Dunkirk chronicles the real World War II campaign that changed the tide of the war. The movie showcases the massive effort the Dunkirk evacuation took from air, land, and sea. The movie spotlights stories of military personnel and civilians who made the mission a success. Dunkirk features the heroism that made the operation possible and how the events of this campaign left a lasting impact on those who experienced them.
What makes movies like Dunkirk so compelling is that many of them tell a massive story about survival against impossible odds. Some movies, like Enemy at the Gates, highlight how the brutality of war puts people in positions of having to perform extraordinary feats of survival. Other movies, like The Thin Red Line, emphasize the disarray of war and how this impacts anyone caught up in it. The best movies like Dunkirk capture the sweeping drama that made the movie so notable.
10
‘1917’ (2019)
Directed by Sam Mendes
1917 follows a group of British soldiers during World War I. Two soldiers in particular are tasked with bringing crucial information to the front line that would let the British call off a doomed offensive. 1917 stars George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Mark Strong, and Benedict Cumberbatch, among others. The movie is loosely based on the experiences of director Sam Mendes’ grandfather during World War I.
Like Dunkirk, 1917 is epic in scale and showcases the massive British war effort in both world wars. Both movies are interesting reflections on how the British saw themselves and their roles in these conflicts. 1917 and Dunkirk both spotlight individual characters but focus more on ensemble storytelling. Both movies also use massive sequences to portray the scale of the world wars and how destructive they were across Europe.
9
‘Hacksaw Ridge’ (2016)
Directed by Mel Gibson
Hacksaw Ridge is based on the true story of Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), who was a pacifist and a medic during World War II. The movie follows Doss’s life and career before and during the war. After refusing to carry a gun in combat, Doss went on to save many lives during the war. Hacksaw Ridge chronicles Doss’s heroism during the war, and the actions he took that made him the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor.
Hacksaw Ridge and Dunkirk both feature character-driven stories against the backdrop of dramatic action. Both of these stories showcase the self-sacrifice and courage that were required of those who fought in the war. Additionally, Hacksaw Ridge and Dunkirk highlight war’s destruction and how much it impacted people across generations. Finally, both stories are examples of stories that emphasize how allied forces saw the best of themselves during the world wars.
8
‘Darkest Hour’ (2017)
Directed by Joe Wright
Darkest Hour highlights Winston Churchill’s (Gary Oldman) role in World War II. The movie follows Churchill’s leadership during the war, and the lead-up to the Dunkirk evacuation. Darkest Hour highlights the struggles Churchill faced as a leader as he worked to maintain the confidence of those around him. The movie portrays Churchill as an ultimately flawed leader who did the best with the chaos in which he found himself.
Darkest Hour showcases the political side of the Dunkirk operation and gives a behind-the-scenes look at the chaos it involved. Darkest Hour and Dunkirk show two different perspectives on events that changed the course of World War II. They each show the human faces of this massive operation that came so close to ending in catastrophe. These movies also highlight how critical the Dunkirk evacuation was to the Allied forces’ eventual victory.
7
‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ (2022)
Directed by Edward Berger
All Quiet on the Western Front is based on Erich Maria Remarque‘s seminal novel of the same name. The 2022 movie stars Felix Kammerer as the story’s protagonist Paul Bäumer. Paul is a young German man who joined the Imperial German Army during World War I. While he is initially filled with patriotism and hope for the future, he is quickly exposed to the realities of war. All Quiet on the Western Front was adapted twice before this. The first version was released in 1930, and the second was released in 1978.
Both All Quiet on the Western Front and Dunkirk highlight the chaos of war and how the myth of heroism often bears little resemblance to reality. These movies highlight the traumatic nature of war and how it drastically changes anyone who lives through it. All Quiet on the Western Front and Dunkirk present ordinary characters who face extraordinary circumstances that changed the course of history.
6
‘Gallipoli’ (1981)
Directed by Peter Weir
Gallipoli is an Australian drama directed by Peter Weir that follows the events of the Gallipoli campaign in World War I. The movie stars Mark Lee and Mel Gibson as two young men who enlist in the Australian army. Gallipoli chronicles their experiences in the former Ottoman Empire and their gradual loss of innocence as the war goes on. The movie showcases how pivotal this campaign was and how it impacted those caught in the destruction.
Like Dunkirk, Gallipoli chronicles a massive military campaign that had a lasting impact on those who experienced it. Both movies highlight the experiences of individuals who found themselves at the crossroads of history. While Gallipoli showcases two young men losing their idealism, and Dunkirk shows many soldiers who had already lost it, both emphasize the frantic nature of war and how everyone in the middle of the chaos was simply trying to survive from moment to moment.
5
‘Enemy at the Gates’ (2001)
Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud
Enemy at the Gates features real events from the Battle of Stalingrad during World War II. Specifically, the movie chronicles the story of Vasily Zaitsev (Jude Law), a Soviet sniper who was instrumental in fighting against the invading Nazi forces. Enemy at the Gates dramatizes Zaitsev’s wartime romance with fellow sniper Tania Chernova (Rachel Weisz). The movie also follows German general Erwin König (Ed Harris), who was deployed to assassinate Zaitsev.
Both Enemy at the Gates and Dunkirk highlight the brutality and chaos of World War II and how these massive stakes were deeply personal to those fighting. Both movies focus on the tactics that were used during World War II and how Nazi forces were ultimately ill-equipped to fight the Allies. Enemy at the Gates and Dunkirk both use stunning visuals to create immersive and jarring experiences.
4
‘Saving Private Ryan’ (1998)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Saving Private Ryan is a war drama set in World War II and follows a group of American soldiers sent to retrieve an American private who is missing in action. After Private James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon) goes missing, a team is sent to find him after Ryan’s three brothers are killed in action. The team is led by Captain John H. Miller (Tom Hanks), who suffers from PTSD due to his years of military service.
Both Saving Private Ryan and Dunkirk use the backdrop of World War II to tell stories that are massive in scope. While Saving Private Ryan is a more personal story, delving into Miller’s motivations in particular, both feature soldiers who find themselves struggling to survive in the middle of the destruction. Both Saving Private Ryan and Dunkirk also focus on the fight for survival rather than on epic battles that are mythologized.
3
‘The Thin Red Line’ (1998)
Directed by Terrence Malick
The Thin Red Line portrays a fictionalized version of the Battle of Mount Austen, which was a battle that took place during the Guadalcanal Campaign in World War II. The movie features a group of American soldiers stationed in the South Pacific during this campaign and their fight to survive. The movie features compelling performances from Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, George Clooney, and John Cusack, among others.
The Thin Red Line and Dunkirk both feature chaotic stories that accurately reflect what it is like to be in the middle of a war. Both movies focus on their large ensembles rather than on getting too deep into the story of any one character. That being said, both The Thin Red Line and Dunkirk emphasize the fact that ordinary soldiers had to rely on one another if they wanted to have any chance of surviving.
2
‘Oppenheimer’ (2023)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Oppenheimer follows the life and career of J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy), considered the father of the atomic bomb. The movie chronicles Oppenheimer’s time as a student, to his career during World War II, when he was recruited by the United States military as part of the Manhattan Project. Oppenheimer delves into its titular character’s personal life, and how he struggled with the fact that he created such a destructive weapon.
Oppenheimer and Dunkirk highlight Christopher Nolan’s unique vision when it comes to telling stories set against the backdrop of war. While Oppenheimer focuses mainly on one character who was instrumental in World War II, it tells a story on the same epic scale as Dunkirk. Both Dunkirk and Oppenheimer focus on pivotal moments in World War II, and how regular people found themselves at crossroads in history.
1
‘Anthropoid’ (2016)
Directed by Sean Ellis
Anthropoid follows the events of Operation Anthropoid, which led to the assassination of Nazi criminal Reinhard Heydrich by exiled Czechoslovak soldiers Jan Kubiš (Jamie Dornan) and Jozef Gabčík (Cillian Murphy). The movie is a thriller at its core, as it follows these two soldiers gathering intelligence, dodging Nazi forces, and coming up with their plan. Anthropoid chronicles the resistance activities across Europe that were instrumental in ensuring an Allied victory.
Anthropoid is much more personal story than Dunkirk since it focuses on a single character. However, both Anthropoid and Dunkirk are examples of movies that showcase critical moments in World War II through the eyes of people who changed history. Both tell the stories of these important world events at break-neck speeds, and emphasize how quickly these events happened. Anthropoid and Dunkirk also both highlight the important role military intelligence played in the Allies winning World War II.
Anthropoid
- Release Date
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September 9, 2016
- Runtime
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120
- Director
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Sean Ellis
