10 Best Fight Scenes in World War II Movies, Ranked

Often credited with delivering tremendous action and effective storytelling, World War II movies have captured audiences throughout the lineage of cinema with various features about an important time in history. Whether sticking to the traditional genre tropes, crafting a narrative beyond the war or creating new ways to enhance the experience of this period, many World War II films have delivered engaging battle sequences and fights that truly stick with viewers.

At the same time, several World War II films help emphasize dedicated and spectacular filmmaking on display, where an entire production can bring an action set-piece to life that visualizes combat and resonates with an audience regarding the characters and stakes at play. Moreover, not many genres in film can perfectly encapsulate drama, suspense, humor or other important emotions quite like a fight scene in a war movie, especially if it’s a World War II feature; which already lends itself to interesting material that can be cinematically adapted.

10

Inglourious Basterds’ Bar Shootout Leaves Viewers On Edge

Guided by a great script and tremendous filmmaking, Quentin Tarantino’s 2009 war flick Inglourious Basterds brims with dynamic characters and an exciting plot about the Allies trying to assassinate Nazi Germany’s leadership. Exuding Quentin Tarantino’s notable style through the lens of a war movie, the film delivers on all accounts of explosive violence and meticulously designed suspense that hooks viewers, where amongst many scenes of tension & action, the tavern sequence operates on all levels of showcasing sharp dialogue, strong performances and well-executed action.

Already established with an air of anxiety, the Operation Kino team must avoid suspicion within a bar filled with Nazis and immediately get cornered into a rough situation. With an emphasis on close-ups and medium shots, the scene maneuvers to heighten the suspense of the good guys being discovered and the acting by Michael Fassbender, Diane Kruger, Til Schweiger and August Diehl help relay this sentiment. Furthermore, once the team is caught, the jump to rapid violence, quick editing and crisp sound design finally breaks the tension and levels almost everyone in sight.

9

Kelly’s Heroes Successfully Frames a Battle of Ingenuity

Blending various tones and constructing hard-hitting action, the 1970 war comedy-drama heist feature Kelly’s Heroes crafts an interesting narrative that also displays exciting combat whenever possible. As the titular crew of AWOL soldiers gets closer to robbing a French bank filled with Nazi gold, the strategic ambush plan leads to engaging filmmaking that thrills the audience. Maneuvering between different angles of the German-controlled town, the scene perfectly balances all the players and the stakes at hand.

The various stages of this battle are all framed expertly and the main stars like Clint Eastwood, Donald Sutherland, Don Rickles and Telly Savalas are all given something important to do. Whether viewing a sniper, ground shootouts, tank warfare or massive explosions, the sequence cuts between each aspect and fleshes out the scope of the town and the team’s position to kill the Nazis and get the gold; where even the multiple cinematography techniques offer something different to each battle area.

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This movie follows a group of World War II soldiers led by Lieutenant Kelly who, upon discovering a stash of hidden Nazi gold, embark on an unauthorized mission behind enemy lines. 

Director

Brian G. Hutton

Release Date

June 22, 1970

Cast

Clint Eastwood
, Telly Savalas
, Don Rickles
, Carroll O’Connor
, Donald Sutherland

8

The Dirty Dozen Pulls Off The Final Mission

Robert Aldrich’s 1967 war flick The Dirty Dozen sports terrific acting, strong narrative execution and sharp action that sticks with viewers. Headlined by an all-star cast, every character gets a moment to shine and leading up to the film’s final act, the audience becomes enthralled/nervous at the team’s daring mission behind enemy lines. As the titular dozen infiltrate a château filled with German Generals and other high-ranking officers, the battle quickly turns into a suicide mission that forces the team to act fast and finish the task at any cost.

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Framing multiple angles in and around the French château, the sequence heightens the intensity of the team’s mission as they’ve been discovered and are trying to execute every Nazi in sight. Moreover, the editing of various American soldiers fending off incoming Nazis with gunfire, along with the team’s planting of explosives, further produces anxiety for the viewer; although the release of tension when the château explodes finally leaves the audience satisfied.

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This movie follows Major Reisman as he leads twelve convicted military prisoners on a dangerous World War II mission to destroy a Nazi stronghold. Promised commuted sentences in exchange for their service, the men must overcome their differences and work together to achieve the nearly impossible task.

Director

Robert Aldrich

Release Date

June 15, 1967

Cast

Lee Marvin
, Ernest Borgnine
, Charles Bronson
, Jim Brown
, John Cassavetes
, Richard Jaeckel
, George Kennedy
, Trini López

7

Flags of Our Fathers Showcases The Pacific Theater

Based on the novel of the same name, Clint Eastwood’s 2006 war drama Flags of Our Fathers captures the physical and emotional toll of American soldiers who fought at the Battle of Iwo Jima, where the visualization of action and intimate character moments grip the viewer. With a talented director like Clint Eastwood, the film frames each combat scene with depth and in the construction of the beach landing sequence, the audience immediately gets shaken by the carnage on display. The scale of the battle further exemplifies the dedication of both opposing sides to fighting one another.

Beginning with the American troops landing at Iwo Jima, the sequence is color-scaled gray and lacks a score, which invokes a sense of dread that looms over the soldiers. At the same time, the eerily calm atmosphere quickly turns chaotic, as the hidden Japanese forces open fire on American soldiers. With a blend of visual effects and different camerawork styles, the sequence highlights the mayhem of war and the various sections of American forces trying to move forward to take the beach.

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Flags of Our Fathers

The life stories of the six men who raised the flag at the Battle of Iwo Jima, a turning point in World War II.

Release Date

October 20, 2006

Cast

Ryan Phillippe
, Jesse Bradford
, Adam Beach
, John Benjamin Hickey
, John Slattery
, Barry Pepper

6

Letters from Iwo Jima Visualizes The Opposing Side

Serving as a companion piece to Flags of Our Fathers, Clint Eastwood’s 2006 war feature Letters from Iwo Jima operates as a film detailing the Japanese perspective of the Battle of Iwo Jima and also crafts a compelling narrative. In the same beach landing sequence, Letters from Iwo Jima instead reveals the Japanese’s heavily fortified positions and obscures the American troops during the action, as well as frame Ken Watanabe’s General Tadamichi Kuribayashi viewing the combat from afar.

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This scene intercuts between the same shots utilized in Flags of Our Fathers, though restructures the context of how the Japanese tried to defend the beach against the attack. With the same color grading and lack of score, the sequence still retains an eery quality up until the combat commences, and the abundant explosions/gunfights help demonstrate how the destruction of the beach pillboxes was inevitable.

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Letters from Iwo Jima

The story of the battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Imperial Japan during World War II, as told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought it.

Release Date

February 2, 2007

Cast

Ken Watanabe
, Kazunari Ninomiya
, Tsuyoshi Ihara
, Ryo Kase
, Shido Nakamura
, Hiroshi Watanabe
, Takumi Bando
, Yuki Matsuzaki

5

Dunkirk Defies Time and Engages Audiences in The Skies

Christopher Nolan’s 2017 epic historical war thriller Dunkirk examines the Dunkirk evacuation of World War II from multiple perspectives of soldiers/citizens dealing with the chaos at hand, where the technical craftsmanship in highlighting this event is stunning. Whether viewing scenes on land, the sea or the air, each element adds to the narrative and leaves audiences riveted by the ensuing action. However, the aircraft dogfight sequence interweaved in the story, adds an effective blend of combat filmed with top-notch camerawork.

Shot with gorgeous IMAX cinematography and designed with crisp sound, the dogfight sequence frames three Royal Air Force Spitfires flying towards Dunkirk and engaging in combat with an enemy fighter. Ultimately, a trio of pilots, led by a muffled Tom Hardy, do whatever it takes to provide cover for the British army. Arranging the scene to highlight the environment of the sea, as well as the power & precision of each plane, the action in this tremendous fight scene maneuvers with ease and keeps viewers on edge as time is running out for the British troops.

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Dunkirk

Allied soldiers from Belgium, the British Commonwealth and Empire, and France are surrounded by the German Army and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II.

Release Date

July 21, 2017

Cast

Kenneth Branagh
, Aneurin Barnard
, Mark Rylance
, Tom Hardy
, James D’Arcy
, Jack Lowden
, Cillian Murphy
, Harry Styles
, Fionn Whitehead
, Barry Keoghan

4

Hacksaw Ridge Honors Its Protagonist’s Harrowing Journey

Adapting the life of an incredible soldier, Mel Gibson’s 2016 epic biographical war flick Hacksaw Ridge portrays the experiences of Desmond Doss, a pacifist combat medic, and builds toward a grueling final act of carnage & hope. As audiences grow to care about Desmond’s romantic life and military service, thanks in no small part to Andrew Garfield’s performance, the film gradually asserts Desmond’s strong will and determination to help his country during World War II, and by the end of the film, the Battle of Okinawa sequence leaves nothing to the imagination.

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Crafted with brutal violence and unrelenting waves of gunfire, the scene evokes sheer hopelessness but also emphasizes the importance of Desmond’s courage. As many soldiers died during this event on both sides, Desmond’s bravery in returning to the battlefield and saving his wounded comrades resonates with viewers, creating one of the best fight scenes from any war film in recent memory.

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Hacksaw Ridge

Director

Mel Gibson

Release Date

November 4, 2016

Cast

Andrew Garfield
, Sam Worthington
, Luke Bracey
, Teresa Palmer

3

Fury Constructs a Gripping Standoff Between Enemies

David Ayer’s 2014 War feature Fury highlights an American tank crew fighting in Nazi Germany, while also capturing visceral action and great chemistry between the ensemble cast. As audiences become familiar with the M4 Sherman tank a.k.a. the Fury crew, led by a commanding Brad Pitt, the film expresses the brutality of war and aims to highlight the brotherhood between these characters who have all gone through hell with one another.

Starting with a calm atmosphere until immediately placing the characters right into action, the sequence presents a German Tiger I ambush as a hunter stalking its prey. The destruction caused by these tanks, coupled with quick cuts of the crew inside Fury, heighten the combat and anxiety at hand. To top things off, the sounds of exploding tank shells and gunfire make the standoff all the more intense as Fury’s crew gets closer to defeating the enemy.

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In the last months of World War II, as the Allies make their final push in the European theatre, a battle-hardened U.S. Army sergeant named ‘Wardaddy’ commands a Sherman tank called ‘Fury’ and its five-man crew on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Outnumbered and outgunned, Wardaddy and his men face overwhelming odds in their heroic attempts to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany.

Director

David Ayer

Release Date

October 17, 2014

Cast

Brad Pitt
, Shia LaBeouf
, Logan Lerman
, Michael Pena
, Jon Bernthal
, Jim Parrack
, Brad William Henke

2

The Thin Red Line Details an Uphill Battle

Adapted from the novel by James Jones, Terrence Malick’s 1998 epic war flick The Thin Red Line recounts a fictionalized version of the Battle of Mount Austen within The Pacific Theater of World War II, but also offers a philosophical and character-driven account of the war. Highlighted by its sizable and eclectic cast, the film offers audiences multiple viewpoints on the war and builds well-constructed action that never wastes a moment to deliver spectacle or character depth. Moreover, the pacing of each action sequence lights up the screen, especially the field battle for a Japanese bunker.

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Shot with breathtaking cinematography, the hill bunker sequence presents a multitude of technical components and further engages the viewer as the combat rages on. Notable for the lush green scenery and the blending of explosions and smoke, the landscape is exciting to look at, while the use of close-ups and slow motion, coupled with the effective score, help emphasize the American troops’ difficult climb to face the Japanese.

The Thin Red Line

Director

Terrence Malick

Release Date

December 23, 1998

Cast

Jim Caviezel
, Sean Penn
, Nick Nolte
, Kirk Acevedo
, Penelope Allen

Writers

James Jones
, Terrence Malick

Runtime

171 Minutes

1

Saving Private Ryan Recreates D-Day Like No Other Film

Hailed as one of the most engaging pieces of historical fiction, Steven Spielberg’s 1998 epic war feature Saving Private Ryan is among the best depictions of World War II in all of film and displays a haunting piece of action that perfectly portrays the experience of American troops who stormed Omaha Beach back on June 6, 1944. Framed from the viewpoint of Tom Hanks’ Captain John H. Miller and also showcasing various troops attempting to push forward, the sequence relays all the necessary components to an audience on how great action is conducted while maintaining character depth.

At the same time, the sequence’s various camera techniques and general extraordinary technical work fully take the viewer along with the American troops. With its handheld camerawork, a lack of score, steady editing and concise staging of locations, the scene maneuvers like a well-oiled machine, which is why Saving Private Ryan remains

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Following the Normandy Landings, a group of U.S. soldiers go behind enemy lines to retrieve a paratrooper whose brothers have been killed in action.

Director

Steven Spielberg

Release Date

July 24, 1998

Cast

Tom Sizemore
, adam goldberg
, Vin Diesel
, Tom Hanks
, Edward Burns
, Matt Damon