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With the Fourth of July fast approaching, it’s time to kick back and enjoy some of these films about freedom, duty, and undying love for one’s country. Grab a cold brewski and fire up the grill as you travel down memory lane with these exciting and inspiring classics — as well as some newer films — that are sure to make you proud of the red, white, and blue.
Set during the D-Day invasion of Normandy in WWII, “Saving Private Ryan” is arguably one of the most popular war epics that dads everywhere are seemingly always talking about. Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring well-known actors such as Tom Hanks, Edward Burns, and Matt Damon, the film takes you on a rollercoaster ride as Captain Miller (Hanks) leads a group of 175,000 American soldiers and allied service men in liberating France, defeating the Nazis, and rescuing Private James Ryan (Damon).
Based on the 1999 non-fiction book titled “Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War,” this action-packed film documents the efforts of the Unified Task Force in capturing Somali faction leader Mohamed Farrah Aidid in 1993. It also delves into the resulting battle in Mogadishu between American troops and Aidid's militia — the latter had proclaimed himself as President of Somalia after overthrowing and exiling then-President Siad Barre. The movie won two Oscars.
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Nominated for a whopping 11 Oscars, the film is widely considered to be one of the most successful political dramas of its time. Viewed as one of the most acclaimed films by Italian-American director Frank Capra, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” zeroed in on corruption and injustices taking place in Washington in the 1930s. Dubbed the “quintessential whistleblower film” by Parade, the movie was seen as a threat by powerful people at the time and was banned from being played in theaters across Germany, Italy, the USSR, and France.
Set in an alternate reality where the United States has been invaded by Axis powers and NATO has been disbanded, this action film is about a group of teenagers trying to save their small Colorado town from an invasion of Soviet troops. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film was a box-office success — grossing over $38 million against the $17 million budget. A remake of the film starring Chris Hemsworth and Josh Peck was also released in 2012.
Selected by the United States National Film Registry (NFR) as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant,” this war epic follows the experience of U.S. Army volunteer Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen) after he is assigned to the 25th Infantry Division near the Cambodian border during the Vietnam war. The film, based on director Oliver Stone’s own experiences serving in Vietnam, is part of a trilogy of Vietnam war films directed and produced by Stone. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards — including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Sound, and Best Film Editing.
The second film in Oliver Stone’s trilogy of war epics, this biographical drama starring Tom Cruise is based on the life of Ron Kovic — an Army veteran who was injured and paralyzed during active combat in Vietnam. Upon returning home to New York, Kovic becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country for which he fought and nearly died for. The film was also well widely acclaimed by critics, receiving eight Oscar nominations including nods for Best Picture and Best Actor for Cruise (his first nomination) — and earning Stone his second Oscar win as Best Director.
The third and last movie in Oliver Stone’s war trilogy, this drama underscores the devastating effects of war-torn countries and tells the story of a Vietnamese woman after she is captured, tortured, and assaulted by communist insurgents. Although the film received mixed reviews and performed poorly at the box office, it was regarded by some critics as a powerful story about war and the will to fight for one’s freedom.
This beloved romantic-comedy about a widowed U.S. President running for re-election and an environmental lobbyist falling in love features a star-studded cast including Michael Douglas, Annette Benning, Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox and Richard Dreyfuss. In addition to being a huge box office success, grossing over $107.9 million against a budget of $62 million, the film was also nominated for several awards, including a Golden Globe for Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor in a musical/comedy for Douglas, and Best Actress in a musical/comedy for Benning.
Based on the true story of Herb Brooks — a hockey player-turned-coach — who led the 1980 U.S. Olympic team to victory over the then-undefeated Soviet squad. The story behind the team’s dedication and perseverance has transcended its status as a simple sports movie and cemented it as an inspiring film about never giving up in the face of adversity.
This historical war drama follows Col. Robert Gould Shaw (Matthew Broderick) after he is offered command of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry — the U.S. army’s first all-African-American regiment. Though the squadron is first limited to performing menial manual tasks, it is soon placed in the heat of battle and highlights elements of racial injustice within the U.S. military system.
This Gulf War epic marked the second collaboration between Denzel Washington and director Edward Zwick following the success of Glory. The film received a positive rating of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, with Washington’s performance as a guilt-ridden, haunted U.S. Army officer receiving particular praise.
Hailed as the “best 4th of July movie of all time” by Bustle, this comedy-drama is an all-time classic and favorite of many. The film’s depiction of American history through the eyes of Gump has been viewed by some critics as the ultimate representation of patriotism, perseverance, and having empathy for others. The film earned Tom Hanks his second Oscar win.
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This action-packed film is based on the true story of United Airlines Flight 93 passengers who are believed to have fought off hijackers on September 11, 2011. The nail-bitter drama offers a unique glimpse into the psyche and courage of the passengers, and has been commended by critics as a tribute to American heroism. Director Paul Greengrass was nominated for an Oscar.
One of the most successful films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Captain America: The First Avenger,” tells the story of a sickly-recruit-turned-supersoldier played by Chris Evans. The film follows World War II army vet Steve Rogers (Evans) in 1941 after he is initially rejected by the U.S. army due to his small stature and various ailments. Determined to fulfill his patriotic duty however, Steve undergoes an experimental treatment that turns him into a supersoldier with incredible strength and agility as he embarks on a mission to defeat the Nazis.
Directed by actor Mel Gibson after several years out of the spotlight, the film brings to life the true story of WWII veteran Desmond Doss — an American pacifist combat medic and Seventh-day Adventist who refused to carry or use any weapons or firearms of any kind to defend himself. The film received six Oscar nominations, including a first-time nomination for lead actor Andrew Garfield.
Adapted from a 1969 Broadway musical of the same name, this film tells the story of our nations’ founding fathers as they attempted to harmonize their way through the establishment of new laws amid America’s attempt to emancipate from British rule. Set in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776, the film is a fictionalized account of the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
This epic adventure film starring Will Smith and Bill Pullman incorporates elements of action, science fiction, and comedy. The events in the movie take place during the independence day celebrations of July 1996 when a massive extraterrestrial spaceship enters Earth’s orbit and deploys multiple saucers across major cities in Los Angeles, New York, and Washington D.C. The film was a huge box office success, grossing over $817.4 million worldwide and becoming the highest-earning film of that year.
Set in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil immediately following the aftermath of World War II, this nail-biting thriller by acclaimed director Alfred Hitchcock has been praised by critics as one of the most “proudly patriotic movies from the Golden Age of Hollywood.” The film, categorized as a noir spy movie, follows Alicia Huberman (Ingrid Bergman), the daughter of an infamous Nazi officer, who is recruited by American spy T.R. Devlin (Cary Grant) to help infiltrate and dismantle a ring of German conspirators.
This irreverent black comedy has gained a cult following since its release over 50 years ago. Centered around the hilarious antics of a group of medics stationed at a mobile army surgical unit during the Korean War, the film became a box-office phenomenon, grossing over $81.6 million worldwide against a budget of just over $3 million. The film also inspired the famous television series of the same name, which ran from 1972 to 1983, and was ranked as the “eighth-greatest TV show ever made” by TV Guide.
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This epic war drama produced by acclaimed Hollywood executive Darryl F. Zanuck depicts the D-Day landings that took place during the battle of Normandy in WWII. “The Longest Day” was shot in the style of a black-and-white docudrama, and starred an international cast including John Wayne, Richard Burton, and Sean Connery in his last screen appearance before being cast as James Bond. The film was nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture, and won two.
Despite receiving mostly negative reviews from critics, this sports drama film became the most financially successful of the franchise — grossing over $127.8 million in the United States and Canada, and an additional $300 million worldwide. Patriots of all ages have gotten a thrill watching Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) defeat “Russian machine” Ivan Drago (played by Dolph Lundgren).
This historical war epic starring Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger takes place during America’s Revolutionary War and follows the story of Captain Benjamin Martin (Gibson) and his adult son (Ledger) as they get swept up in a conflict with British officers in rural South Carolina. Although the film received mixed reviews from critics and performed modestly at the box office, Gibson’s performance as Martin was singled out for praise, with The New York Times calling Gibson “an astonishing actor,” for his "on-screen comfort and expansiveness.”
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