Top 20 Military Operations Hollywood Got RIGHT
#20: The Napoleonic Wars
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“Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” (2003) In a year dominated by “The Return of the King,” “Master and Commander” still managed to take home two Oscars for Best Cinematography and Best Sound Editing. And for good reason - this is a great-looking, fantastic-sounding war film that accurately captures the Napoleonic Wars. Filming took place on the open ocean inside a replica of the HMS Rose, ensuring complete visual accuracy. The Oscar-winning sound designer also went to great lengths to realistically capture the whine of warfare, like shooting and recording real cannonballs. And finally, the general story and even the smallest details were incredibly accurate, as novelist Patrick O'Brian was known for his exceptional research.
#19: Scud Alley
“Bravo Two Zero” (1999) In 1991, an 8-man British Special Air Service squad was assigned to locate and destroy Iraqi Missile scud launchers. While the source material of “Bravo Two Zero” has been scrutinized over the years, the film adaptation nevertheless depicts the fundamental chaos of the mission. Sean Bean stars as Andy McNab, who wrote the original book. The character’s narration provides an insider account of the experience, as he chronicles the ups and downs while pushing forward in “scud alley.” “Bravo Two Zero” works as an action film, but it also sheds light on the real-life SAS operation and combat techniques.
#18: Embassy Siege
“6 Days” (2017) On April 30, 1980, six gunmen took control of London’s Iranian Embassy. With 26 hostages in custody and the world watching, British Army’s Special Air Service ultimately sets in motion Operation Nimrod, live on TV. As a whole, “6 Days” successfully communicates the shifting strategy on both sides of the incident. The film fuses international politics, mass media, and military planning, with the technical advising of a real-life SAS operative making it even more intriguing. It also pays special attention to the timeline of events, which creates an effective balance of military ops and big-screen drama.
#17: The Battle of Hamburger Hill
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“Hamburger Hill” (1987) Taking place between May 13 and 20, 1969 was the Battle of Hamburger Hill, a controversial skirmish in the Vietnam War. America and South Vietnam emerged victorious, having battled their way up the side of a mountain. But despite victory, the battle was fiercely criticized in the west, as many people argued that Hamburger Hill had no real military significance. The film has long been praised for its realism. It accurately captures the details of the battle while also focusing on the poor psychological states of the soldiers, which includes decreased morale and bubbling racial tensions. It is also well-regarded for its depiction of graphic violence, as Hamburger Hill earned its nickname for the mangled state in which it left soldiers.
#16: Rescuing the Maersk Alabama
“Captain Phillips” (2013) On April 8, 2009, the cargo ship Maersk Alabama was boarded by pirates off the coast of Somalia. This famous story was later captured in the Oscar-nominated film “Captain Phillips.” While the film has drawn criticism for its depiction of Phillips himself, the responding Navy operation was accurately captured. It occurred on April 12, and it saw SEAL snipers taking out the hijackers while they hid inside a tethered lifeboat. The movie contains a lot of dramatics like Phillips being threatened with a gun and the pirates being shot through the windows simultaneously. It may all seem like Hollywood dramatization, but the rescue occurred pretty much exactly how it was depicted.
#15: The Battle of Okinawa
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“Hacksaw Ridge” (2016) Mel Gibson made a strong directorial comeback with “Hacksaw Ridge,” a biographical film about the pacifist combat medic Desmond Doss. Doss performed valiantly during the Battle of Okinawa, saving an estimated 75 soldiers while refusing to engage in combat or even carry a weapon. While Gibson took a lot of creative liberty with Doss’ pre-war life, he remained faithful in capturing his actions during the Battle of Okinawa. Doss really did lower the wounded men down the Maeda Escarpment, and yes, he nearly died in a grenade explosion. In fact, Gibson omitted certain heroic actions because he found them too unrealistic! That’s how awesome of a soldier the real Doss was.
#14: The Tet Offensive
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“Full Metal Jacket” (1987) When it comes to Vietnam films, it doesn’t get much better than Kubrick’s “Full Metal Jacket.” Sort of a two-parter, the second half of the film details the crew’s struggles during the Tet Offensive. North Vietnam launched a surprise attack against the Allied forces in 1968, resulting in a violent pushback and an eventual military victory for the Allies. The film is mostly concerned with the Battle of Huế, which left most of the city in ruins. Kubrick never aimed to get the small details correct, but rather to depict the general atmosphere of the Tet Offensive. And in that regard, he attained complete accuracy. While not as surreal as, say, “Apocalypse Now,” “Full Metal Jacket” proves just as nightmarish.
#13: The Benghazi Attack
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“13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi” (2016) Michael Bay showed at least some restraint with “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi,” with many critics calling it one of his most mature films. It dramatizes the 2012 Benghazi attack, which saw an Islamic militant group called Ansar al-Sharia attacking two American government facilities. While the film contains some disputed elements, and while it still sees Bay in his usual over-the-top form, “13 Hours” is still a relatively realistic depiction of the event. Some of the more dramatic events of the film, including the deaths of certain characters and the heroic decision to defy military orders, were taken straight from reality. As outlandish as it may seem, sometimes life is a Michael Bay movie.
#12: The Battle of Gettysburg
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“Gettysburg” (1993) There are few American skirmishes as famous as The Battle of Gettysburg. Ronald F. Maxwell’s film is the definitive account of the almost-mythical battle, running over four hours and featuring a lot of dense academic material in regard to characters and battle strategies. Funding for the movie was secured with the help of legendary documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, who released his iconic miniseries on the Civil War just a few years before. The movie also starred thousands of professional Civil War reenactors who performed on the real Gettysburg battlefield. This was a rare gift from the National Park Service, and it helped lend “Gettysburg” an even greater depth and degree of realism.
#11: Operation Desert Shield
“Jarhead” (2005) Based on Anthony Swofford’s memoir, this film captures the anticipation of Gulf War combat. When a United States Marine sniper arrives in the Arabian peninsula, he’s ready for action and all the inevitable violence that surely awaits him. As the days pass, though, Swofford’s Desert Shield experience isn’t quite like the non-stop action war movies usually depict. Character dialogue – mostly improvised – highlights this day-to-day grind. Most of all, though, “Jarhead” locks into the psychological aspects of the mission, showing how soldiers interact before the storm hits and how some individuals can become their own worst enemy.
#10: The Attack on Pearl Harbor
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“Tora! Tora! Tora!” (1970) Sorry, Michael Bay, but you don’t get this one. While Bay’s “Pearl Harbor” absolutely dwarfed “Tora! Tora! Tora!” at the box office, it’s the latter that has stood the test of time and earned the respect of both historians and veterans. Nominated for five Oscars, “Tora! Tora! Tora!” is an exceptional piece of filmmaking that has long been praised for its action sequences and historical accuracy. The movie is remarkably realistic through virtually every angle, including its history, politics, and the ultimate depiction of the famous attack. That’s thanks in large part to the involvement of military historians and technical advisors who were actually at Pearl Harbor. It’s a classic for a reason.
#9: The Second Battle of Fort Wagner
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“Glory” (1989) We return to the American Civil War with “Glory.” The Oscar-winning film dramatizes the life of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, which consisted of white officers and Black soldiers. The Regiment performed valiantly during the Second Battle of Fort Wagner, which is beautifully depicted in the climax of the film. While the story takes a few creative liberties, the battle is captured with great attention to detail thanks to the film’s Oscar-winning cinematography and sound design. Perhaps most dramatic is the fatal charge on the fort, which sees every major character, including Robert Shaw, getting killed. Shaw actually died in this manner during the real Battle of Fort Wagner, and his death rallied more Black soldiers to join the Union.
#8: Operation Red Wings
“Lone Survivor” (2013) During the War in Afghanistan, the United States planned a joint military operation against local militia forces. “Lone Survivor” tells the story of four Navy Seals who were dropped in the mountains for a recon mission, only to be ambushed, with nowhere to escape. Based partially on the lone survivor’s account, this film starring Mark Wahlberg depicts the horror of being geographically trapped during war, along with the bravery of the soldiers. “Lone Survivor” does have its melodramatic moments, yet it’s the circumstances and tactical efforts that capture the spirit of the mission and the men involved.
#7: Operation Market Garden
“A Bridge Too Far” (1977) For this World War II mission, the United States’ First Allied Airborne Army teamed up with British ground troops, the XXX Corps. The goal: secure various bridges in Nazi-occupied Netherlands. “A Bridge Too Far” might indeed have its share of dated character types, but it has a star-studded cast, including Sean Connery and the great Dirk Bogarde, and it’s hailed for accurately depicting a failed mission over the course of its nearly three hours. The late critic Roger Ebert once asked, “Why make a movie about total defeat and stupidity?” Well, this film proves that ALL World War II stories are worth telling - not just the glamorous ones.
#6: Defense of Iwo Jima
“Letters From Iwo Jima” (2006) With this film, director Clint Eastwood strips away Hollywood clichés to examine the Japanese perspective during World War II. More specifically, he focuses on the defense of Iwo Jima, and the culture of its military. It’s a moving companion film to “Flags of Our Fathers,” and it deconstructs Japanese stereotypes for an honest representation of loyalty, honor and commitment during the Pacific War. Ten thousand Japanese soldiers are still buried at Iwo Jima, and the film manages to bring out the humanity of the fallen soldiers rather than depicting them solely as America's enemies.
#5: The Battle of Ia Drang
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“We Were Soldiers” (2002) Taking place between November 14th and 18th of 1965, the Battle of Ia Drang is famous for being the first major American skirmish of the Vietnam War. Lieutenant General Harold Moore and journalist Joseph Galloway later published a book about the battle called “We Were Soldiers Once… and Young,” which became the famous 2002 film starring Mel Gibson. Gibson plays Moore, who later complimented “We Were Soldiers” for being the first Vietnam film to “get [the war] right.” Despite some creative liberties, like a heroic ending that never actually occurred, the film is a remarkably accurate adaptation of Moore’s book and his experiences during Ia Drang.
#4: Mogadishu Raids
“Black Hawk Down” (2001) Before this film’s release, many people had read about the United States presence in Somalia, or even seen shocking news clips. Yet, they perhaps didn’t fully understand what actually transpired in October 1993. Ridley Scott’s “Black Hawk Down” cleared that up by showing the conflict of the initial landing, and the 17-hour firefight that ensued. Once the American soldiers are pinned down, the street sequences heighten the shock factor for viewers, largely because it’s a historically accurate representation, rather than just an action flick with emerging stars. As a result, the humanity, and the heroism, feel entirely realistic, because it’s exactly that.
#3: Dunkirk Evacuation
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“Dunkirk” (2017) Directed by Christopher Nolan, this film, shot mostly with 70-millimeter IMAX film, depicts the pivotal World War II evacuation of British soldiers from advancing Nazi armies in France. While many combat productions rely on heavy dialogue, “Dunkirk” takes a different approach by focusing on the strategy from different perspectives. It’s the attention to detail that’s so captivating, along with the brilliant pacing. “Dunkirk” opens up the soldiers’ world for viewers, whether it’s on the sea, on land, or during an aerial dogfight. As a result, there’s a poetic quality to the visuals, as the director hoped to ease up on pure tension to provide an intimate look at the historic evacuation.
#2: Operation Neptune Spear
“Zero Dark Thirty” (2012) For years after 9/11, Osama Bin Laden evaded American troops. This Kathryn Bigelow film takes viewers behind the scenes, as the CIA tracks down the terrorist to his Pakistan compound in 2011. When Operation Neptune Spear commences, it’s everything you might expect, and yet also so much more. There’s the chaos of the initial helicopter crash, and then the chaotic unknown, with the soldiers navigating the darkness via cutting-edge night goggles. When Seal Team 6 takes over the compound, their confusion, and eventual success, offers viewers a small bit of ground-level insight into the real-life operation.
#1: D-Day
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“Saving Private Ryan” (1998) For a long time, “The Longest Day” was the go-to film for D-Day. But that changed with “Saving Private Ryan.” In the opening sequence of this massively successful film, director Steven Spielberg re-creates the United States’ Normandy invasion during World War II, one of the most famous and infamous days in military history. It is bloody, violent, and shockingly realistic. The movie stars Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, and a brilliant extended cast, and helped viewers understand, if only a little bit, what soldiers endured on June 6, 1944. There is grace under pressure depicted with great impact, and certainly fear under pressure, too. “Saving Private Ryan” immerses us in the conflict of trying to survive while experiencing hell on earth. Which of these battles phased you the most? Let us know in the comments below!
