning from Vietnam.
Stephen struggles with PTSD, with constant nightmares invading his dreams. He has difficulties finding a job and reconnecting with his wife and kids. Although Stephen has a strong support system in the story to help him overcome trauma, the film is a harrowing reminder that not all veterans have the same assistance or even the love of their families to get back on their feet. Buy or Rent The War on Apple TV.
Probably the most defiant antiwar film on the list and the best-reviewed movie ever made by filmmaker Joel Schumacher. With a screenplay written by Ross Klavan, Tigerland is a war drama featuring the acting talents of Colin Farrell, Matthew Davis, and Clifton Collins Jr. The movie tells the story of draftee Roland Bozz, his strong defiance against the war, and how he finds loopholes in recruitment law to help people get out of service.
While taking a different perspective on its events, Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods is fundamentally a film about the Vietnam War. The film adeptly explores the struggles of being a Black American in the mid-20th century within the backdrop of the conflict against an unknown enemy for the country as a whole. Star Delroy Lindo captures the spirit of being without peace from the torment he and his compatriots faced on the battlefield. The themes of PTSD are expertly explored overtly through Lindo's protagonist Pau and through any of the characters present that lived through the squalor of the battlefield.
Despite being predominately set in modern times, Da 5 Bloods proves the inner struggles caused by the Vietnam War have lived on. Spike Lee deserves major credit for his exploration and tribute to the Black soldiers who had to deal with the strife of the time period in multiple ways. The other highly acclaimed films on this list will cover the great horrors and turmoil that this conflict caused those involved, but Da 5 Bloods should be appreciated for taking an analysis of the Vietnam War with a different slant. Stream Da 5 Bloods on Netflix.
Chronicling the Battle of la Drang, the first major fight between the United States Army and the People's Army of Vietnam that occurred on November 14, 1965, 2002's We Were Soldiers depicts the brave and heroic men on both sides of the battlefield who valiantly fought on conflicting sides during the first phase of the nearly 20-year conflict. Mel Gibson stars as Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore, the commander who was chosen to train and lead a battalion of 400 men into North Vietnamese territory in la Drang Valley.
We Were Soldiers earned rave reviews for its brutally honest representation of the Vietnam War, with critics praising its realistic and incredibly honest battle scenes and refreshing portrayal of the opposing forces. Hal Moore himself expressed that the Randall Wallace project was the first Hollywood film "to get the war right." Moore previously had been critical of Vietnam War films due to their portrayals of the soldiers. The duo of Gibson and Wallace, who previously had much success with the smash-hit Braveheart, created yet another moving, painful portrait of war. Stream We Were Soldiers on Paramount+.
Born on the Fourth of July is a heart-wrenching biographical anti-war drama that stars Tom Cruise in a leading role and depicts the life of Ron Kovic, an American anti-war activist who was wounded and paralyzed in the Vietnam War. We first meet Kovic as an idealistic young man who decides he wants to fight for his country. However, the barbarities of war left him with PTSD and alcoholism and made him see the Vietnam War for what it was. It was Cruise's acclaimed portrayal of the anguished Vietnam War veteran that helped move the young actor away from his general typecast and towards being worthy of leading prestigious dramas heading into the 1990s. Stream Born on the Fourth of July on Netflix.
At first glance, Good Morning, Vietnam seems to be a comic character study of Adrian Cronauer, portrayed by Robin Williams, a comedic radio DJ that all the troops adore, but who is disliked by his superiors. Censorship is a major issue here, as he is prevented from reading certain news stories, all of which must be pre-approved by censors. Everything he does angers his direct superiors in new ways, and he constantly finds ways to subvert their commands. Adrian learns the reality of the danger of his situation and the war, and it is no longer a laughing matter for him.
One reason the Vietnam War was such a controversial war was how the conflict was broadcast into the homes of millions of Americans, turning the tide of public opinion. Good Morning, Vietnam explores how powerful the media and news can be in changing the hearts and minds of not just the people receiving it but also those who broadcast it. Nixon and his lies are a frequent target of criticism in this film, which alternates between comedy and tragedy. Much like Tom Cruise in Born on the Fourth of July, this leading performance in an adulated Vietnam War film established Robin Williams as a prestigious dramatic actor. Buy or Rent Good Morning, Vietnam on Prime Video.
Hamburger Hill is a brutally violent film about a platoon of soldiers who must continually mount a hill in the forests of Vietnam. The enemy is on the other side, and everyday soldiers battle, kill, and try to make it further to the top of the Hill where North Vietnamese Soldiers await. They do this day after day but make little progress. They are forced to retreat and start over, akin to The Myth of Sisyphus, as described by Albert Camus, where the titular king of Corinth is doomed to roll a stone up a hill, over and over, for eternity. It is an absurd task, just as is the task of mounting the hill.
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