7 Best War Movies To Watch This Memorial Day Weekend

Hoping to watch a good patriotic film this Memorial Day weekend? We’ve compiled a list of the best war movies to view this weekend as you honor the bravery and heroism of the men and women who have served in the military.

Do you remember the powerful opening scene of “Saving Private Ryan”? How about George C. Scott’s iconic opening monologue in “Patton”? Then, there's the pulse-pounding sensation of the war thriller "The Hurt Locker" that will surely keep you on the edge of your seat.

And let’s not forget the breathtaking battle scenes in “Lone Survivor” and “American Sniper.”

Now that we have piqued your interest, check out the full list of these war films that reflect on the ultimate sacrifice the military veterans have made for the United States.

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• Movie Reviews: 'Those Who Wish Me Dead' And 'Army Of The Dead'
• Movie Reviews: 'Without Remorse' And 'Percy Vs Goliath'
• Movie Reviews: 'Jakob's Wife' And 'Monday'

“Saving Private Ryan” — Tom Hanks, Matt Damon; directed by Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg’s modern war classic evokes the brutal realities of war as well as the agonizing terror and horror of combat through the eyes of Capt. John Miller (Tom Hanks) and his men behind the enemy lines. Its opening scene alone, a 30-minute-long depiction of the Omaha Beach assault during the Normandy landings, will leave you breathless.

At the heart of the emotional story is Capt. Miller’s mission to search for the titular paratrooper, Pfc. James Ryan (Matt Damon), the last surviving brother of four male siblings — the other three having been killed in action. Will Miller and his men find Ryan in the end?

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"The Hurt Locker" — Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie; directed by Kathryn Bigelow

With "The Hurt Locker," Kathryn Bigelow made history at the 82nd Academy Awards as the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director. The war thriller follows the harrowing experiences of an Army bomb squad, led by Sgt. 1st Class William James (Jeremy Renner) during the Iraq War, underscoring the crew's psychological reactions to the stress of combat. Intense and gripping, the war thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

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“Apocalypse Now” — Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall; directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Writer-director Francis Ford Coppola adapts Joseph Conrad’s 1899 novella, “Heart of Darkness,” against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. In contrast to the book’s narrated voyage up the Congo River, Coppola’s film follows U.S. Capt. Benjamin Willard’s (Martin Sheen) river journey from South Vietnam into Cambodia. His mission? A covert operation to terminate the command of Col. Walter Kurtz (Marlon Brando), a decorated war hero who has gone rogue.

“Apocalypse Now” explores the ravages of war as it peers into the souls of the hitman and his target, all the while dazzling viewers in its grandiosity of set pieces.

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“Patton” — George C. Scott, Karl Malden; directed by Franklin J. Schaffner

Winner of Best Picture at the 1971 Academy Awards, Franklin J. Schaffner’s war drama is a biopic about the controversial career of U.S. Gen. George S. Patton, chronicling the rise and fall from grace of the war hero during World War II.

George C. Scott embodies Patton with an unshakeable gusto — especially in the actor’s delivery of the opening monologue against the backdrop of an enormous American flag — earning the legendary star the Best Actor Academy Award.

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“Zero Dark Thirty” — Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Chris Pratt; directed by Kathryn Bigelow

A depiction of the nearly decade-long international search for al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, Kathryn Bigelow’s gripping 2012 thriller navigates the manhunt through the eyes of Maya (Jessica Chastain), a fictional CIA analyst and profiler, joined by an elite team of intelligence operatives and Navy SEALs.

Ultimately, Maya’s fervor and dedication will lead to the exact whereabouts of the notorious wanted man. The rest is history as we know it.

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“Lone Survivor” — Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch; directed by Peter Berg

A film adaptation of Marcus Luttrell’s eponymous nonfiction book, Peter Berg’s biographical war film follows four Navy SEALs (Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch and Ben Foster) deployed to conduct a counter-insurgent mission to capture the notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shah in 2005 Afghanistan.

Absorbing and heart-wrenching, “Lone Survivor” highlights the perils of war that a soldier might have to reckon with in the face of uncertainty.

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“American Sniper” — Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller; directed by Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood’s biographical war film is loosely based on Chris Kyle’s 2012 bestselling memoir chronicling the war hero’s rise to become the deadliest marksman in U.S. military history.

Bradley Cooper plays Kyle, a Navy SEAL sniper famed for his pinpoint accuracy. His four tours of duty in the Iraq War are legendary, saving countless lives on the battlefield. However, his acts of valor would take a heavy toll on his marriage and personal life.

Eastwood’s dramatization of the battle scenes is awe-inspiring, while Cooper plays the titular marksman with outstanding gravitas and brooding intensity.

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