35 non-US/UK must-see war movies
by pete36 | created - 11 Feb 2012 | updated - 11 Aug 2019 | PublicHere are 35 must-see war movies, not from Hollywood/US or indeed the UK.
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1. Soldier of Orange (1977)
R | 165 min | Drama, Romance, Thriller
During World War II, Dutch students join the resistance movement against the German occupation of the Netherlands.
Director: Paul Verhoeven | Stars: Rutger Hauer, Jeroen Krabbé, Susan Penhaligon, Edward Fox
Votes: 13,861
Early Paul Verhoeven on Dutch resistance during WWII. Brilliant and hardhitting stuff. Considered best Dutch movie of all time. Believe it or not but recently turned into a succesful musical !
2. Come and See (1985)
Not Rated | 142 min | Drama, Thriller, War
After finding an old rifle, a young boy joins the Soviet resistance movement against ruthless German forces and experiences the horrors of World War II.
Director: Elem Klimov | Stars: Aleksey Kravchenko, Olga Mironova, Liubomiras Laucevicius, Vladas Bagdonas
Votes: 96,945
Already in numerous lists here on the IMdb and rightly so. Boy joins Russian partisans during WWII. Not for the fainthearted.
3. The Bridge (1959)
Not Rated | 103 min | Drama, History, War
In 1945, Germany is being overrun, and nobody is left to fight but teenagers.
Director: Bernhard Wicki | Stars: Volker Bohnet, Fritz Wepper, Michael Hinz, Frank Glaubrecht
Votes: 8,638
German boysoldiers have to defend a bridge against US troops during last days of WWII. Uncompromising and (still) extremely graphic. Won Oscar best foreign film 1959.
4. Army of Shadows (1969)
Not Rated | 145 min | Drama, War
An account of underground resistance fighters in Nazi-occupied France.
Director: Jean-Pierre Melville | Stars: Lino Ventura, Paul Meurisse, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Simone Signoret
Votes: 25,815 | Gross: $0.74M
The Shadow Army : French resistance fighters during WWII, by master director Jean-Pierre Melville, based on his own experiences. Sober but gripping. With Lino Ventura and Simone Signoret.
5. The Battle of Algiers (1966)
Not Rated | 121 min | Drama, War
In the 1950s, fear and violence escalate as the people of Algiers fight for independence from the French government.
Director: Gillo Pontecorvo | Stars: Brahim Hadjadj, Jean Martin, Yacef Saadi, Samia Kerbash
Votes: 65,575 | Gross: $0.06M
Algerian freedom fighters vs. French paratroopers battle it out in 1958-1960. Super realistic and both sides are not spared. Used as trainingfilm for US troops in Bagdad.
6. Weekend at Dunkirk (1964)
Approved | 119 min | Drama, War
In June 1940, during the Dunkirk evacuation of Allied troops to England, French sergeant Julien Maillat and his men debate whether to evacuate to Britain or stay and fight the German troops that are closing-in from all directions.
Director: Henri Verneuil | Stars: Jean-Paul Belmondo, Catherine Spaak, Georges Géret, Jean-Pierre Marielle
Votes: 1,909
Retreat at Dunkirk in 1940, also for French troops. Well directed and very spectacular. With Jean-Paul Belmondo.
7. El Alamein - The Line of Fire (2002)
117 min | Drama, War
War seen through the eyes of Serra, a university student from Palermo who volunteers in 1942 to fight in Africa. He is assigned to the Pavia Division on the southern line in Egypt. Rommel ... See full summary »
Director: Enzo Monteleone | Stars: Paolo Briguglia, Pierfrancesco Favino, Luciano Scarpa, Emilio Solfrizzi
Votes: 2,015
Excellent classic-style recounting with a rare view of the Italian side during the battle for El Alamein in 1942.
8. War and Peace (1965)
GP | 393 min | Drama, Romance, War
The Russian aristocracy prepares for the French invasion on the eve of 1812.
Director: Sergey Bondarchuk | Stars: Lyudmila Saveleva, Vyacheslav Tikhonov, Sergey Bondarchuk, Boris Zakhava
Votes: 8,330 | Gross: $0.13M
Massive Russian version (about 8 hours !)of "War and Peace", largely dealing with Napoleonic Wars of the beginning of 19th century. 5 years in the making with 10.000's of extras. Doesn't have Henry Fonda or Audrey Hepburn but the sheer scale of the thing just steamrollers over anything comparable.
9. Is Paris Burning? (1966)
Approved | 173 min | Drama, History, War
August 1944. The Allies are approaching Paris and resistance groups within the city start to plan an uprising against the Germans. However, Hitler wants the city destroyed if it looks like the Allies will take it.
Director: René Clément | Stars: Jean-Paul Belmondo, Charles Boyer, Leslie Caron, Jean-Pierre Cassel
Votes: 5,190
OK, there are some US actors but this is mainly a French show, their own version of the Longest day, being the liberation of Paris in 1944. A bit overambitious but definitely worth a look. Includes almost all major French stars of that time.
10. Life and Nothing But (1989)
PG | 135 min | Drama, War
Intense character study of men and women driven by an overpowering obsession with the past.
Director: Bertrand Tavernier | Stars: Philippe Noiret, Sabine Azéma, Pascale Vignal, Maurice Barrier
Votes: 2,122 | Gross: $0.43M
Not much fighting here as it treats mainly the aftermath and traumatizing effect of WWI on the French people. Sobering and thought-provoking work from acclaimed director Bertrand Tavernier, as a French major (Plilippe Noiret) must coordinate the search for remains of fallen soldiers, including the one for the future "Unknown Soldier".
11. Downfall (2004)
R | 156 min | Biography, Drama, History
Traudl Junge, the final secretary for Adolf Hitler, tells of the Nazi dictator's final days in his Berlin bunker at the end of WWII.
Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel | Stars: Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara, Ulrich Matthes, Juliane Köhler
Votes: 374,887 | Gross: $5.51M
Probably one of the best-known recent foreign war movies. Features Hitlers' famous rant, countlessly multiplied on Youtube. Actor Bruno Ganz almost resembles Hitler more then the actual Adolf Hitler.
12. Das Boot (1981)
R | 149 min | Drama, War
A German U-boat stalks the frigid waters of the North Atlantic as its young crew experience the sheer terror and claustrophobic life of a submariner in World War II.
Director: Wolfgang Petersen | Stars: Jürgen Prochnow, Herbert Grönemeyer, Klaus Wennemann, Hubertus Bengsch
Votes: 264,097 | Gross: $11.49M
Internationally most succesfull German movie of all time. Director Wolfgang Petersen went on to a great career in Hollywood (Troy, Airforce One, In the Line of Fire,....).
13. The Old Gun (1975)
R | 103 min | Drama, Thriller, War
During World War II, a peaceful French surgeon decides to ruthlessly exterminate an SS squad because of the atrocities they'd just committed in his countryside home and childhood village.
Director: Robert Enrico | Stars: Philippe Noiret, Romy Schneider, Jean Bouise, Joachim Hansen
Votes: 4,851
Softspoken French doctor takes on the German SS after they murdered his family. Brilliant movie but not for everyone. In some countries X-rated due to high dose of realistic violence. With big French stars of the time Philippe Noiret and Romy Schneider.
14. The Battle of Austerlitz (1960)
122 min | Drama, History, War
Another of Napoleon's adventures in this epic reconstruction of the battle of Austerlitz, where he had the greatest victory of his career, over the Russians.
Director: Abel Gance | Stars: Pierre Mondy, Martine Carol, Claudia Cardinale, Leslie Caron
Votes: 977
French version of the famous Napoleonic victory at Austerlitz in 1807. Pretty spectacular and directed by French monument Abel Gance.
15. Sturmtruppen (1976)
110 min | Comedy, War
Director: Salvatore Samperi | Stars: Renato Pozzetto, Lino Toffolo, Cochi Ponzoni, Teo Teocoli
Votes: 269
Highly unusual Italian war comedy featuring a bungling German Wehrmacht unit in Italy during WWII. Movie plays it completely straight. Not for all tastes. Apparently a box-office succes as a sequel was made.
16. The Grand Illusion (1937)
Not Rated | 113 min | Drama, War
During WWI, two French soldiers are captured and imprisoned in a German P.O.W. camp. Several escape attempts follow until they are eventually sent to a seemingly inescapable fortress.
Director: Jean Renoir | Stars: Jean Gabin, Dita Parlo, Pierre Fresnay, Erich von Stroheim
Votes: 38,844 | Gross: $0.17M
Famous French war movie by acclaimed director Jean Renoir on French prisoners of war and their German captors during WWI. They try to escape ofcourse but why ? They were better off in a prison camp then the carnage in the WWI trenches ! With Jean Gabin and Erich von Stroheim as the disabled German colonel.
17. The Four Days of Naples (1962)
120 min | Drama, War
The film shows the history of the Neapolitan popular revolt against the invading Germans during World War II. During the four days in Naples, the revolt turns over in just a few hours. ... See full summary »
Director: Nanni Loy | Stars: Raffaele Barbato, Charles Belmont, Regina Bianchi, Silvana Buzzanca
Votes: 1,013
Spirited account on how the Italian people forced the Germans to turn Naples into an open city in 1944. A bit over the top but very well executed. With Gian Maria Volonte.
18. Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At! (1966)
G | 132 min | Adventure, Comedy, War
Several ordinary Frenchmen go on an epic voyage through the occupied country to the free zone as they help British pilots avoid German captivity.
Director: Gérard Oury | Stars: Bourvil, Louis de Funès, Claudio Brook, Andréa Parisy
Votes: 20,188
Still to this day immensely popular French war comedy. A self-important music conductor, a simple housepainter and several downed British airmen together try to reach Switzerland before the Germans can catch them. A real classic.
19. A Very Long Engagement (2004)
R | 133 min | Drama, Mystery, Romance
Tells the story of a young woman's relentless search for her fiancé, who has disappeared from the trenches of the Somme during World War One.
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet | Stars: Audrey Tautou, Gaspard Ulliel, Jodie Foster, Dominique Pinon
Votes: 75,918 | Gross: $6.17M
Director Jean Pierre Jeunet follow-up to his worldwide acclaimed. "Amélie Poulain". A young bride goes in search for her husband on the battlefields of France during WWI. See this on a big screen if you can. Jeunet got so much budget for this movie it almost seems he has trouble spending it all !
20. Black Book (2006)
R | 145 min | Drama, Thriller, War
In the Nazi-occupied Netherlands during World War II, a Jewish singer infiltrates the regional Gestapo headquarters for the Dutch resistance.
Director: Paul Verhoeven | Stars: Carice van Houten, Sebastian Koch, Thom Hoffman, Halina Reijn
Votes: 80,458 | Gross: $4.40M
Paul Verhoeven does it again with this fast-paced and spectacular account on the last days and aftermath of WWII in Holland. A Jewish girl falls in love with a sympathetic (!) SS officer. Full of twists and turns and nobody is who he seems. Most expensive Dutch movie ever made.
21. Taxi for Tobruk (1961)
95 min | Drama, War
During World War II, French commandos join forces with a German officer in order to survive the African desert.
Director: Denys de La Patellière | Stars: Hardy Krüger, Lino Ventura, Maurice Biraud, Charles Aznavour
Votes: 2,087
French classic set in 1942 during desert war in Lybia. Launched career of acclaimed French actor Lino Ventura. Also stars Hardy Kruger.
22. King of Hearts (1966)
Not Rated | 102 min | Comedy, Drama, War
During World War I, a British private, sent ahead to a French town to scout for enemy presence, is mistaken for a King by the colorful patients of an insane asylum.
Director: Philippe de Broca | Stars: Alan Bates, Geneviève Bujold, Pierre Brasseur, Jean-Claude Brialy
Votes: 4,338 | Gross: $0.02M
During WWI a lost British soldier (Alan Bates) finds refuge in mental asylum. But the Germans are not far away......Despite settings sometimes very funny thanks to great direction by Philiipe De Broca.
23. Goodbye, Children (1987)
PG | 104 min | Drama, War
A French boarding school run by priests seems to be a haven from World War II until a new student arrives. Occupying the next bed in the dormitory to the top student in his class, the two young boys begin to form a bond.
Director: Louis Malle | Stars: Gaspard Manesse, Raphael Fejtö, Francine Racette, Stanislas Carré de Malberg
Votes: 36,097 | Gross: $4.54M
One of the most acclaimed French movies ever.
24. Stalingrad: Dogs, Do You Want to Live Forever? (1959)
93 min | Drama, War
In the winter of 1943, against the background of battle scenes, a young German Lieutenant who increasingly distrusts the inhuman Nazi ideology struggles with the concept of war.
Director: Frank Wisbar | Stars: Joachim Hansen, Wilhelm Borchert, Wolfgang Preiss, Carl Lange
Votes: 842
Strong and realistic account viewed from the side of the Germans on the defeat at Stalingrad in 1943.
25. The Battle of Neretva (1969)
G | 105 min | Drama, History, War
World War II drama about the 1943 battle around the Neretva River between Axis forces and Yugoslav partisan units.
Director: Veljko Bulajic | Stars: Yul Brynner, Hardy Krüger, Franco Nero, Sylva Koscina
Votes: 4,037
Spectacular account of the battle of Neretva which opposed Axis troops (together with a high number of collaborating Cetniks and Croatian forces) against Tito's partisans. Stellar international cast includes Yul Brynner, Orson Welles and Franco Nero. Runs over 175 minutes (avoid at all costs the rambling 102 min. US version !).
26. The Great War (1959)
Approved | 137 min | Comedy, Drama, War
The Italian Army fought against the Austrians during World War I.
Director: Mario Monicelli | Stars: Alberto Sordi, Vittorio Gassman, Bernard Blier, Folco Lulli
Votes: 4,598
Rather grim account of less-known battle between the Italian army and the Austrians around the Appenine mountains during WW1. Stars Vittoria Gassman and Alberto Sordi. Nominated for Foreign Film Oscar.
27. The Winter War (1989)
199 min | Drama, History, War
In 1939, two Finnish brothers are conscripted in the army to fight in the war between Finland and the Soviet Union.
Director: Pekka Parikka | Stars: Taneli Mäkelä, Vesa Vierikko, Timo Torikka, Heikki Paavilainen
Votes: 8,724
Disturbing and realistic account of the Finno-Russsian winter war from 1939-40. The Finns caused the Russians heavy casulaties but were overwhelmed by sheer number and in the end had to agree to some sort odd truce (already broken with the arrival of the Germans in 1941). Most expensive Finnish movie ever made and it shows !
28. The Last Metro (1980)
PG | 131 min | Drama, Romance, War
In occupied Paris, an actress married to a Jewish theater owner must keep him hidden from the Germans while doing both of their jobs.
Director: François Truffaut | Stars: Catherine Deneuve, Gérard Depardieu, Jean Poiret, Andréa Ferréol
Votes: 15,807
Ok not much battle action here, but this is a very entertaining and charming film on life in Paris during the German occupation. Made by François Truffaut and stars Gérard Depardieu and Catherine DeNeuve so you really can't go wrong there! Was covered in Césars (french Oscars).
29. Fort Saganne (1984)
180 min | Drama, History, War
Young army officer of peasant origin becomes a war hero battling in the Sahara while seducing a young woman from the aristocratic class.
Director: Alain Corneau | Stars: Gérard Depardieu, Philippe Noiret, Catherine Deneuve, Sophie Marceau
Votes: 1,105
Long epic on the colonization of North Africa by the French in the latter half of the 19th century. For a French movie pretty spectacular and stars Depardieu as the big conquerer (and a small rolefor Sophie Marceau as his wife!). Solid direction by Alain Corneau.
30. Stalingrad (1993)
Not Rated | 134 min | Drama, War
The story follows a group of German soldiers, from their Italian R&R in the summer of 1942 to the frozen steppes of Soviet Russia and ending with the battle for Stalingrad.
Director: Joseph Vilsmaier | Stars: Dominique Horwitz, Thomas Kretschmann, Jochen Nickel, Sebastian Rudolph
Votes: 37,682 | Gross: $0.08M
Another big-budget European war movie, this time on the well-known German defeat at Stalingrad in 1943. Pretty grim and realistic but what did you expect ? It's not Snow white (or is it ?).
31. La neige et le feu (1991)
100 min | Drama, Romance, War
Between the Liberation of Paris at the end of August 1944 and the end of the Second World War in May 1945, 9 months passed. Nurse Christiane Mercier and F.F.I. Michel Fournier falls in love each during the Liberation.
Director: Claude Pinoteau | Stars: Vincent Perez, Géraldine Pailhas, Matthieu Rozé, François Caron
Votes: 140
Pretty grim tale of the French vs. Germans by the end of 1944 in the snowy Vosges mountains. Very true to the facts and excellent period hardware, including a bunch of real Shermans and even a Royal Tiger tank. No wonder it's all so real as the director was there fighting in 1944.
32. Pastorale 1943 (1978)
125 min | Drama, War
In a Dutch village during the German occupation, a small group of badly organized resistance fighters attempt to assassinate a collaborator.
Director: Wim Verstappen | Stars: Frederik de Groot, Leen Jongewaard, Coen Flink, Sacco van der Made
Votes: 485
Sober but engrossing story on clumsy resistance fighters in occupied Holland during 1943. Luckily for them the Germans are neither all that smart. Features Sylvia Kristel (in the midst of her "Emmanuelle" period) as a schoolteacher and Rutger Hauer (in a small but really surprising role....).
33. White Tiger (2012)
Not Rated | 104 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Great Patriotic War, early 1940s. After barely surviving a battle with a mysterious, ghostly-white Tiger tank, Red Army Sergeant Ivan Naydenov becomes obsessed with its destruction.
Director: Karen Shakhnazarov | Stars: Aleksey Vertkov, Vitaliy Kishchenko, Valeriy Grishko, Dmitriy Bykovskiy-Romashov
Votes: 4,887
Almost 'Stalker'-like tale of a white Tiger tank that appears every so often to harras the Russians and then disappears again, as it was a ghost. Well done and not as flagwaving as most other Russian movies on WWII.
34. Shock Troops (1967)
Approved | 110 min | Action, Drama, History
A French resistance group liberates some prisoners from the German. Could one of the prisoners be a spy?
Director: Costa-Gavras | Stars: Charles Vanel, Bruno Cremer, Jean-Claude Brialy, Michel Piccoli
Votes: 817
Orginal title is "One man too many". This is about the French resistance vs the occupying German troops, mainly set in the Vercors region. Made by acclaimed director Costa Garvas (Z, The Music Box,...) this movie was long out of the public eye mainly due to copyright problems. But it is well worth the wait, as this proves a fastmoving and spectacular account of deceit and lost causes.
35. Captain Conan (1996)
129 min | Drama, War
The war exploits of French captain Conan and his men during World War I and during the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War.
Director: Bertrand Tavernier | Stars: Philippe Torreton, Samuel Le Bihan, Bernard Le Coq, Catherine Rich
Votes: 2,447
Another winner from French most prestigious director Bertrand Tavernier. Based on the real-life story of the almost Rambolike French captain during the end of WWI and including some uncharted historic movie territory with the European-Soviet war of 1919.
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