War movies can acknowledge the past and the serious issues soldiers and civilians face. Sometimes, though, sensitive topics are handled with a distinct lack of care, resulting in a divisive movie that is both loved and hated. Here are some of the most controversial war movies ever made.
Apocalypse Now
The epic war movie Apocalypse Now was loosely adapted from the novel Heart of Darkness, reimagining the events in the setting of the Vietnam War. Despite now being considered one of the greatest war movies of all time, it was released to mixed reviews in 1979, with some critics thinking it glorified war. The scene where a water buffalo was slaughtered with a machete attracted particular criticism.
The Hurt Locker
The Hurt Locker focused on a team of bomb disposal experts in the Iraq War and was hugely successful upon release, winning six Academy Awards. However, it has also attracted heavy criticism for its unrealistic depiction of the soldiers and military principles. Their commanding officer is shown to have a reckless disregard for his team’s lives and make decisions that go against army policies.
The Deer Hunter
Set in the Vietnam War, The Deer Hunter is an epic war drama about steelworkers sent to fight. They are caught by the Viet Cong and held prisoner, with their captors forcing them to play Russian Roulette with a loaded gun. Many viewers were particularly angry about this scene, as there are no records of this occurring.
The War Game
The British pseudo-documentary The War Game shows the devastating effects a nuclear war would have on the country. Shocking imagery included the bodies of those who were burned by the initial attack and those suffering from radiation sickness. It was considered too horrifying to show when it was first made in 1966, not getting a full release until 1985.
Full Metal Jacket
The legendary war drama Full Metal Jacket was directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on a 1979 novel called The Short-Timers. The first half follows the new recruits through boot camp before they are dispatched to Vietnam in the second part. The intense and brutal scenes of war and the effect it had on soldiers have made it divisive among viewers and critics.
Platoon
The 1986 movie Platoon offers a gritty and disturbing look at war and its morality, focusing on the Vietnam War and a new U.S. Army volunteer. Despite being a semi-autobiographical account of director Oliver Stone’s experiences, it has attracted considerable criticism for its inaccuracies, especially for its negative depictions of black soldiers.
Saving Private Ryan
Saving Private Ryan is set toward the end of World War II, during the Normandy landings. It follows a group of soldiers on a mission to find and rescue Private James Francis Ryan after all his brothers are killed in action. Attracting attention for its brutal scenes and realistic depictions of war it sparked a censorship battle and is still remembered as one the best war movies ever made.
Casualties of War
The war drama movie Casualties of War is based on a real-life incident where American troops kidnapped, raped, and murdered a Vietnamese woman during the war. Praised for its realistic portrayal of the horrifying crimes committed during the war, it nevertheless attracted criticism for the brutalities shown and never gained commercial success.
American Sniper
Loosely based on the memoir of the same name, American Sniper is a biographical war drama about sniper Chris Kyle, played by Bradley Cooper. It focuses on his many kills during the Iraq War and his struggles to adjust to family life when he returns home. It sparked controversy over its glamorization of war by showing Kyle as a hero.
Black Hawk Down
Directed by Ridley Scott, Black Hawk Down is set during the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia. When a Black Hawk helicopter is shot down, they struggle to rescue the crew before the crash site is overrun. Soon after the movie’s release, it was strongly criticized for showing a one-sided view of the war, stereotyping Somalis as violent, and downplaying the contribution of Pakistani and Malaysian soldiers.
Redacted
A companion piece to director Brian De Palma’s earlier movie Casualties of War, Redacted is based on true events where a group of U.S. Army soldiers raped and murdered an Iraqi girl. It was met with mixed reviews but was criticized for its negative portrayal of American soldiers and disturbing scenes.
Paths of Glory
Co-written and directed by Stanley Kubrick, Paths of Glory is based on the novel of the same name and focuses on a group of French soldiers who refuse to participate in a suicidal attack. Highlighting the absurdity of war and problematic commands issued by senior officers, it was effectively blacklisted in France for two decades due to the movie’s negative portrayal of its military.
Zero Dark Thirty
The historical drama movie Zero Dark Thirty focuses on the manhunt for Osama bin Laden and was highly successful with both critics and audiences. It has since been criticized for appearing to take a pro-torture stance and presenting it as a necessary evil despite little evidence that it worked.
Come and See
The anti-war movie Come and See examines atrocities committed in Belarus by the Nazis, as seen by teenager Flyora (Aleksei Kravchencko). Blending realism with surrealism, it received positive reviews but was nearly never made due to seven years of censorship by the Soviet government.
The Great Dictator
A satire of Hitler and fascism, The Great Dictator was Charlie Chaplin’s biggest commercial success. Although not controversial by modern standards, when it was released in 1940, it was considered risky for its political commentary before America officially joined the war. Chaplin himself later noted that he could not have created the movie if he’d been aware of the horrific extent of Nazi war crimes.
The Green Berets
Set during the Vietnam War, The Green Berets stars John Wayne as Green Beret Colonel Mike Kirby, who selects two expert teams for an exercise in South Vietnam. It was strongly anti-communist and pro-military at a time when this was already seen as outdated. Critics gave it negative reviews and compared it to propaganda.
The Bridge on the River Kwai
The war epic The Bridge on the River Kwai fictionalizes the building of the Burma Railway. Unfortunately, it contains many historical inaccuracies, such as minimizing the conditions the prisoners of war were subjected to. It also shows them collaborating with their captors on the building of the bridge, which former prisoners and soldiers have found insulting.
U-571
Following the crew of American submarine S-33 in World War II, U-571 focuses on their efforts to board the titular German submarine and capture the Enigma machine inside. Despite experiencing a moderately positive reception, it also attracted strong criticism for rewriting history. British sailors captured the first naval Enigma machine before the United States entered the war.
