Top 10 Iraq War Movies And TV Shows
The Iraq war was has been a monumental part of American history, and these movies and TV shows captured many aspects of the conflict! WatchMojo presents the Top 10 Movies and TV Shows that Capture the Iraq War! But what will take the top spot on this list? Will it be American Sniper, The Messenger, or The Hurt Locker? Watch to find out!
Watch on WatchMojo: http://www.WatchMojo.com
Big thanks to Mohammed Al-hooti for suggesting this idea, and to see how WatchMojo users voted, check out the suggest page here: WatchMojo.comsuggest/%20Top%2010%20Iraq%20War%20films
#10: “In the Valley of Elah” (2007)
Top 10 Worst Resident Evil Movies and Shows
One of the first movies to come out of the Iraq War era to focus on the effect that combat can have on a soldier’s mind was the award-winning Paul Haggis/Tommy Lee Jones vehicle, “In the Valley of Elah.” Featuring a heartwrenching story of a former MP searching for his son who disappeared shortly after returning from Iraq, “In the Valley of Elah” manages to make weighted commentaries on the nature of American military involvement overseas, as well as explore America’s own racial bias. With a top-notch story co-written by Mike Boal, “In the Valley of Elah” also gives unflinching depictions of military camaraderie paired with psychological distress for returning American soldiers.
#9: “Stop-Loss” (2008)
Top 10 Stop-Motion Animation Movies
While the war drama wasn’t a box office hit, Kimberly Peirce provided a topical look at American military policy in her in-depth and nightmarish “Stop-Loss.” Referencing a controversial loophole in military regulations where honorable discharge is bypassed and tours of duty are extended, “Stop-Loss” turns its camera on soldiers returning to the U.S. after a terrifying skirmish that leaves nearly all involved with PTSD. With bleak subject matter showing the unfortunate problems suffered by the main characters, such as alcoholism, domestic abuse, and even suicide, the film is made even more tense by their sudden recall to combat due to the stop-loss policy, testing the characters’ allegiance to their homeland.
#8: “The Wall” (2017)
Top 10 Anticipated MCU Shows and Movies
Consisting of only three actors and grossing a little over $4 million on a $3 million budget, Doug Liman’s “The Wall” actually proved to be a worthy thriller. Using its limitations to its advantage, the film sees John Cena and Aaron Taylor-Johnson portray two American soldiers who have been pinned down by a sadistic enemy sniper. With both injured and with no radio to call in for backup, the situation seems hopeless as they are toyed with at every turn by their attacker. As they’re left with limited resources and death approaching, the tense thriller leaves audiences wondering how the soldiers will make it out alive.
#7: “Turtles Can Fly” (2004)
Top 10 Things Only Adults Notice in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Bahman Ghobadi’s hard-hitting “Turtles Can Fly” has the honor of being the first film to be made in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein. Set in a Kurdish refugee camp at the dawn of the U.S. Invasion of Iraq, the war drama chooses to follow a group of children instead of soldiers and adults. Starkly depicting the abject poverty of those who suffered most at the hands of military oppression, each child has a terrifying background story to tell. With most of the characters affected by issues ranging from blindness to childhood trauma, “Turtles Can Fly” proves to be both a cynical and necessary portrait of the innocence affected by violence.
#6: “Fair Game” (2010)
Taking a bureaucratic turn, “Fair Game” tells the unbelievable story of governmental corruption in the face of nuclear warfare. Based on biographies written by ex-CIA agent Valerie Plame and her diplomat husband Joseph C. Wilson, “Fair Game” explores life outside the combat zone. From the offices of the White House to the deserts of Niger, and featuring top notch performances by Naomi Watts and Sean Penn, Doug Liman’s 2010 political thriller sets the stage for one of the most controversial news stories surrounding the Iraq War: the purported weapons of mass destruction hidden by Saddam Hussein.
#5: “Green Zone” (2010)
Another Worst Blue/Green Screen Effects in Movies
Capitalizing on his success with Matt Damon in the “Bourne” movies, director Paul Greengrass brought the star in once more for his controversial but gripping thriller, “Green Zone.” Named after a safe area of operations in Baghdad, the film sees Damon as American officer Roy Miller, who becomes embroiled in a nationwide manhunt for a fugitive Iraqi general who reportedly knows the location of Saddam’s elusive WMDs. Maintaining similar fast-paced editing techniques and hard-hitting action sequences employed by Greengrass’ “Bourne” films, “Green Zone” also makes comments on the American presence in Iraq after the 2003 Invasion, using weapons of mass destruction as a silkscreen for ulterior motives, which condemned the film’s reputation for some viewers.
#4: “Generation Kill” (2008)
Top 10 Movies That Define Generation X
Giving us a rock star look into life in the Marines, David Simon’s hit miniseries, “Generation Kill,” pulls out all the stops in depicting the United States’ Invasion of Iraq. With Rolling Stone journalist Evan Wright tagging along for the ride, the civilian perspective shows the soldiers of “Generation Kill” in a whole new light. Focusing on the emotional complexities and frustrations of its large-scale cast, the versatile actors playing the members of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion in “Generation Kill” make it a layered story grounded in realism. But what else would you expect from the creator of such hit shows as “The Wire” and “The Deuce?”
#3: “The Messenger” (2009)
Top 20 Fake Commercials in TV and Movies
The families of fallen soldiers are often a familiar subject tackled in war films. However, the people behind the scenes delivering the bad news hardly ever get any thorough treatment. This was not the case with Oren Moverman’s devastating yet moving film, “The Messenger.” Telling the story of a decorated Iraq war hero and a recovering alcoholic commissioned with alerting next of kin that their loved ones have lost their lives, the movie is full of emotionally-charged moments, begging the larger question of the role many have in wartime. With amazing performances by Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson as the titular messengers, Moverman’s film is not to be missed.
#2: “American Sniper” (2014)
Top 10 American History Movies
An intense character study, as well as an exploration of a war legend, Clint Eastwood’s biopic about the late Chris Kyle, a military sniper with a reported 255 kills, measures the actions and effects many soldiers undergo while serving to protect their freedom. Starring Bradley Cooper as Kyle, the film shows life on both fronts - at home and in the battlezone, not sparing the gritty details of moral decisions that must be made with the pulling of a trigger. Despite its warm reception, “American Sniper” was also heavily criticized for ignoring some of the darker elements of Chris Kyle’s story. Nevertheless, it was still nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
#1: “The Hurt Locker” (2008)
Top 10 MCU Phase 4 Films and TV Shows So Far
In one of the most memorable war films of the early 21st century, Kathryn Bigelow’s multiple Oscar-winning thriller is a crowning achievement in cinematic storytelling. Despite not having a standard linear plotline, “The Hurt Locker” manages to perfectly capture the intensity of bomb diffusion as well as battle zone tactics. Ranging from close-range shootouts to lengthy and nail-biting sniper battles, the film’s ultimate metaphor is about the rush one gets during combat. With three close-knit soldiers in a bomb disposal unit taking the spotlight, the varying psychologies of the characters are complemented by amazing cinematography and sound design, putting viewers right into the heat of each moment.
