10 Underrated World War II Movies You Most Likely Haven't Seen

Many of the most powerful war movies ever made focused on World War II, although there are plenty of underrated releases that the average viewer likely hasn’t seen. While most people will be familiar with modern classics like Saving Private Ryan or German-language triumphs such as Das Boot, this was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to depictions of this historical conflict. With releases including historically accurate dramas, hilarious comedies, and heartbreaking animated films, WWII cinema was vast and varied.

Although many of the best WWII movies have become entrenched within the public consciousness, there are lots more releases that have been forgotten over the years and deserve appreciation from modern viewers. Even films from all-time great directors like Steven Spielberg and Alfred Hitchcock receive little recognition when compared to their most famous works. The Second World War was a dark period in history, and the unmatched legacy of that conflict has led to many WWII movies that deserve far more credit from mainstream audiences.

10 Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983)

Directed by Nagisa Ōshima

When imagining the film career of glam rock icon David Bowie, you may conjure images of Jareth the Goblin King from Labyrinth or his hilarious cameo in Zoolander, yet hidden among his filmography was a woefully underrated World War II movie. With Bowie as Major Jack Celliers, this thoughtful exploration of allied prisoners of war explored the human side of the conflict as soldiers formed a fraught connection with their Japanese captors.

While the title may hint at a festive feeling, Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence wasn’t exactly a film for the holidays as it delved into complex issues of honor, duty, and captivity. Bowie gave one of his greatest film performances and highlighted his often underappreciated acting talents. As a poetic and complex take on often underrepresented aspects of World War II, if you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.

9 The Enemy Below (1957)

Directed by Dick Powell

The submarine war movie was a fascinating subgenre highlighting intense, high-stakes situations where soldiers at sea had nowhere to run. This was powerfully seen in The Enemy Below, a war movie that condensed the complexities of World War II down to a conflict between one American commanding officer and a German adversary. Starring Robert Mitchum and Curd Jürgens, The Enemy Below showcased how conflict can quickly become personal.

With Mitchum as US destroyer commanding officer and Jürgens leading a German U-boat, The Enemy Below depicted a battle of the wits on the open seas. Through impressive special effects, director Dick Powell brought this thrilling story to life and made it one of the most underappreciated war movies of the 1950s. While a lackluster romantic subplot prevented this film from achieving true greatness, if you’re a World War II movie buff, then The Enemy Below was a must-watch release.

8 They Were Expendable (1945)

Directed by John Ford

While director John Ford made some of the most acclaimed Western movies of all time with the Hollywood legend John Wayne, their World War II They Were Expendable was not nearly as well known as their Wild West features. This was a crying shame, as this was a gritty and realistic look at the hardships of war that paid tribute to the unsung heroes of the Second World War. Released the same year the conflict ended, They Were Expendable was inspired by the PT boat unit defending the Philippines against Japanese invasion during the Battle of the Philippines.

Although They Were Expendable was a fictionalized account of the exploits of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three, it was notable for its historical accuracy and attention to detail. While some war movie enthusiasts may focus on more contemporary releases, this was a powerful account of the Second World War made while it was still at the forefront of the public’s experience. This gave They Were Expendable an authentic feel, as it addressed current history rather than modern war movies' retroactive perspective.

7 Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)

Directed by Richard Fleischer, Toshio Masuda and Kinji Fukasaku

One World War II movie that deserves far more attention is Tora! Tora! Tora!, a highly ambitious release that offered a nuanced and insightful exploration of the attack on Pearl Harbor. With a focus on the events leading up to this major attack, Tora! Tora! Tora! addressed this historical event from the Japanese and American points of view. With three different directors, as well as uncredited work from Akira Kurosawa, this was an international co-production that allowed both sides of the conflict to tell their stories.

As a film favored by aviation enthusiasts, Tora! Tora! Tora! was known for its astounding attention to detail. With Pearl Harbor being a decisive factor in the U.S.’s involvement in WWII, this was a far more layered and complex depiction of this topic than the later Michael Bay movie named after the attack. While Tora! Tora! Tora! won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, it sadly has not endured in the public consciousness in the same way other, more well-known WWII movies have.

6 When Trumpets Fade (1998)

Directed by John Irvin

When Trumpets Fade

Drama

War

TV Movie

Release Date: June 27, 1998
Runtime: 95 minutes

Cast

See All

Ron Eldard
Manning
Zak Orth
Warren
Frank Whaley
Medic Chamberlain
Dylan Bruno
Sgt. Talbot

When discussing the greatest World War II movies, it’s often major cinematic releases that dominate the conversation, which ignores the litany of incredible made-for-TV productions out there. An incredible example of this was When Trumpets Fade, an HBO TV movie that explored the seldom depicted Battle of the Hürtgen Forest. This 1944 battle between American and German forces on the Belgian-German border lasted 88 days and resulted in tens of thousands of casualties on both sides of the conflict.

When Trumpets Fade was an uncompromising and bleak glimpse into the deadly nature of war and the moral compromises soldiers must make just to stay alive. With raw and claustrophobic battle scenes, When Trumpets Fade took viewers right into the heart of the conflict and made for truly harrowing viewing. As a film released in the same year as Saving Private Ryan, the power of this movie was overshadowed by the overwhelming success of Spielberg’s movie.

5 The Train (1964)

Directed by John Frankenheimer

While most World War II movies dealt with the brutality of battle, The Train highlighted a different side of warfare: cultural preservation. In times of great conflict, important works of art tend to go missing, and this was exactly the premise of John Frankenheimer’s underrated war movie The Train. Featuring French Resistance fighters trying to stop a Nazi-plundered train filled with priceless artwork from leaving France, The Train gave unique insight into the importance of protecting culture in the midst of conflict.

The Train was inspired by real events and featured an astounding leading performance from Burt Lancaster as Paul Labiche, who, despite initial resistance, realized the innate value of the paintings. With stunning black-and-white visuals and impressive technical effects, The Train used genuine locomotives and did not rely on miniatures for its astounding train sequences. While The Train was a critical and commercial success back in the 1960s, it’s a real shame it rarely gets the credit it deserves from contemporary viewers.

4 Grave Of The Fireflies (1988)

Directed by Isao Takahata

Most people won’t think about animated movies when considering the greatest World War II movies ever made; however, that would discount Grave of the Fireflies from the conversation. As a Studio Ghibli film from Japanese director Isao Takahata, this WWII movie was a far cry away from the fantastical nature of iconic releases like Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle. Instead, Grave of the Fireflies was rooted in harrowing realism, as it showcased the dire effects of World War II on the world’s most vulnerable citizens: children.

Telling the story of war-orphaned siblings trying to survive during the closing months of the Pacific War, Grave of the Fireflies did not shy away from the darkest aspects of this brutal conflict. Featuring the death of its four-year-old protagonist surrounded by malnourished survivors, Grave of the Fireflies was about as bleak as it can get. This innate darkness may be the reason that Grave of the Fireflies isn’t as well known as other Studio Ghibli films, but that does not mean it was any less powerful.

3 Lifeboat (1944)

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

While Alfred Hitchcock was responsible for some of the most iconic movies ever made, with over 50 films, it’s not surprising that some were better known than others. Among Hitchcock’s most underrated movies was Lifeboat, a World War II survival movie set entirely on a lifeboat launched from a freighter torpedoed and sunk by a Nazi U-boat. Featuring both Allied and German survivors, Lifeboat offered a unique perspective on the war and those caught in the middle of it.

While Lifeboat was criticized at the time for its sympathetic portrayal of a German U-boat captain, the empathy at the heart of its story was part of why it endured so well. With a creative premise, Lifeboat was forerunning to Hitchcock’s later limited-setting movies like Rope, Dial M for Murder, and Rear Window. With memorable characters whose internal bickering acts as an appropriate metaphor for war in general, Lifeboat was a hidden gem in Hitchcock’s all-time great filmography.

2 1941 (1979)

Directed by Steven Spielberg

While Steven Spielberg’s best-known movies, like Jaws, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Jurassic Park, have gained an almost unmatched position in popular culture, and his war movies, such as Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan, stand as all-time great releases, his WWII comedy 1941 gets overlooked. This star-studded release featured iconic comedians like Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, and John Candy and deserves to be much better known.

The reason that 1941 rarely gets mentioned is because it received poor reviews at the time of its release and was considered a poor follow-up to Close Encounters of the Third Kind. However, in the years since, 1941 has been reappraised by many and stood as one of Spielberg’s wildest and most out-of-character films. As an anomaly in Spielberg’s filmography, those who haven’t seen it should go back and check out 1941 to see a different side of the famed director.

1 Come And See (1985)

Directed by Elem Klimov

While film enthusiasts will be well aware of Elem Kilmov’s Soviet masterpiece Come and See, it’s still shockingly underrated among general viewers. As one of the most emotionally draining movies ever made, this intense depiction of the Nazi occupation of Byelorussia highlighted this dark historical period from the perspective of a teenager named Flyora. As Come and See showcased this young boy witnessing unspeakable acts being forced to reckon with the brutal inhumanity of conflict, it’s impossible not to be moved by the movie's powerful anti-war message.

Watching as Flyora joined the resistance movement and progressed ever further into the depths of the worst aspects of mankind, Come and See was an emotional rollercoaster that will stick with you well after the credits have rolled. With a mix of surrealism and hyperreal imagery, the sheer cruelty on display was almost too much to take. While the existential nightmare of Come and See may be too hard for sensitive viewers to bear, it was a prime example of why warfare should always be avoided at all costs.

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