Movies About Mercenaries

From Akira Kurosawa, starring Toshirô Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Tsushima, Yukiko Shimazaki
Rated Not Rated

Seven Samurai is a 1954 Japanese epic samurai drama film directed by Akira Kurosawa and starring Toshiro Mifune. The film follows a group of masterless samurai who are hired to defend a small village from a group of marauding bandits. After recruiting seven warriors to help defend the village, the samurai must come up with a plan to defeat the bandits and protect the villagers. Along the way, they face a series of obstacles and struggles, and come to learn the importance of sacrifice and honor. Through a series of unforgettable battle scenes and powerful performances, Seven Samurai is considered a masterpiece of Japanese cinema and one of the most influential films ever made.

From Edward Zwick, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly, Kagiso Kuypers
Rated R

Blood Diamond is a 2006 American political war thriller film directed by Edward Zwick, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, and Jennifer Connelly. The film tells the story of Danny Archer (DiCaprio), an ex-mercenary turned smuggler from Zimbabwe, and Solomon Vandy (Hounsou), a Mende fisherman from Sierra Leone, who join together to recover a rare pink diamond from war-torn Sierra Leone. As Archer and Vandy battle each other and forces of the corrupt government, they are both driven by personal motivations to protect family members and reclaim their lives. The story also focuses on the plight of the country’s population, and the illicit trade of conflict diamonds which are used to finance civil wars. The film was a commercial success and was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Actor for DiCaprio.

From Sam Peckinpah, starring William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, Edmond O'Brien
Rated R

The Wild Bunch is a 1969 western directed by Sam Peckinpah, which follows an aging outlaw gang on their final "wild" robbery. During the robbery, the gang accidentally kills some innocent people and are forced to flee across the border into Mexico. They quickly find themselves in a conflict with a gang of Mexican revolutionaries, who are trying to overthrow the existing government. As the situation intensifies, the gang of outlaws must decide whether to make a stand for what they believe in or to continue running from the law. The film is a violent and starkly realistic look at the American West, and examines themes of loyalty, morality, and the cycle of violence.

From John Huston, starring Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Christopher Plummer, Saeed Jaffrey
Rated PG

The Man Who Would Be King is a 1975 adventure drama film directed by John Huston and based on the Rudyard Kipling novella of the same name. The film stars Sean Connery and Michael Caine as two ex-soldiers in 19th-century British India who set off to become kings by setting up a secret kingdom in a remote part of Kafiristan. After fighting their way through dangerous terrain, they eventually succeed in their mission, only to face their own mortality and the true meaning of loyalty. The film is a classic and a favorite of many for its adventure, humor, and strong performances.

From John Sturges, starring Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Eli Wallach
Rated Approved

The Magnificent Seven is a 1960 western film directed by John Sturges and starring Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, and Charles Bronson. The film follows a group of seven gunfighters hired to protect a small Mexican village from a group of bandits. The seven gunfighters, led by Chris Adams (Yul Brynner), come from diverse backgrounds and unite against a common enemy. With the help of the villagers, they engage in a thrilling battle with the bandits, enduring great losses in the process. The film ends with Chris Adams and the other surviving members of the seven riding off into the sunset, symbolizing the courage, loyalty, and strength of the people of the village.

From Tony Scott, starring Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken, Dakota Fanning, Radha Mitchell
Rated R

Man on Fire is a 2004 action thriller directed by Tony Scott and starring Denzel Washington. The film follows a retired CIA operative named John Creasy (Washington), who is hired to protect a young girl named Pita Ramos (Dakota Fanning). When she is kidnapped, Creasy embarks on a relentless pursuit of her captors and becomes a man on fire, determined to seek revenge. Along the way, Creasy teams up with a former colleague, Rayburn (Christopher Walken), and Pita's nanny, Lisa (Rachel Ticotin), to help in his mission. As the search intensifies, Creasy is forced to confront his past and the demons within. In the end, Creasy is successful in rescuing Pita and brings her back to her family.

From Richard Brooks, starring Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan, Woody Strode
Rated PG-13

From John Frankenheimer, starring Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Natascha McElhone, Stellan Skarsgård
Rated R

From Gillo Pontecorvo, starring Marlon Brando, Evaristo Márquez, Renato Salvatori, Dana Ghia
Rated R

From Sylvester Stallone, starring Sylvester Stallone, Julie Benz, Matthew Marsden, Graham McTavish
Rated R

From Roger Spottiswoode, starring Nick Nolte, Ed Harris, Gene Hackman, Joanna Cassidy
Rated R

From Joe Carnahan, starring Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Sharlto Copley, Jessica Biel
Rated PG-13

From Paul Verhoeven, starring Rutger Hauer, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Burlinson, Jack Thompson
Rated R

From Simon West, starring Sylvester Stallone, Liam Hemsworth, Randy Couture, Jean-Claude Van Damme
Rated R

From Sylvester Stallone, starring Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren
Rated R

From John Irvin, starring Christopher Walken, Tom Berenger, Colin Blakely, Hugh Millais
Rated R

From Ted Kotcheff, starring Gene Hackman, Patrick Swayze, Robert Stack, Fred Ward
Rated R

From Taylor Hackford, starring Meg Ryan, Russell Crowe, David Morse, Pamela Reed
Rated R

From Patrick Hughes, starring Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Antonio Banderas
Rated PG-13

From Pierre Morel, starring Sean Penn, Idris Elba, Jasmine Trinca, Javier Bardem
Rated R

From Richard Lester, starring Sean Connery, Brooke Adams, Jack Weston, Hector Elizondo
Rated R

From Mathieu Kassovitz, starring Vin Diesel, Michelle Yeoh, Mélanie Thierry, Gérard Depardieu
Rated PG-13