The Top 100 Best WWII Films and Series

Richard WessJune 23, 2022
Scene from The Cranes Are Flying (Soviet WWII movies)

Here’s Russian Film Hub’s definitive list of the 100 best movies and TV shows about the Second World War. Naturally, such a ranking is a subjective undertaking. Nevertheless, I hope that this ranking gives a truly global perspective on this important subgenre. We’ve endeavored to take as holistic an approach as possible to the rich tapestry of world cinema that captures the terrible horror and historical epicness of WWII. You’ll find our list includes not only the favorite Western classics, but also an exciting cross section of war films from across Europe and Asia. Enjoy!

  1. Come and See (Idi i smotri) [Иди и смотри] (1985) – Soviet Union
  2. Das Boot (1981) – Germany
  3. The Cranes are Flying (Letyat zhuravli) [Летят журавли] (1957) – Soviet Union
  4. Casablanca (1942) – USA
  5. Schindler’s List (1993) – USA
  6. The Pacific (2010) – USA [10-part TV Mini-series]
  7. Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no haka) (1988) – Japan
  8. The Pianist (2002) – France-Poland-Germany-UK
  9. Band of Brothers (2001) – USA [10-part TV Mini-series]
  10. A Matter of Life and Death (1946) – UK
  11. Generation War (Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter) (2013) – Germany [3-part TV Mini-series]
  12. Went the Day Well (1942) – UK
  13. The Thin Red Line (1998) – USA
  14. Rome, Open City (Roma, città aperta) (1945) – Italy
  15. Letters From Iwo Jima (Iōjima kara no tegami) (2006) – USA
  16. Ice Cold in Alex (1958) – UK
  17. Unknown Soldier (Tuntematon sotilas) (2018) (Continuation War) – Finland [5-part TV Mini-series]
  18. Unknown Soldier (Tuntematon sotilas) (2017) (Continuation War) – Finland
  19. Saving Private Ryan (1998) – USA
  20. Caterpillar (Kyatapirâ) (2010) – Japan
  21. Ballad of a Soldier (Ballada o soldate) [Баллада о Солдате] (1959) – Soviet Union
  22. Closely Watching Train (Ostre sledované vlaky) (1966) – Czechoslovakia
  23. Canal aka The Loved Life aka Kanal (Kanaly) (1956) – Poland
  24. The Train (1964) – France-Italy-USA
  25. Black Book (Zwartboek) (2006) – The Netherlands-Germany-UK-Belgium
  26. Ivan’s Childhood (Ivano detstvo) [Ивано детство] (1962) – Soviet Union
  27. From Here to Eternety (1953) – USA
  28. Life is Beautiful (La vita è bella) (1997) – Italy
  29. Downfall (Der Untergang) (2014) – Germany-Austria-Italy
  30. The Big Red One (1980) – USA
  31. The Grey Zone (2001) – USA
  32. The Burmese Harp (Biruma no tategoto) (1956) – Japan
  33. The Army of Shadows (L’armée des ombres) (1969) – France-Italy
  34. Lore (2012) – Australia-UK-Sweden
  35. The Night of the Shooting Stars (La notte di San Lorenzo) (1982) – Italy
  36. A Walk in the Sun a.k.a. Salerno Beachhead (1945) – USA
  37. The Ascent (Voskhozhdeniye) [Восхождение] (1977) – Soviet Union
  38. Fortress of War aka The Brest Fortress (Brestskaya krepost) [Брестская крепость] (2010) – Russia
  39. Stalingrad (1993) – Germany
  40. Sophie’s Choice (1982) – USA-UK
  41. Son of Saul (Saul fia) (2015) – Hungary
  42. The Painted Bird (Nabarvené ptáče) (2019) – Czech Republic-Ukraine-Slovakia
  43. Cross of Iron (1977) – UK-West Germany
  44. Only Old Men are Going to Battle (V boy idut odni ‘stariki’) [В бой идут одни “старики”] (1974) – Soviet Union
  45. The Bridge (Die Brücke) (1959) – Germany
  46. Bent (1997) – UK-Japan
  47. 1900 (Novecento) (1976) – Italy-France-Germany [2-part mini-series]
  48. Hangmen Also Die! (1943) – USA
  49. Hot Snow (Goryachiy sneg) [Горячий снег] (1972) – Soviet Union
  50. Attack! (1956) – USA
  51. Germany, Pale Mother (Deutschland bleiche Mutter) (1980) – West Germany
  52. Empire of the Sun (1987) – USA
  53. The Dam Busters (1954) – UK
  54. Phoenix (2014) – Germany-Poland
  55. Battle of Britain (1969) – UK
  56. A Man Escaped (Un condamné à mort s’est échappé ou Le) (1956) – France
  57. Burnt by the Sun (Utomlyonnye solntsem) [Утомленные солнцем] (1994) – Russia-France
  58. Destiny of Man a.k.a. Fate of Man (Sudba cheloveka) [Судьба человека] – Soviet Union
  59. Fires on the Plain (Nobi) (1959) – Japan
  60. Hacksaw Ridge (2016) – USA-Australia
  61. Goodbye Children (Au revoir les enfants) (1987) – France-Germany-Italy
  62. IP Man (Yip Man) (2008) – China-Hong Kong
  63. The Human Condition I – III (Ningen no jôken) (1959-1961) – Japan [Three films]
  64. Trial on the Road (Proverka na dorogakh) [Проверка на дорогакх] (1971) – Soviet Union
  65. Flame & Citron (Flammen & Citronen) (2008) – Denmark-Germany-Norway-France-Sweden-Finland-Czech Republic
  66. City of Life and Death (Nanjing! Nanjing!) (2009) – China-Hong Kong
  67. The Longest Day (1962) – USA
  68. At War as at War aka In War as in War (Na voyne, kak na voyne) [На войне как на войне] (1968) – Soviet Union
  69. Katyn (Katyń) (2007) – Poland
  70. Winter in Wartime (Oorlogswinter) (2008) – Netherlands-Belgium
  71. A Bridge Too Far (1977) – USA
  72. 1944 (2015) – Estonia-Finland
  73. In Darkness (2011) – Poland-Germany-Canada
  74. My Way (Mai wei) (2011) – South Korea
  75. The Cruel Sea (1953) – UK
  76. Peace to Him Who Enters (Mir vkhodyashchemu) [Мир входящему] (1961) – Soviet Union
  77. Sarah’s Key (Elle s’appelait Sarah) (2010) – France
  78. A Woman in Berlin (Anonyma – Eine Frau in Berlin) (2008) – Germany-Poland
  79. Lust, Caution (Se, jie) (2007) – China-Taiwan-USA
  80. Ashes and Diamonds (Popiól i diament) (1958) – Poland
  81. The Alive and the Dead (Zhivye i myortvye) [Живые и Мертвые] (1963) – Soviet Union
  82. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) – USA
  83. Father of a Soldier (Jariskatsis mama) [Отец солдата] (1965) – Soviet Union (Georgia)
  84. Nobody Wanted to Die (Niekas nenorejo mirti) [Никто не хотел умирать] (1965) – Soviet Union
  85. Cefalonia (2005) – Italy (TV Movie)
  86. Sophie Scholl: The Final Days (Sophie Scholl – Die letzten Tage) (2005) – Germany
  87. Game (2014) – UK-USA
  88. Before the Fall (Napola – Elite für den Führer) (2004) – Germany
  89. The Great Escape (1963) – USA
  90. Red Sorghum (Hong gao liang) (1988) – China
  91. Patton (1970) – USA
  92. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) – UK-USA
  93. The Way Ahead (1944) – UK
  94. Sands of Iwo Jima (1949) – USA
  95. Run Silent, Run Deep (1958) – USA
  96. Warsaw ‘44 (Miasto 44) (2014) – Poland
  97. Twelve O’Clock High (1949) – USA
  98. Bicycle Thieves (1948) – Italy
  99. The Dirty Dozen (1967) – UK-USA
  100. Twenty Days Without War (Dvadtsat dney bez voyny) [Двадцать дней без войны] (1976) – Soviet Union
  101. The Cuckoo (Kukushka) [Кукушка] (2002) – Russia-Finland
  102. Our Own (Svoi) [Свои] (2004) – Russia
  103. Roza (Róża) (2011) – Poland
  104. Mashenka (Mashenka) [Машенька] (1942) – Soviet Union

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World Cinema
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