Best Movies About Pearl Harbor

Updated May 1, 2024

Thinking about Best Movies About Pearl Harbor, there is no limit to the movies who explored this topic. We found 14 of our favorites.

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

★★★★

3.3 out of 4 stars

From David Lean, starring William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa
Rated PG

The Bridge on the River Kwai is a 1957 British-American epic war film directed by David Lean and based on the novel by Pierre Boulle. Set during World War II, the film tells the story of British prisoners of war forced to construct a bridge for their Japanese captors. The bridge is part of the Burma Railway, which will be used to transport materials for the Japanese war effort. The British colonel, Nicholson, begins to take pride in the project and willingly collaborates with the Japanese. The Allies send a commando team to destroy the bridge and the Japanese forces. In a thrilling finale, Nicholson sacrifices his life to detonate the explosives, destroying the bridge and thwarting the Japanese plans. The film was a critical and commercial success, winning seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)

★★★★

3.2 out of 4 stars

From Clint Eastwood, starring Ken Watanabe, Kazunari Ninomiya, Tsuyoshi Ihara, Ryô Kase
Rated R

Letters from Iwo Jima is a 2006 war drama directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Ken Watanabe. The film tells the story of the Battle of Iwo Jima from the perspective of Japanese soldiers. Through a series of flashbacks, the movie follows the journey of General Tadamichi Kuribayashi as he leads the Japanese forces against the American invaders. The film features a strong emphasis on the human side of war, showing the courage and resilience of the Japanese soldiers in the face of a powerful and determined enemy. Throughout the film, viewers are shown the relationships between the soldiers, their sense of loyalty and patriotism, and their ultimate sacrifice for their country. It is a powerful story of the tragedy and futility of war.

The Thin Red Line (1998)

★★★★

3 out of 4 stars

From Terrence Malick, starring Jim Caviezel, Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Kirk Acevedo
Rated R

The Thin Red Line is an epic war drama directed by Terrence Malick. Set during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II, the film follows a group of American soldiers and their battle against a tenacious Japanese enemy. Led by Capt. Staros, the soldiers face the harsh realities of war, both physically and mentally. Through their struggles, they come to terms with the meaning of their lives, their friends' deaths, and their own mortality. With a star-studded cast, beautiful cinematography, and a haunting score, The Thin Red Line tells a story of war, courage, friendship, and love that is as timeless as it is unique.