The sight of a soldier carrying his own severed arm is one of the many horrific images of “Saving Private Ryan,” which 20 years ago earned instant acclaim for its unflinching depiction of the brutality of D-Day. But it’s far from the only movie to show the horrors of war. Here are some of the most brutal war movies ever made (obviously, be prepared for violent imagery below).
“Fury” (2014): This David Ayer WWII film starts with bits of brain being cleaned from the inside of a M4 Sherman tank, and continues to get uglier from there as a tank unit led by Staff Sgt. Don “Wardaddy” Collier (Brad Pitt) begins its final charge into Nazi Germany in 1945.
“Full Metal Jacket” (1987): While Stanley Kubrick’s Vietnam film is more known for its first half at boot camp, the second half shows a grisly battle as Private Joker (Matthew Modine) watches as his crew is slain by a hidden sniper. But the big shock comes when Joker discovers who the sniper is.
“Letters From Iwo Jima” (2005): Released alongside “Flags of Our Fathers,” Clint Eastwood explores the Battle of Iwo Jima from the side of the Japanese. The most horrifying scene comes when several soldiers, humiliated by their failure, commit suicide by grenade.
“Grave of the Fireflies” (1988): Though Studio Ghibli director Isao Takahata meant for this film to be about respecting one’s elders, “Grave of the Fireflies” found critical acclaim in America as a heartbreaking look at the human price of the U.S.’ bombing of Japan at the end of WWII.
“We Were Soldiers” (2002): If there’s anyone who isn’t afraid to ratchet up the gore in a war movie, it’s Mel Gibson. In 2002, he presented his take on Vietnam through the Battle of Ia Drang, focusing on both American forces and the Vietcong.
“Hacksaw Ridge” (2016): Fourteen years later, Gibson earned an Oscar nomination for telling the story of pacifist WWII medic Desmond Doss. To draw more attention to Doss’ policy of non-violence, Gibson sends blood and viscera flying as the character played by Andrew Garfield tends to the most grievously injured.
“Braveheart” (1995): And of course, we can’t talk about Gibson and war movies without talking about William Wallace. With a sword instead of a rifle, Gibson became a ’90s icon with his portrayal the famous 13th century war for Scotland as his blue-painted face quickly turned red.
“Stalingrad” (1993): Freezing cold temperatures? Generals ordering soldiers to kill civilians? Starving men driven to madness and suicide? It’s all here in Joseph Vilsmaier’s film about German soldiers sent to fight in the Battle of Stalingrad.
“Glory” (1989): While the film has been the subject of vigorous debate for having a white lead in a movie about black Civil War soldiers, “Glory” has earned praise for showing the horrors of Antietam and other battles, which in part come from 18th century tactics being used in an era of 19th century weapons.
“Black Hawk Down” (2001): Ridley Scott’s war film released three months after 9/11 has been criticized by many experts who argue that it’s a film that glorifies the American military under the guise of antiwar aesthetics.
“Beasts of No Nation” (2015): It’s bad enough when men are sent to war. But what about children? “Beasts of No Nation,” one of Netflix’s first major film releases, follows a West African boy who is forced to become a child soldier under the leadership of a bloodthirsty, raping commandant played by Idris Elba.
Apocalypse Now (1979): Considered by many to be THE Vietnam War Film. Bringing Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” into the 20th century, Francis Coppola shows the dehumanizing power of war.
“City of Life and Death” (2009): This is the “Schindler’s List” of China, recounting the 1937 Rape of Nanking in which Japanese forces performed mass executions of Chinese POWs and civilians during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
“Downfall” (2004): Though it is known on the internet for spawning the “Hitler Reacts” meme, “Downfall” is a punishing look at the final days of the Nazi regime and the anticlimactic, unceremonious demise of history’s most infamous tyrant.
“Lone Survivor” (2013): There’s no cavalry coming to the rescue in Peter Berg’s recounting of the failed Navy SEAL hunt for Taliban leader Ahmad Shah.
“The Hurt Locker” (2009): Though some military chafed at Jeremy Renner’s performance as a soldier who flippantly defies orders, “The Hurt Locker” won Best Picture at the Oscars thanks in part to a harrowing scene of an Iraqi man who has a suicide bomb strapped to him against his will.
“Hamburger Hill” (1987): Eschewing the stylizations of films like “Apocalypse Now” or a larger context like “Full Metal Jacket” “Hamburger Hill” instead tells a straightforward — but no less violent — tale of an American assault on a well-fortified Vietcong unit.
“71: Into the Fire” (2010): During the Korean War, the South Korean side often pulled inexperienced students into their ranks. “71” tells the tale of a few dozen of those students, who were killed defending an important outpost from advancing North Korean forces.
“Come and See” (1985): Of all the films on this list, the Soviet-made “Come and See” may be the most disturbing. Set in Nazi-occupied Belarus, the film follows a teen who joins his country’s resistance and soon bears witness to a long stream of war atrocities.
