The Vietnam War has been considered a disaster for a whole generation of young men who were killed, crippled, driven to drug use, or suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Through the art of filmmaking, audiences could view interpretations of how the war played out historically and how it was received by those who lived through it. Most Vietnam War movies are intense, often violent, and full of madmen at their most depraved.

Some of Hollywood's most exceptional filmmakers and stars have brilliantly been a part of these intense war films, with revered directors like Oliver Stone and Stanley Kubrick bringing the terrible conflict to life in remarkable fashion. These films often take a critical look at the war, as opposed to World War II movies, which tend to show valiant efforts and highlight 'American exceptionalism.' Here are some of the best films that capture the horrors and brutalities of the Vietnam War.

Updated on September 27th, 2023, by Danilo Raúl: The Vietnam War has been the backdrop to so many great films that we have expanded the list with even more entries.

16 Forrest Gump (1994)

While generally considered one of the most acclaimed Hollywood films of the 1990s and in general, Forrest Gump would only technically qualify as an honorable mention on this type of list. This is mainly because the Robert Zemeckis-directed epic sprawls throughout various historical events of the 20th century beyond just the Vietnam War. Even still, the plot line surrounding the war deserves to rank among the best films involving this subject.

Some could make the argument that Forrest Gump leans too heavily on comedy to explore the themes of the Vietnam War adeptly, but the simplicity of the titular serves as a poignant juxtaposition to the conflict's destructive nature. The seemingly surface-level simplicity of Forrest and Bubba's time in Vietnam makes the inevitable ambush and death of the latter all the more devastating. Meanwhile, the saga of Gary Sinise's Lieutenant Dan and his struggles with PTSD remain a main highlight of the film as a whole. Forrest Gump isn't necessarily a film purely based around the Vietnam War, but its presence and aftermath are heavily prevalent in this American classic. Stream Forrest Gump on Paramount+.

15 First Blood (1982)

Most people connect Rambo with big action and massive explosions. Still, it’s easy to forget the original idea behind the character was to portray the sorry state of Vietnam veterans after the war ended. First Blood is directed by Ted Kotcheff and written by Michael Kozoll, based on a novel by David Morell. Sylvester Stallone brings this story to life as he plays John Rambo, a veteran and drifter, wandering into a small town in Washington to visit an old friend.

Rambo is quickly antagonized by local law enforcement, who doesn’t take kindly the passing of strangers, triggering his PTSD and sending him into a violent rampage where he uses his training to make life hell for the local Sheriff and all his deputies until his former commander officer is brought to make him stand down. Stream First Blood on Paramount+.

14 Faith of Our Fathers (2015)

Religion can be a powerful motivator to keep pushing on in our darkest hours. At least, that’s the point the film Faith of Our Fathers is trying to make. In this movie, two strangers named John and Wayne bond over the shared past of their fathers as they both lost their lives in the Vietnam War but sought the strength to keep forward despite the impossible odds surrounding them.

The film, directed by Carey Scott, is co-written by Harold Uhl and David A.R. White and features the acting talents of Kevin Downes, David A.R. White, and Stephen Baldwin. The journey of these two men is filled with flashbacks and the vague memories these sons have of their fathers while trying to paint a better picture of who they were and find the strength to make peace with their passing and pay respect to their memories. Rent Faith of Our Fathers on Apple TV.

13 The War (1994)

Another great film dealing with the aftermath of the Vietnam conflict. The War is directed by Jon Avnet with a screenplay by Kathy McWorter. The story is a powerful drama starring Kevin Costner, Elijah Wood, and Mare Winningham. We follow the story of veteran Stephen Simmons making the most of life after returning from Vietnam.

Stephen struggles with PTSD, with constant nightmares invading his dreams. He has difficulties finding a job and reconnecting with his wife and kids. Although Stephen has a strong support system in the story to help him overcome trauma, the film is a harrowing reminder that not all veterans have the same assistance or even the love of their families to get back on their feet. Buy or Rent The War on Apple TV.

12 Tigerland (2000)

Probably the most defiant antiwar film on the list and the best-reviewed movie ever made by filmmaker Joel Schumacher. With a screenplay written by Ross Klavan, Tigerland is a war drama featuring the acting talents of Colin Farrell, Matthew Davis, and Clifton Collins Jr. The movie tells the story of draftee Roland Bozz, his strong defiance against the war, and how he finds loopholes in recruitment law to help people get out of service.

Bozz takes particular interest in those who see service as a blind duty by playing with their emotions and even inflicting injuries on them so they don’t go to war. A fellow recruit and novice writer is interested in him and keeps track of his deeds until Bozz is shipped to Vietnam. Since he wants his efforts to remain anonymous, he steals the journal of the recruit and gets rid of it after leaving for Vietnam, never to be seen again. Stream Tigerland on Paramount+.

Related: The 10 Best Female-Led War Movies

11 Da 5 Bloods (2020)

While taking a different perspective on its events, Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods is fundamentally a film about the Vietnam War. The film adeptly explores the struggles of being a Black American in the mid-20th century within the backdrop of the conflict against an unknown enemy for the country as a whole. Star Delroy Lindo captures the spirit of being without peace from the torment he and his compatriots faced on the battlefield. The themes of PTSD are expertly explored overtly through Lindo's protagonist Pau and through any of the characters present that lived through the squalor of the battlefield.

Despite being predominately set in modern times, Da 5 Bloods proves the inner struggles caused by the Vietnam War have lived on. Spike Lee deserves major credit for his exploration and tribute to the Black soldiers who had to deal with the strife of the time period in multiple ways. The other highly acclaimed films on this list will cover the great horrors and turmoil that this conflict caused those involved, but Da 5 Bloods should be appreciated for taking an analysis of the Vietnam War with a different slant. Stream Da 5 Bloods on Netflix.

10 We Were Soldiers (2002)

Chronicling the Battle of la Drang, the first major fight between the United States Army and the People's Army of Vietnam that occurred on November 14, 1965, 2002's We Were Soldiers depicts the brave and heroic men on both sides of the battlefield who valiantly fought on conflicting sides during the first phase of the nearly 20-year conflict. Mel Gibson stars as Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore, the commander who was chosen to train and lead a battalion of 400 men into North Vietnamese territory in la Drang Valley.

We Were Soldiers earned rave reviews for its brutally honest representation of the Vietnam War, with critics praising its realistic and incredibly honest battle scenes and refreshing portrayal of the opposing forces. Hal Moore himself expressed that the Randall Wallace project was the first Hollywood film "to get the war right." Moore previously had been critical of Vietnam War films due to their portrayals of the soldiers. The duo of Gibson and Wallace, who previously had much success with the smash-hit Braveheart, created yet another moving, painful portrait of war. Stream We Were Soldiers on Paramount+.

9 Coming Home (1978)

Coming Home is one of the most honest and sensitive films ever made about the aftermath of the Vietnam War. This is the study of three tragic destinies — a conservative military wife (played by Jane Fonda), her Marine husband (Bruce Dern), and a paraplegic Vietnam War veteran (Jon Voight) with whom she fell in love while doing volunteer work at veterans' hospital. The Hal Ashby-directed romantic drama adeptly depicts how American citizens who both went through and observed the Vietnam War gradually lost trust in the conflict being fought by the country as a whole. It's an early instance of how a film could capture the negative sentiments felt about this moment in American history.

In 1978, two vastly different Vietnam War films competed for the Academy Award for Best Picture; Michael Cimino's intense film The Deer Hunter and Hal Ashby’s quiet drama Coming Home. The Deer Hunter won Best Picture, but Coming Home's Fonda and Voight won Best Actress and Best Actor. The film also received recognition as a nominee for the Palme d'Or at the 1978 Cannes Film Festival, while Voight also won the Best Actor Prize at the French award ceremony. Fonda and Voight gave it their all in this realistic portrayal of the emotional effects of war. Coming Home is not available on streaming.

8 Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

Film director and United States Army veteran Oliver Stone was deployed to Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. He was twice wounded in action and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for valor. Stone’s wartime experiences would shape his Vietnam trilogy: Platoon (1986), which won Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture; Born on the Fourth of July (1989), which resulted in Stone's second Best Director Oscar; and Heaven & Earth (1993).

Born on the Fourth of July is a heart-wrenching biographical anti-war drama that stars Tom Cruise in a leading role and depicts the life of Ron Kovic, an American anti-war activist who was wounded and paralyzed in the Vietnam War. We first meet Kovic as an idealistic young man who decides he wants to fight for his country. However, the barbarities of war left him with PTSD and alcoholism and made him see the Vietnam War for what it was. It was Cruise's acclaimed portrayal of the anguished Vietnam War veteran that helped move the young actor away from his general typecast and towards being worthy of leading prestigious dramas heading into the 1990s. Stream Born on the Fourth of July on Netflix.

7 Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)

At first glance, Good Morning, Vietnam seems to be a comic character study of Adrian Cronauer, portrayed by Robin Williams, a comedic radio DJ that all the troops adore, but who is disliked by his superiors. Censorship is a major issue here, as he is prevented from reading certain news stories, all of which must be pre-approved by censors. Everything he does angers his direct superiors in new ways, and he constantly finds ways to subvert their commands. Adrian learns the reality of the danger of his situation and the war, and it is no longer a laughing matter for him.

One reason the Vietnam War was such a controversial war was how the conflict was broadcast into the homes of millions of Americans, turning the tide of public opinion. Good Morning, Vietnam explores how powerful the media and news can be in changing the hearts and minds of not just the people receiving it but also those who broadcast it. Nixon and his lies are a frequent target of criticism in this film, which alternates between comedy and tragedy. Much like Tom Cruise in Born on the Fourth of July, this leading performance in an adulated Vietnam War film established Robin Williams as a prestigious dramatic actor. Buy or Rent Good Morning, Vietnam on Prime Video.

Related: The Best Military Movies, Ranked

6 Casualties of War (1989)

Psychopathic individuals take advantage of any situation, and wartime is hardly an exception. Michael J. Fox's character Max objects when Sean Penn’s Sergeant Tony Meserve kidnaps a young, innocent Vietnamese girl in Casualties of War so the platoon can gang rape her and beat her for fun. Max informs authorities who are less than interested in what Penn describes as an interrogation of a Viet Cong suspect, which the audience knows is not true. They never interrogate her and she is kept gagged most of the time.

The situation is complicated because Tony saves Max’s life. Fox does the best he can to save the captive, and he ends up a target himself. John Leguizamo gives a great performance as someone who at first objects to the idea of the assault but participates in it anyway due to peer pressure and the fear of antagonizing his superiors, who control his life and ability to survive. Max is all alone in trying to get justice for the victim. This film is based on a true story and is a serious and intense work by the great Brian De Palma. Sean Penn is dynamic as the evil Meserve, and Don Patrick Harvey stands out as a bloodthirsty angry soldier. Buy or Rent Casualties of War on Prime Video.

5 Hamburger Hill (1987)

Hamburger Hill is a brutally violent film about a platoon of soldiers who must continually mount a hill in the forests of Vietnam. The enemy is on the other side, and everyday soldiers battle, kill, and try to make it further to the top of the Hill where North Vietnamese Soldiers await. They do this day after day but make little progress. They are forced to retreat and start over, akin to The Myth of Sisyphus, as described by Albert Camus, where the titular king of Corinth is doomed to roll a stone up a hill, over and over, for eternity. It is an absurd task, just as is the task of mounting the hill.

While the fight scenes are spectacularly directed and choreographed, it is the quieter scenes of discussion that ultimately make Hamburger Hill an exceptional film. The soldiers argue and debate about the realities of racism and systemic racism, how soldiers were then treated in America, their disgust with the media, and talking about what they miss most from back home: mainly cold beer and hot girls, along with a great big feast of delicious foods, all things they have left behind to fight the war. They also discuss the difficulty of re-integrating into society. A young Dylan McDermott makes a strong debut in this film, and Steven Weber, Don Cheadle, and Courtney B. Vance also perform top-notch supporting roles. Rent Hamburger Hill on Apple TV.

4 Platoon (1986)

Most films about the Vietnam War deal with the ambiguities of defining what is good and what is evil. But in Oliver Stone’s Platoon, the audience has a clear example of a pure "good vs. evil" conflict, as Sergeants played by Willem Dafoe and Tom Berenger battle it out with Charlie Sheen’s rookie character Chris Taylor, a volunteer in the middle. Sgt. Barnes (Berenger) is the definitive antagonist, trying to hunt down and kill a fellow American soldier Sgt. Elias (Dafoe) after Elias witnesses Barnes killing an innocent woman and committing war crimes.

The story traces a new rookie soldier as he trains and goes into battle, watching death and violence all around him. Similar to Casualties of War, Platoon is about how morally corrupted individuals will manipulate an already ugly situation into a reason to rape, kill, or otherwise harm innocent people, including women, children, and the elderly. Sheen is great as a rookie who gradually toughens up to become a soldier. Platoon is an iconic movie that won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Sound, and Best Editing. Stream Platoon on MGM+.

3 Full Metal Jacket (1987)

Like nearly every Stanley Kubrick film, Full Metal Jacket is a visionary masterpiece from the historically revered director. The movie is split into two different parts — the first half of the film is about a ruthless, over-the-top, verbally abusive drill instructor (R. Lee Ermey, who was an actual drill instructor) who trains men preparing to be deployed as Marines in the Vietnam War. Told from the point of view of Joker, played by Matthew Modine, the film deals with the very extreme conflict between the drill sergeant and one of the men, nicknamed Gomer Pyle, played by Vincent D’Onofrio, who seems to get everything wrong; the consequences are violent and tragic, and the final showdown between the two characters is incredibly eerie.

In the second half of the film, the men are in Vietnam, fighting the war. A sniper shoots one of their men, and when others go to help him they find that it's a trap and must make a difficult moral decision. The acting is incredible, with R. Lee Ermey and Vincent D'Onofrio really standing out. R. Lee Ermey's drill instructor became the default for all drill instructors in film, with every other film set as a military academy either embracing or subverting his performance. His voice was so iconic that when Pixar needed a military voice for Sarge in Toy Story they hired Ermey. Vincent D’Onofrio (who now plays Kingpin) is spectacular as the mentally disturbed recruit. Buy or Rent Full Metal Jacket on Prime Video.

2 The Deer Hunter (1978)

The Deer Hunter is one intense and devastating film with absolutely perfect performances by the main characters. The first hour of the film takes place in the US, where three men, played by Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and John Savage, are getting ready to fight in Vietnam. The men are captured by the brutal North Vietnamese army and made into prisoners of war who live in squalid and disgusting pits where they are tortured. The soldiers are forced to play Russian Roulette with each other in an unforgettable scene that has spawned many imitations. Eventually, they escape and go their separate ways.

Christopher Walken’s character Nicky stays behind in Vietnam, addicted to heroin and the nihilistic thrill of playing professional Russian Roulette for money. Like other great Vietnam War films, this one portrays the army and the war as inherently mad. Russian Roulette represents the random and absurd nature of death in war. The Deer Hunter’s portrayal of the violence and chaos of the war is intense and scary, and the characters succumb to PTSD and heroin addiction, unable to readjust into society. The Deer Hunter not only won the Academy Award for Best Picture but was one of the first movies to tackle the Vietnam War. It was released three years after the Vietnam War ended. Stream The Deer Hunter on MGM+.

1 Apocalypse Now (1979)

Apocalypse Now features some of the most iconic scenes not just in the history of war films but in the history of film throughout the 20th century. The film is an adaption of the Joseph Conrad book Heart of Darkness, about a man on a mission to take out a deranged ivory trader during the era of Europe's colonial rule in Africa. Coppola took the story and applied it to the Vietnam War. Here, Marlon Brando plays the insane Col. Kurtz, a fanatic leader with his own insane army located in the forbidden zone of Cambodia. The military assigns Martin Sheen’s Army Captain Benjamin Willard, to kill him.

This epic is filled with endlessly memorable scenes and features stand-out performances by Robert Duvall, Laurence Fishburne, and especially Dennis Hopper, playing a disciple of Kurtz; it even includes a nearly unrecognizable Harrison Ford during the midst of his ascendance as a Hollywood mainstay in a supporting role. The final cut, Apocalypse Now Redux has an extra hour or two of footage deleted from Apocalypse Now. Even amongst iconic movies like The Deer Hunter, Born on the Fourth of July, and Full Metal Jacket, it goes to show how great Apocalypse Now is that it is likely the first movie that comes to mind when someone thinks of the Vietnam War. Buy or Rent Apocalypse Now on Apple TV.