Movies About Army Rangers

From Steven Spielberg, starring Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns
Rated R

Saving Private Ryan is set during the Invasion of Normandy in World War II. The film follows United States Army Rangers Captain John H. Miller and a squad of seven men as they search for a paratrooper, Private First Class James Francis Ryan, who is the last surviving brother of four servicemen. When the squad learns that Ryan is trapped behind enemy lines and his three brothers have all been killed in action, they set out to bring him home. As they fight their way across Europe, the squad experiences the horrors of war and forms an unlikely bond. Along the way, they encounter a German sniper, the last of Ryan's brothers, and a unit of Nazi troops. In the end, Ryan is rescued, but not without a heavy cost.

From Roman Polanski, starring Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Emilia Fox
Rated R

The Pianist is a 2002 biographical drama film directed by Roman Polanski, based on the autobiography of the same name by Jewish-Polish musician and composer Władysław Szpilman. It documents Szpilman's experiences as a persecuted Jewish musician during World War II. The film follows Szpilman's struggle for survival in the face of the Nazi invasion of Poland and his eventual rescue by a fellow musician. Along the way, Szpilman must grapple with the horrors of the Holocaust and the personal losses he experiences. The story is both heartbreaking and inspiring, as Szpilman puts his own safety at risk to protect those around him. The film was a critical and commercial success, winning the Academy Award for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.

From Quentin Tarantino, starring Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Eli Roth, Mélanie Laurent
Rated R

"Inglourious Basterds" is a 2009 American war film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Set in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, the film tells the story of two plots to assassinate Nazi leaders. The first plot follows a group of Jewish-American soldiers, known as the "Basterds", led by Lieutenant Aldo Raine. The Basterds plan to kill as many Nazis as possible, while the second plot focuses on a young Jewish woman, Shosanna Dreyfus, who seeks revenge against the Nazis for the murder of her family. The film follows the lives of these characters as they seek to make a difference in the war effort and ultimately end the Nazi reign of terror in Europe. It features an ensemble cast including Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Michael Fassbender, Diane Kruger, Eli Roth, and Mélanie Laurent.

From Oliver Hirschbiegel, starring Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara, Ulrich Matthes, Juliane Köhler
Rated R

Downfall (2004) is a German-language historical drama directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, about the final ten days of Adolf Hitler's rule over Nazi Germany in April 1945. The story follows Hitler, his inner circle of Nazi leaders, and the people of Berlin as they face the inevitable collapse of the Third Reich. Trapped in the bunker beneath the Reichs Chancellery, Hitler (Bruno Ganz) rages against his foes and denies reality, while his generals, secretaries, and adjutants desperately try to protect him and keep the dream of a thousand-year Reich alive. As the Red Army marches closer and closer to Berlin, the remaining Nazi leaders struggle to maintain order and keep fighting, while Hitler and the civilians of Berlin face the grim realities of their situation. Downfall was a critical success, garnering multiple award nominations and cementing Hirschbiegel's reputation as one of the great German filmmakers.

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

Letters from Iwo Jima is a 2006 war drama film directed by Clint Eastwood, depicting the Battle of Iwo Jima from the perspective of the Japanese soldiers. The film follows the lives of several soldiers, including General Kuribayashi, a Japanese Imperial Army General sent to command the defense of Iwo Jima, and Saigo, a common soldier. Through flashbacks and diary entries, their struggles and sacrifices are revealed. Despite their loyalty and courage, the Japanese forces are ultimately defeated by the Americans. The film is a powerful and moving exploration of the horror and tragedy of war.

From Ridley Scott, starring Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore, Eric Bana
Rated R

Black Hawk Down is a 2001 war drama film directed by Ridley Scott. The film is based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Mark Bowden and tells the true story of the U.S. military's raid on the Somali capital Mogadishu in 1993. The film focuses on the events of a single chaotic day in the Battle of Mogadishu as U.S. forces attempted to capture Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. The movie follows a group of Rangers and Delta Force operatives sent to Mogadishu on a mission to capture two of Aidid's lieutenants. Despite initial success, the mission quickly goes awry when two Black Hawk helicopters are shot down and the U.S. forces are forced to fight for their lives in a desperate battle against the heavily armed Somali militia. The film follows the courage, heroism and suffering of these brave soldiers as they desperately try to complete their mission and survive the day.

From Jean-Jacques Annaud, starring Jude Law, Ed Harris, Joseph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz
Rated R

Enemy at the Gates is a 2001 World War II film directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, starring Jude Law and Joseph Fiennes. The story follows the exploits of a Soviet sniper, Vasily Zaytsev, who is pitted against a German sniper, Major Erwin König. During the Battle of Stalingrad, Zaytsev and König engage in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse as the battle rages on around them. While König is an experienced sniper, Zaytsev is a novice, but with the help of a political commissar, Danilov, he becomes a master of the craft. As their rivalry escalates, so does the tension among the combatants, and a desperate struggle for survival ensues. Ultimately, the outcome of the battle is decided by the two snipers.

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

The Thin Red Line is a 1998 American epic war drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick. It stars Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Jim Caviezel, Elias Koteas, John Cusack, Adrien Brody, Woody Harrelson, John Travolta, George Clooney, Jared Leto, and John C. Reilly. The film tells the story of a US Army rifle platoon on the island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific during World War II. The platoon, led by its emotionally conflicted sergeant (Nolte), is tasked with capturing a strategic mountain from the numerically superior Japanese forces. The film follows the platoon's journey from their initial landing on the island to their bloody and ultimately doomed assault on the heavily guarded mountain. With its focus on the psychological toll of war and its devastating consequences, the film paints a powerful and poetic portrait of the realities of armed conflict.

From Kathryn Bigelow, starring Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Guy Pearce
Rated R

The Hurt Locker is a war movie set in Iraq during the height of the war in 2004, focusing on a three-man Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team. The film follows the team as they work to diffus bomb threats and disarm improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The team is led by Sergeant William James (Jeremy Renner), who is an adrenaline junkie and a skilled technician at his job. Despite their expertise, the EOD team faces danger and death at every turn. Through their experiences, they learn the value of teamwork, the importance of trust, and the price of bravery.

From Bryan Singer, starring Tom Cruise, Bill Nighy, Carice van Houten, Kenneth Branagh
Rated PG-13

From Edward Zwick, starring Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell, Alexa Davalos
Rated R

From Antoine Fuqua, starring Mark Wahlberg, Michael Peña, Rhona Mitra, Danny Glover
Rated R

From Clint Eastwood, starring Ryan Phillippe, Barry Pepper, Joseph Cross, Jesse Bradford
Rated R

From Randall Wallace, starring Mel Gibson, Madeleine Stowe, Greg Kinnear, Sam Elliott
Rated R

From Sam Mendes, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Jamie Foxx, Lucas Black, Scott MacDonald
Rated R

From Peter Berg, starring Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman
Rated R

From Paul Greengrass, starring Matt Damon, Jason Isaacs, Greg Kinnear, Igal Naor
Rated R

From Antoine Fuqua, starring Bruce Willis, Cole Hauser, Monica Bellucci, Eamonn Walker
Rated R

From Jonathan Mostow, starring Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel, Jon Bon Jovi
Rated PG-13

From Michael Bay, starring Ben Affleck, Kate Beckinsale, Josh Hartnett, William Lee Scott
Rated PG-13

From John Woo, starring Nicolas Cage, Adam Beach, Peter Stormare, Noah Emmerich
Rated R