If you loved the gripping war drama Hacksaw Ridge, then you’re probably craving more powerful and inspiring movies just like it. Hacksaw Ridge told the incredible true story of Desmond Doss, a World War II army medic who refused to carry a weapon due to his religious beliefs, yet still saved 75 men during the bloody Battle of Okinawa. The film was a critical and commercial success, earning 6 Oscar nominations including Best Picture and Best Actor for Andrew Garfield’s portrayal of Doss.
So what should you watch next if you’re looking for a similar cinematic experience? Here are the 18 best movies like Hacksaw Ridge, ranging from classic war epics to more recent historical dramas. Each of these films shares common themes with Hacksaw Ridge, such as courage under fire, unbreakable human spirit, and the horrors and heroism of war. Get ready for an emotional journey through some of the most powerful war movies ever made.
1. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Kicking off our list is Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan, which set a new standard for realistic and harrowing depictions of war on film. The plot follows a group of U.S. soldiers during World War II who are sent on a mission to find and bring home Private James Ryan (Matt Damon) after his three brothers are killed in combat.
Leading the mission is Captain John Miller, played brilliantly by Tom Hanks. As they search for Ryan, the men face the brutal realities of war, culminating in an intense battle to defend a strategically important bridge. With its groundbreaking opening D-Day sequence and sobering exploration of sacrifice and heroism, Saving Private Ryan is a must-watch for any fan of Hacksaw Ridge or war movies in general.
2. 1917 (2019)
Directed by Sam Mendes, 1917 is an immersive World War I epic that unfolds as one continuous shot. The story follows two young British soldiers, Lance Corporals Schofield (George MacKay) and Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman), who are given the seemingly impossible mission of delivering a message deep within enemy territory. The message would stop 1,600 men, including Blake’s own brother, from walking into a deadly ambush.
As they race against time, the two soldiers must navigate the dangerous trenches and battlefields of the Western Front. 1917 is a technical marvel, using long takes and clever editing to create the illusion of one unbroken shot. But it’s also an emotionally gripping tale of heroism and the human cost of war, making it a perfect companion piece to Hacksaw Ridge.
3. The Thin Red Line (1998)
Terrence Malick’s philosophical war epic The Thin Red Line was released the same year as Saving Private Ryan, but offers a very different take on World War II. Based on the novel by James Jones, the film follows the men of C Company as they battle for control of the strategically important island of Guadalcanal.
With an all-star ensemble cast that includes Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, Jim Caviezel, and Nick Nolte, The Thin Red Line is less focused on action and more on the inner lives of its characters as they grapple with the existential questions raised by war. Malick’s poetic, introspective approach may not be for everyone, but for those who appreciate a more thoughtful and meditative war movie, The Thin Red Line is a must-see.
4. Dunkirk (2017)
Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk tells the harrowing true story of the evacuation of Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk, France during the early stages of World War II. Told from three perspectives – land, sea, and air – the film follows various characters as they struggle to survive the German onslaught and escape across the English Channel.
With its ticking-clock structure, minimal dialogue, and immersive visuals and sound design, Dunkirk is a unique and intense cinematic experience. Like Hacksaw Ridge, it drops the viewer into the chaos and terror of war, but focuses more on the larger scope of the evacuation rather than individual heroics. Still, it’s a gripping and emotionally powerful film that showcases the resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming odds.
5. Fury (2014)
Set in the final months of World War II, David Ayer’s Fury follows a battle-hardened tank crew led by Staff Sergeant Don “Wardaddy” Collier (Brad Pitt) as they push into Nazi Germany. Tasked with a dangerous mission behind enemy lines, the crew must confront the horrors of war while also dealing with a rookie soldier (Logan Lerman) who has been assigned to their unit.
Fury is a gritty, unflinching look at the brutality of tank warfare and the psychological toll it takes on the men who fight it. With intense, claustrophobic battle scenes and strong performances from its cast (which also includes Shia LaBeouf and Michael Peña), Fury is a powerful and uncompromising war movie that shares Hacksaw Ridge’s commitment to realism and emotional impact.
6. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
Clint Eastwood’s Letters from Iwo Jima is a companion piece to his earlier film Flags of Our Fathers, but tells the story of the Battle of Iwo Jima from the perspective of the Japanese soldiers who defended the island. The film follows several characters, including a young baker who has been conscripted into the army and a general who knows the battle is unwinnable but is determined to fight to the last man.
Through their eyes, we see the horrors and futility of war, as well as the sense of duty and honor that drives the Japanese soldiers to fight to the bitter end. With its humanizing portrayal of the “enemy” and its themes of sacrifice and the cost of war, Letters from Iwo Jima is a powerful and poignant film that serves as a fitting counterpoint to Hacksaw Ridge’s American perspective.
7. The Pianist (2002)
Roman Polanski’s The Pianist tells the true story of Władysław Szpilman (Adrien Brody), a Jewish pianist in Warsaw who survives the Holocaust by hiding in the ruins of the city. As the Nazis tighten their grip on Poland, Szpilman and his family are forced into the Warsaw Ghetto, where they face starvation, disease, and constant threat of deportation to the concentration camps.
Through luck, determination, and the kindness of strangers, Szpilman manages to evade capture and survive the war, even as he witnesses the horrors inflicted upon his fellow Jews. With its harrowing depiction of life under Nazi occupation and Brody’s Oscar-winning performance, The Pianist is a powerful and unforgettable film that, like Hacksaw Ridge, celebrates the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.
8. The Imitation Game (2014)
The Imitation Game tells the true story of Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), the brilliant British mathematician and cryptanalyst who helped crack the German Enigma code during World War II. Working with a team of fellow codebreakers at Bletchley Park, Turing develops a machine that can decipher the seemingly unbreakable code, potentially saving millions of lives and shortening the war by years.
But Turing is also hiding a secret – he is gay, which is illegal in Britain at the time. As he races to crack the code and win the war, Turing must also navigate the prejudices and persecution of a society that refuses to accept him for who he is. With its themes of heroism, sacrifice, and the cost of secrets, The Imitation Game is a gripping and emotionally powerful film that, like Hacksaw Ridge, celebrates the unsung heroes of war.
9. Unbroken (2014)
Directed by Angelina Jolie, Unbroken tells the incredible true story of Louis Zamperini (Jack O’Connell), an Olympic runner turned World War II bombardier who survives a plane crash in the Pacific, only to be captured by the Japanese and sent to a series of brutal POW camps.
Through sheer force of will and an unbreakable spirit, Zamperini endures unimaginable torture and hardship, refusing to be broken by his captors. Like Desmond Doss in Hacksaw Ridge, Zamperini’s story is one of extraordinary resilience and courage in the face of overwhelming odds. With its harrowing depiction of life in the camps and O’Connell’s powerful performance, Unbroken is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and a fitting companion piece to Hacksaw Ridge.
10. Lone Survivor (2013)
Based on the non-fiction book by Marcus Luttrell, Lone Survivor tells the story of Operation Red Wings, a failed 2005 mission in which four U.S. Navy SEALs were tasked with capturing or killing a notorious Taliban leader in the mountains of Afghanistan. When the mission goes awry and the SEALs are ambushed by enemy forces, they must fight for their lives against overwhelming odds.
Directed by Peter Berg and starring Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, and Ben Foster, Lone Survivor is a brutal and unflinching look at the realities of modern warfare. Like Hacksaw Ridge, it depicts the bond between soldiers and the sacrifices they make for each other and their country. While its politics may be more controversial than Hacksaw Ridge’s, Lone Survivor is still a powerful and visceral war movie that is sure to leave an impact.
11. Black Hawk Down (2001)
Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down tells the true story of the Battle of Mogadishu, a 1993 U.S. military operation in Somalia that went horribly wrong. When a mission to capture a warlord’s top lieutenants turns into a full-scale battle, a group of elite U.S. soldiers must fight their way out of the city against overwhelming odds.
With its intense, chaotic battle scenes and its exploration of the fog of war, Black Hawk Down is a visceral and uncompromising look at modern warfare. Like Hacksaw Ridge, it depicts the bravery and sacrifice of soldiers in the face of impossible odds, and the toll that war takes on those who fight it. While its politics and depiction of the Somali people have been criticized, Black Hawk Down remains a powerful and influential war movie that is sure to leave an impression.
12. American Sniper (2014)
Directed by Clint Eastwood, American Sniper tells the true story of Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper), a U.S. Navy SEAL who becomes the most lethal sniper in American military history. As Kyle serves four tours of duty in Iraq, he struggles to reconcile his duties as a soldier with his responsibilities as a husband and father back home.
Like Hacksaw Ridge, American Sniper explores the psychological toll of war and the sacrifices that soldiers make for their country. While its portrayal of the Iraq War and its politics have been controversial, there’s no denying the power of Cooper’s performance or the film’s visceral depiction of combat. For fans of Hacksaw Ridge looking for another modern war movie based on a true story, American Sniper is definitely worth checking out.
13. The Hurt Locker (2008)
Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker follows a team of elite Army bomb disposal experts as they navigate the dangerous streets of Baghdad during the Iraq War. When a new sergeant (Jeremy Renner) takes over the team, his reckless approach puts him at odds with his fellow soldiers as they face the constant threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Like Hacksaw Ridge, The Hurt Locker is a tense and gripping look at the realities of modern warfare, with a focus on the psychological toll it takes on those who fight it. Renner’s performance as the adrenaline-junkie sergeant is a standout, and Bigelow’s direction keeps the tension high throughout. While it may not have the same epic scope as Hacksaw Ridge, The Hurt Locker is still a powerful and thought-provoking war movie that is not to be missed.
14. Apocalypse Now (1979)
Francis Ford Coppola’s epic war movie Apocalypse Now transposes Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness to the Vietnam War, following a U.S. Army captain (Martin Sheen) as he journeys upriver to assassinate a renegade colonel (Marlon Brando) who has gone mad with power.
Along the way, the captain encounters the surreal horrors of war, from a gung-ho Air Cavalry colonel (Robert Duvall) who loves the smell of napalm in the morning to a USO show that descends into chaos. With its hallucinatory visuals, haunting soundtrack, and exploration of the dark side of human nature, Apocalypse Now is a one-of-a-kind war movie that, like Hacksaw Ridge, pushes the boundaries of what the genre can do.
15. Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket follows a platoon of U.S. Marines through boot camp and the Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War. The first half of the film takes place at Parris Island, where a drill instructor (R. Lee Ermey) pushes his recruits to their breaking point, with tragic consequences. The second half follows one of those recruits (Matthew Modine) as he covers the war as a combat correspondent and confronts the dehumanizing effects of combat.
With its unflinching depiction of the brutality of war and its exploration of the psychological toll it takes on those who fight it, Full Metal Jacket is a classic of the war movie genre. Like Hacksaw Ridge, it doesn’t shy away from the horrors of combat, but it also finds moments of dark humor and surreal beauty amidst the chaos.
16. Platoon (1986)
Oliver Stone’s Platoon is a semi-autobiographical account of his experiences as a U.S. Army infantryman during the Vietnam War. The film follows Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen), a young soldier who becomes caught between two sergeants with very different leadership styles: the ruthless and cynical Barnes (Tom Berenger) and the more compassionate and idealistic Elias (Willem Dafoe).
As Taylor experiences the horrors of war firsthand, he must navigate the moral complexities of the conflict and decide what kind of soldier he wants to be. With its realistic depiction of combat and its exploration of the psychological toll of war, Platoon is a powerful and influential war movie that, like Hacksaw Ridge, doesn’t shy away from the ugliness of battle.
17. We Were Soldiers (2002)
Based on the non-fiction book “We Were Soldiers Once… and Young” by Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore and journalist Joseph L. Galloway, We Were Soldiers tells the story of the Battle of Ia Drang, one of the first major engagements between U.S. and North Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam War.
Mel Gibson stars as Lt. Col. Hal Moore, who leads his men into a bloody battle against a much larger enemy force. As the fighting rages on, Moore and his soldiers must confront the horrors of war and the limits of their own courage and endurance. With its intense battle scenes and its exploration of the bond between soldiers, We Were Soldiers is a fitting companion piece to Hacksaw Ridge.
18. Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
Directed by Clint Eastwood, Flags of Our Fathers tells the story of the six men who raised the American flag on Iwo Jima during World War II, an event captured in the iconic photograph that became a symbol of the war effort. The film follows the surviving flag-raisers as they are sent on a publicity tour to sell war bonds, even as they struggle with the trauma of their experiences on the battlefield.
Like Hacksaw Ridge, Flags of Our Fathers explores the gap between the public perception of heroism and the reality of war, and the toll that combat takes on those who fight it. With its non-linear structure and its meditations on memory and myth-making, Flags of Our Fathers is a complex and thought-provoking war movie that rewards repeat viewings.
Conclusion
From classic Vietnam War movies like Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket to more recent films like Dunkirk and 1917, there are plenty of great war movies out there for fans of Hacksaw Ridge to explore. Whether you’re looking for intense battle scenes, psychological drama, or true stories of heroism and sacrifice, these 18 films offer something for everyone.
What makes Hacksaw Ridge and these other films so powerful is their ability to humanize the soldiers who fight and die in wars, and to show the incredible sacrifices they make for their country and their fellow soldiers. By putting a human face on the abstract concept of war, these movies help us to better understand and appreciate the bravery and resilience of those who serve.
So if you’re a fan of Hacksaw Ridge and you’re looking for more movies that explore similar themes and ideas, give some of these films a watch. You may just discover a new favorite war movie in the process.
