War films are some of the most appreciated films in the industry. From Apocalypse Now to Dunkirk, there is no shortage of movies in this genre out there. While many films have been criticized for their lack of accuracy, like Pearl Harbor, it has become the goal of many filmmakers to try to recreate the true essence and brutality of war on the big screen. Whether it's the brutality of the Vietnam War or the harsh realities faced by civilians in WWII, the war film genre covers everything. One topic that often goes neglected is the Cold War.

The Cold War was a period of tension after WWII between the United States and the Soviet Union. This period lasted from 1947 to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. It is called the Cold War because no large-scale fighting actually occurred between the opposing groups. The lack of action during the Cold War is part of why there is a lack of films that take place during the Cold War. That said, there are still plenty that show the realities of the fear of nuclear war constantly hanging over the heads of special agents and spies globally. These are the best movies about the Cold War, ranked.

13 The Courier (2021)

The most recent film on this list is The Courier, the true story of Greville Wynne, a British businessman who is unwittingly recruited to take part in the Cuban Missile Crisis. After forming an unlikely partnership with Soviet officer Oleg Penkovsky, the two work together to provide intelligence used to defuse the conflict and prevent nuclear war.

Why It's Great

The Courier was praised for its overall ability to retell a true story without boring the audience, with special praise given to Benedict Cumberbatch and his performance. The film, due to the fantastic performance by the actors and excellent storytelling, feels more like a spy thriller, with its human, emotional elements intact. While the film was set to be released in 2020, the release was delayed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Stream on Prime Video.

12 Charlie Wilson's War (2007)

The 2007 film Charlie Wilson's War stars Tom Hanks in the role of Congressman Charlie Wilson, who, along with Gustav Avrakotos, a CIA agent, and Joanne Herring, a socialite from Texas, helps the Afghan mujahedin in the Soviet-Afghan War. The film is a biographical comedy-drama that blends these elements perfectly with the political scenario of the time. The movie also gives the audience a comprehensive view of the secret operation and the effects it will have on the political climate of the USA in the future.

Why It's Great

Even though it covers a serious incident, the writing and performances make this film incredibly funny and entertaining to watch. Tom Hanks is a treat to the eyes in the role of Wilson, a politician more interested in parties and the ladies than legislation. Philip Seymour Hoffman is incredible, as always, in the role of Gustav Avrakotos, and his performance earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards. The movie does become more serious in the end which foreshadows the changes to come in the political climate of the world. Stream on Max.

11 The Spy Who Came in From the Cold (1965)

Based on the spy novel of the same name by John le Carré, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold follows the story of British MI6 agent Alec Leamas who is sent to East Germany, masquerading as a drunken defector to gain intel about an East German intelligence officer. When Leamas is thrown in jail, he finds himself caught up in a web of plots and counterplots.

Why It's Great

This classic spy film features a dynamite cast including Richard Burton and Claire Bloom. The film was a phenomenal success and won four BAFTA Awards for Best British Film, Best Actor, Best Cinematography, and Best Art Direction. Burton was praised across countries for his phenomenal acting. It is one of the best espionage drama movies to have been made regarding the Cold War. Stream on Kanopy.

10 Thirteen Days (2000)

Thirteen Days is yet another movie highlighting the Cuban Missile Crisis, and it shows the audience how President John F. Kennedy and his advisors dealt with the knowledge of Russians hiding nuclear missiles in Cuba. It stars Kevin Costner as top White House Assistant Kenneth P. O'Donnel, Bruce Greenwood as President Kennedy, Dylan Baker as Rober McNamara, the Secretary of Defense, and Steven Culp as Robert F. Kennedy, the Attorney General.

Why It's Great

The film is one of the greatest historical political thrillers made about the Cuban Missile Crisis. The actors in the movie did a great job bringing these historically important figures to life. Even though some parts of the movie are somewhat exaggerated, it is an enjoyable film on the topic nonetheless. The critics' response to the film was mostly positive, even though it was not a hit at the box office at the time of release. Rent or buy on Apple TV+.

9 Bridge of Spies (2015)

This 2015 historical drama tells the story of U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers, who is captured by the Soviet Union after they shot down his plane. Being sentenced to 10 years in prison, he seeks the help of lawyer James Donovan to take on his case and help him get released. Donovan’s tactic is to gain Powers’ freedom through a prisoner exchange, giving the Russians a convicted spy in exchange for Powers.

Why It's Great

Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks, Bridge of Spies was a box-office smash and a critical success, receiving six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. The movie, even though lacking in terms of action, is a tension-filled one and goes on to give us a nail-biting end. It was praised for its ability to bring old-school Hollywood back to life, with the overall ambiance of the film making it one of the best modern Cold War films of all time. Stream on Paramount+.

8 The Shape of Water (2017)

You might know Guillermo del Toro's film The Shape of Water as the film that made waves after winning four Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, but a lot of people overlook the fact that it is a fantasy drama with the backdrop of the Cold War. It tells the story of a mute woman named Elisa Esposito, who works as a custodian in a secret government lab in Maryland. There, she meets an amphibian man-creature whom the lab captured from a South American river. Secret meetings turn into romance and the two of them fall in love with each other.

Why It's Great

Unlike most of the movies on this list, The Shape of Water is a romance, and a beautiful one at that. It has the essential del Toro style which makes it visually stunning and captivating. Even though the film focuses more on the romance and the fantastical elements and less on the Cold War background, it is still a great movie to watch. The film received immense critical acclaim all over the globe because of its unique visual storytelling and heartening story. Stream on Fubo, FXNow, DirecTV.

7 The Hunt For Red October (1990)

Based on the Tom Clancy novel of the same name, The Hunt for Red October follows Soviet submarine Captain Marko Ramius, who abandons his orders and heads for the east coast of the United States. Thanks to the advanced stealth technology of the Society Union, Ramius’ submarine “Red October” is almost undetectable until an American sub briefly detects the Russians’ presence. CIA agent Jack Ryan sets off on a journey to figure out Ramius’ motives, suspecting him to be planning an attack on the United States.

Why It's Great

Starring Sir Sean Connery as Ramius and Alec Baldwin as Jack Ryan, The Hunt for Red October was the first installation in the series of films with Jack Ryan as the protagonist. The storytelling of the film is amazing as it is fast-paced and exciting, managing to keep the audience glued to the screen for the entirety of it. The film was subject to critical acclaim, earning the Academy Award for Best Sound Effects Editing. Stream on Paramount+.

6 Three Days of the Condor (1975)

Three Days of the Condor is a great political thriller about a CIA analyst, Joe Turner, codename Condor, who one day comes back to his office to find all of his co-workers murdered. The scared and bookish agent tries to contact his higher-ups about the tragedy but finds out that his superiors are involved in the incident as they also tried to kill him. With a murderous hitman on his toe, the film shows us how Turner runs for his life while also trying to figure out what went wrong in his agency.

Why It's Great

The film is everything a thriller lover could ever want. It is high-speed and filled with tension until the last moment. It is also filled with high-stakes action scenes that pair very well with the story of Condor running away from his assailants and dodging their attacks left and right. Robert Redford also did a phenomenal job in the role of Joe Turner, which earned him and the movie immense critical acclaim. Stream on Prime Video.

5 Fail Safe (1964)

Starring Henry Fonda and Walter Matthau, Fail Safe is a classic Cold War film. U.S. bomber jets are equipped with fail-safe boxes that instruct pilots when and if to attack. When an attack order is administered due to a system malfunction, the President of the United States must fix the mistake before bombs drop on Moscow. The President succeeds in stopping the bombing, except for one determined pilot, who is dead-set on completing his mission.

Why It's Great

Based on the novel of the same name by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler, Fail Safe was a box office flop at the time of its release but was critically praised for its cinematic depiction of the Cold War. The iconic Henry Fonda was also praised for his performance as the President of the United States. It is a great political thriller that successfully builds and keeps the suspense right until the climax. A remake of the film was made in 2000 as a televised play starring George Clooney and Richard Dreyfuss. Rent on Apple TV+.

4 The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

Near the end of the Korean War, a platoon of U.S. soldiers is brainwashed by communists, and when the platoon is returned home, the soldiers find themselves suffering from strange nightmares. The platoon’s Captain Raymond Shaw discovers that he has become an unwitting assassin as a part of an international communist conspiracy. The Manchurian Candidate features Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, and Angela Lansbury as the main cast.

Why It's Great

The original film was released in October 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis, making the content particularly poignant. Upon release, and in the years since, The Manchurian Candidate has received significant praise, being nominated for two Academy Awards. Later, in 1994, the United States National Film Registry recognized The Manchurian Candidate by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Stream on Prime Video.

3 North by Northwest (1959)

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Cary Grant, the 1959 film North by Northwest is one of the greatest spy thrillers of all time. It tells the story of an advertising executive from New York named Robert Thornhill, who has to go on the run after he is mistaken for a government agent and hunted by foreign spies who want him dead. The intricate tale of mistaken identity lands him in various life-threatening scenarios, and he tries to find the real government agent.

Why It's Great

The film is not only an all-time best thriller but also features a great love story. North by Northwest received three Academy Awards nominations and was praised by critics all over the world. With its high-stakes storyline and themes of espionage, mistaken identity, and deception, the film is easily one of the most entertaining Hitchcock movies. Stream on Apple TV+.

2 Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

Yet another film on this list to be based on a novel, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is one of the more recent Cold War movies. Starring Gary Oldman and Colin Firth, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy follows an MI6 agent who has been dispatched to meet with a Hungarian General who knows the identity of a Soviet spy within the organization. When the General dies before he can reveal the information, Undersecretary Oliver Lacon calls on veteran Agent George Smiley to ferret out the mole.

Related: Best British War Films Set in the 20th Century

Why It's Great

A favorite among many real-life intelligence agents, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was well-received with talk of a potential sequel circulating around with a script ready, but nothing confirmed. The thrilling espionage psychological thriller was also graced by great performances by the actors, mainly Firth, who is always excellent, and Oldman. Stream on Starz or DirecTV.

1 Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb (1964)

A classic Stanley Kubrick film, Dr. Strangelove satirizes the Cold War situation by examining what could happen if the wrong person pushes the wrong button. When Air Force General Jack Ripper goes insane, he sends his bomber wing to destroy the U.S.S.R. thinking that communists are trying to pollute the bodily fluids of the American people.

Why It's Great

Dr. Strangelove has gained incredible critical acclaim, being considered one of the greatest films of all time, nominated for four Academy Awards, and selected for preservation in 1989. It is probably the best political satire film centering around the Cold War. Thanks to the legacy Dr. Strangelove left behind, a potential sequel was discussed until the death of Stanley Kubrick, when any idea for a sequel was retired. Rent or buy on Apple TV+.