War movies have continued to be popular today. This article detailed some of the best war movies on HBO Max that will offer a glimpse into the horrors of war, as well as the courage and sacrifice of those who fight.
HBO Max has a great selection of war movies, including some of the most critically acclaimed and popular films ever made. You’ll get to see 8 of the best war movies you can watch on HBO Max in this blog post.
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8 Best War Movies on HBO Max to Watch Right Now
1. 1917 (2019)
We think 1917 should be too on the list of best war movies in HBO Max to watch. This is a British war film about two young British soldiers who are given a seemingly impossible mission: to deliver a message that could save their battalion from walking into a German trap.
Lance Corporal Schofield and Lance Corporal Blake, are the two soldiers who set out on their journey, facing danger at every turn. They must navigate through no man’s land, dodge German gunfire, and survive a bombing raid. Along the way, they witness the horrors of war firsthand, but they are determined to succeed.
In the end, Schofield and Blake can deliver the message, but not without great cost. They both suffer injuries, and Blake is killed in action. However, their sacrifice saves the lives of hundreds of soldiers, and they are hailed as heroes.
1917 is a powerful and moving film that tells the story of the horrors of war and the importance of courage and sacrifice. It is a must-see for anyone interested in World War I history or war films in general.
2. Dunkirk (2017)
Dunkirk is a British war film written by Christopher Nolan and directed by Nolan. The film tells the story of the evacuation of Allied soldiers from Dunkirk, France, during World War II.
The film is told from the perspective of three different groups of people: the British soldiers on the beaches, the civilian sailors who volunteered to help with the evacuation, and the German pilots who are tasked with shooting down the Allied planes.
Some of the key moments in the film are when British soldiers are trapped on the beach with no way to escape. Civilian boats start to arrive to rescue the soldiers. The RAF pilots fly overhead to protect the evacuation.
Meanwhile, the Germans launch a massive attack on the beach so the evacuation is successful, and the soldiers are saved.
3. The Pacific (2010)
The Pacific is an American war drama miniseries produced by HBO, Playtone, and DreamWorks. It’s one of the best war movies on HBO Max that will leave a lasting impact on you.
It’s the story of three American Marines who fought in the Pacific Theater during World War II. The miniseries was created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, and it stars James Badge Dale, Joseph Mazzello, and Jon Seda.
The miniseries is a companion piece to the 2001 miniseries Band of Brothers and focuses on the United States Marine Corps’s actions in the Pacific Theater of Operations within the wider Pacific War.
The three U.S. Marines in the Pacific Theater are Robert Leckie, Eugene B. Sledge, and John Basilone. Leckie and Sledge enlist in the Marine Corps in 1942 because of their experiences on Guadalcanal. Basilone, meanwhile, is already a decorated Marine who is sent to Guadalcanal as a machine gunner.
The miniseries follows the three men as they fight in the Battle of Peleliu, the Battle of Iwo Jima, and the Battle of Okinawa. The series also depicts the horrors of war, the bonds of brotherhood, and the struggle to cope with the trauma of combat.
The Pacific ended with the Japanese surrender in 1945. Leckie, Sledge, and Basilone all return home, but they are forever changed by their experiences in the war.
4. The Hurt Locker (2008)
The Hurt Locker is an American war film written and directed by Kathryn Bigelow. It won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. The film was praised for its realistic portrayal of the Iraq War and the dangers faced by bomb disposal experts.
The film stars Jeremy Renner as Staff Sergeant William James, a U.S. Army bomb disposal expert who is sent to Iraq. James and his team of bomb disposal experts work to defuse improvised explosive devices (IEDs) amid the Iraq War.
The film starts with the quote “The rush of battle is a potent and often lethal addiction, for war is a drug.” This quote sets the tone for the film, which is the psychological effects of war on soldiers. James is a driven and reckless soldier who is addicted to the adrenaline rush of defusing bombs. He is often at odds with his team leader, Sergeant J.T. Sanborn, who is more cautious and by-the-book.
As James and his team try to defuse a series of increasingly dangerous bombs, they are constantly under fire from insurgents, and they must make split-second decisions that could mean life or death.
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5. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Saving Private Ryan is another one of the best war movies on HBO Max. Tom Hanks takes the role of a US Army captain who is tasked with rescuing a paratrooper behind enemy lines during World War II.
Saving Private Ryan is also considered to be one of the greatest war films ever made. The film won five Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Cinematography.
On June 6, 1944, during the Allied invasion of Normandy, Captain John Miller and his squad of eight men are tasked with finding and bringing back Private James Ryan, whose three brothers have all been killed in action. The men must travel behind enemy lines to find Ryan, who is believed to be somewhere in the French countryside.
Along the way, the men face many challenges, including the harsh terrain, the enemy forces, and their doubts about the mission. But they also find strength in each other, and they come to understand the true meaning of brotherhood.
At last, they find Ryan and bring him back to safety. But the mission comes at a high cost, and the men are forever changed by their experiences.
6. Schindler’s List (1993)
Schindler’s List is a historical drama film based on the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved the lives of over 1,000 Jews during the Holocaust.
It is also considered to be one of the greatest films ever made, winning seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
The film is set in Kraków, Poland, during World War II. Schindler is a wealthy businessman who initially sees the opportunity to profit from the Nazi occupation of Poland. However, he is eventually moved by the plight of the Jews and begins to use his wealth and influence to save their lives.
Schindler sets up a factory in Kraków and employs Jewish workers. He bribes Nazi officials to protect his workers from being sent to concentration camps. As the war progresses, Schindler becomes increasingly determined to save as many Jews as possible.
He continues like this until he can save the lives of 1,100 Jews. He is later hailed as a hero for his actions.
7. Braveheart (1995)
Braveheart is another historical drama film written and directed by Mel Gibson. Gibson plays the character of William Wallace, a Scottish warrior who leads his country’s fight for independence from England in the 13th century.
In 13th-century Scotland, William Wallace witnessed the English king, Edward I, execute several Scottish nobles. Wallace’s father and brother are killed fighting against the English, and he is taken abroad on a pilgrimage throughout Europe by his paternal uncle Argyle, who has Wallace educated.
Years later, Wallace returns to Scotland and falls in love with his childhood friend Murron MacClannough, and the two marry in secret. When Murron is hanged by the English for marrying Wallace without their permission, Wallace leads a rebellion against the English. He quickly gains the support of the Scottish people, and his army defeats the English in several battles.
However, the English eventually overwhelm Wallace’s forces, and he is captured and executed. Wallace’s death does not end the Scottish rebellion, and the Scots eventually win their independence.
The message of Braveheart is that freedom is not free and that it is often necessary to fight for what one believes in. The film also celebrates the power of love, courage, and sacrifice.
8. Paths of Glory (1957)
Last but not least of the best war movies on HBO Max is Paths of Glory. This war film was written and directed by Stanley Kubrick. Paths of Glory is a powerful and anti-war film, and it is one of Kubrick’s best films. The film won the Palme d’Or at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival.
Paths of Glory stars Kirk Douglas as a French colonel who is tasked with leading a suicide mission during World War I.
Set during World War I, Colonel Dax, the commanding officer of French soldiers refuses to continue a suicidal attack, after which Dax attempts to defend them against charges of cowardice in a court-martial.
In the opening scene of the film, General Broulard (Adolphe Menjou) orders General Mireau (George Macready) to attack a German trench position, nicknamed “The Ant Hill.” Mireau knows that the attack is suicidal, but he agrees to it to secure a promotion. Dax is tasked with planning the attack, and he tries to convince Mireau to call it off, but Mireau refuses.
The attack is a disaster, and many of the French soldiers are killed. Mireau orders his artillery to fire on his men to force them to continue the attack, but the order is refused. Mireau then demands that three soldiers be court-martialed for cowardice.
Dax defends the three soldiers in court, but they are found guilty and sentenced to death. The executions are carried out, and Dax is left to contemplate the futility of war.
Conclusion
HBO Max also has several documentaries about war, including The World at War (1973-1974), Ken Burns’s The Civil War (1990), The Pacific (2010), The World Wars (2003), and Vietnam (2018)
