Movies About Civil War

From Sergio Leone, starring Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef, Aldo Giuffrè
Rated R

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a 1966 Italian-American epic Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach. Set during the American Civil War, it follows the adventures of three gunslingers as they compete to find a hidden fortune. The trio's journey takes them through a series of morally ambiguous situations, while they must also contend with warring factions, bounty hunters, and scheming individuals. In the end, only one of them can survive and claim the treasure. The film is noted for its extreme violence, moral ambiguity and the iconic Ennio Morricone score. The film was a critical and box office success and is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made.

From Directors: Victor Fleming, George Cukor, Sam Wood, starring Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Thomas Mitchell, Barbara O'Neil
Rated Passed

Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American epic historical romance film directed by Victor Fleming, George Cukor, and Sam Wood. The film is based on the 1936 novel of the same name by Margaret Mitchell. Set in the American South against the backdrop of the American Civil War and Reconstruction era, the film tells the story of Scarlett O'Hara, the strong-willed daughter of a Georgia plantation owner. When her family and lifestyle are threatened, Scarlett must use every means possible, including a love affair with the roguish Rhett Butler, to save her beloved Tara plantation. The film also stars Clark Gable, in the role of Rhett Butler, and Olivia de Havilland, as Melanie Hamilton, Scarlett's sister-in-law. The film won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Vivien Leigh, and Best Director for Victor Fleming. It was nominated for eleven other awards, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made.

From Kevin Costner, starring Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene, Rodney A. Grant
Rated PG-13

Dances with Wolves is a western drama directed by and starring Kevin Costner. Set in 1863, it follows Lieutenant John Dunbar, a Civil War hero who is assigned to a remote outpost on the western frontier. In the unfamiliar territory, he finds a community of Lakota Sioux Indians and slowly learns their culture and language. As the two cultures clash and tensions rise, Dunbar finds himself increasingly torn between the two worlds, eventually risking his life to protect the tribe from the U.S. cavalry. In the end, Dunbar's courage and commitment to the Sioux way of life helps bridge the divide between the two cultures, and he ultimately earns the Lakota name Dances with Wolves.

From John Ford, starring John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Ward Bond
Rated Passed

The Searchers is a 1956 Western directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne as Ethan Edwards, a Civil War veteran looking for his niece who was kidnapped by Comanches. Along the way, he is joined by his old friend, Martin Pawley, and they face various dangers as they search for Debbie, the niece, across the Wild West. Along their journey they encounter hostile Native Americans, outlaws, and the harshness of the American landscape. Through it all, Ethan is driven by his determination to find Debbie and bring her home, but his own prejudice and hatred of the Native Americans cloud his judgment. In the end, Ethan and Martin find Debbie and bring her home, but only after Ethan is forced to confront his own inner demons.

From Edward Zwick, starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman
Rated R

Glory is a 1989 American war film directed by Edward Zwick and starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, and Morgan Freeman. The film tells the story of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, the first African-American regiment to fight in the United States Civil War. The film follows Robert Gould Shaw (Matthew Broderick), a young Boston abolitionist, as he leads the regiment on a mission to recapture Fort Wagner, a Confederate stronghold in South Carolina. Along the way, Shaw and the regiment face struggles both on and off the battlefield, from prejudice and discrimination to death and despair. In the end, the regiment's courage and bravery in the face of insurmountable odds is recognized, and the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment goes down in history as one of the most heroic and inspiring stories of the Civil War.

From Clint Eastwood, starring Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Chief Dan George, Bill McKinney
Rated PG

The Outlaw Josey Wales is a Western drama film directed by Clint Eastwood, who also stars in the lead role. The film is set during the American Civil War and follows the story of Josey Wales, a Missouri farmer who joins a guerrilla band of pro-Confederate Missouri Bushwhackers. After all of his comrades are killed in a massacre, Wales is the only survivor and is declared an outlaw by the Union. In order to survive, Wales must evade the Union soldiers who are pursuing him and seek revenge on those who wronged him. Along the way, Wales meets an eclectic group of characters and befriends them, gradually learning to forgive and to start a new life.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Rated PG-13

From Anthony Minghella, starring Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renée Zellweger, Eileen Atkins
Rated R

From Don Siegel, starring Clint Eastwood, Geraldine Page, Elizabeth Hartman, Jo Ann Harris
Rated R

From Mervyn LeRoy, starring June Allyson, Peter Lawford, Margaret O'Brien, Elizabeth Taylor
Rated Approved

From Gary Ross, starring Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mahershala Ali, Keri Russell
Rated R

From Sam Peckinpah, starring Charlton Heston, Richard Harris, Jim Hutton, James Coburn
Rated PG-13

From Ang Lee, starring Tobey Maguire, Skeet Ulrich, Jewel, Jeremy W. Auman
Rated R

From Howard Hawks, starring John Wayne, Jorge Rivero, Jennifer O'Neill, Jack Elam
Rated G

From Andrew V. McLaglen, starring John Wayne, Rock Hudson, Antonio Aguilar, Roman Gabriel
Rated Passed

From Ron Maxwell, starring Stephen Lang, Robert Duvall, Jeff Daniels, Donzaleigh Abernathy
Rated PG-13

From Sean McNamara, starring Michael Krebs, Jake Lawson, Sean Marquette, David Arquette
Rated PG-13

From Ron Maxwell, starring François Arnaud, Lucy Boynton, Casey Thomas Brown, Billy Campbell
Rated PG-13