Movies About The Pacific War

Updated April 1, 2024

Have you heard these Movies About The Pacific War? We bet you'll find some new movies. We put together 14 of the best ones.

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 an iconic 1957 British war film directed by David Lean, based on the novel by Pierre Boulle. Set in a Japanese prison camp during World War II, the film tells the story of Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness), a British prisoner of war who stubbornly refuses to surrender to Japanese forces. He clashes with the camp commandant, Colonel Saito (Sessue Hayakawa), and leads his troops in constructing a bridge over the River Kwai for the Japanese in the hope of restoring some of their lost pride. The bridge ultimately becomes the target of a complex plot to blow it up by British commandos. Along the way, Nicholson's morality and sense of duty is tested as he is forced to choose between his loyalty to his country or his duty as an officer. The film is an exploration of the nuances of duty, honour, and collective responsibility as well as a gripping drama filled with intrigue and suspense.

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 Japanese-American war drama directed by Clint Eastwood. The film follows a Japanese squadron of soldiers sent to defend the island of Iwo Jima against the invading United States forces during World War II. Through a series of flashbacks and letters, the film portrays the struggles, courage, and friendship of the Japanese soldiers, as well as the harsh realities of war. While the American troops realize their mission is doomed, the Japanese forces remain determined to fight on in the face of certain death. Ultimately, the film portrays the tragedy, courage, and humanity 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 a 1998 American war drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick. The film tells a partially fictionalized version of the real-life Battle of Mount Austen, which was part of the Guadalcanal Campaign in World War II. It follows a group of US soldiers as they fight against Japanese forces in the Pacific. It is an exploration of the psychology of warfare, in which the characters struggle to reconcile their experiences of the horror of war with their own personal beliefs. The cast includes Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Adrien Brody, Jim Caviezel, Ben Chaplin, George Clooney, John Cusack, Woody Harrelson, Elias Koteas, Jared Leto, John C. Reilly and John Travolta. The Thin Red Line was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It won the Golden Bear at the 1999 Berlin International Film Festival and was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival.