Movies About Veterans With PTSD

From Francis Ford Coppola, starring Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Frederic Forrest
Rated R

Apocalypse Now is a 1979 American epic war film directed and produced by Francis Ford Coppola. The screenplay, co-written by Coppola and John Milius, is a loose adaptation of Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness, and tells the story of Captain Benjamin L. Willard (Martin Sheen) of the U.S. Army, sent to assassinate rogue Green Beret Colonel Walter E. Kurtz (Marlon Brando) in the midst of the Vietnam War. The film follows Willard's journey upriver, through the chaos of the war, to find Kurtz and kill him. Along the way, Willard encounters a variety of characters, including the young U.S. soldier Lance (Sam Bottoms), the Australian photojournalist (Dennis Hopper), and the mysterious French plantation owner (played by Brigitte Fonda). As Willard nears his destination and the conflict nears a climax, he must confront the horror of the war and his own inner demons.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Matthew Modine, R. Lee Ermey, Vincent D'Onofrio, Adam Baldwin
Rated R

Full Metal Jacket is a 1987 war film directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D'Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey and Dorian Harewood. Set during the Vietnam War, the film follows a group of U.S. Marines from basic training to their deployment in Vietnam. Through their journey, they must overcome the psychological and physical toll of war while never losing their sense of humor. The film is divided into two distinct sections: boot camp and the Vietnam War. During the boot camp sequences, Gunnery Sergeant Hartman (Ermey) ruthlessly trains the recruits in order to transform them into obedient and capable fighters. In the second half, the Marines are sent to Vietnam where they must face their ultimate test: the enemy. The film is a powerful and emotional exploration of the horrors of war and the psychological toll it takes on those who fight it.

From Michael Cimino, starring Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, John Cazale, John Savage
Rated R

The Deer Hunter is a 1978 war drama film directed by Michael Cimino. Set in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the story follows a group of steelworking Pennsylvania friends from the small city of Clairton who enlist in the army to fight in the Vietnam War. At the center of the story are three friends, Mike (Robert De Niro), Steven (John Savage) and Nick (Christopher Walken), whose friendship and loyalty is put to the test when they are captured and forced to play a harrowing game of Russian roulette. Upon returning home from the war, the men find that their lives have been forever changed and their friendship challenged as they struggle to cope with the trauma of war and its aftermath. The Deer Hunter is an Academy Award-winning film that is considered by many to be one of the greatest films of all time. The film explores the impact of the Vietnam War on the lives of ordinary people in a powerful and emotionally charged way, and the performances by Robert De Niro, John Savage and Christopher Walken are considered to be some of the greatest in cinematic history.

From Errol Morris, starring Robert McNamara, John F. Kennedy, Fidel Castro, Richard Nixon
Rated PG-13

The Fog of War is a 2003 documentary film directed by Errol Morris, detailing the life and times of United States Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. Through eleven lessons culled from his life and career, the film provides an intimate portrait of a man who was at the epicenter of some of the most important events of the 20th century. McNamara reflects on the nature of modern warfare, the nuclear arms race, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the role of the United States in the world. The film also presents his views on the need for good governance, the dangers of hubris and arrogance, and the perils of the unchecked power of the military-industrial complex.

From Michael Wadleigh, starring Joan Baez, Richie Havens, Roger Daltrey, Joe Cocker
Rated R

Woodstock (1970) is a documentary film directed by Michael Wadleigh that captures the iconic music festival of the same name in 1969. At a time when the US was divided by the Vietnam War, the movie focuses on the coming together of people from vastly different backgrounds and how music was able to bring them together. The film features performances from some of the biggest acts of the era, including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. It also captures the massive scale of the event, with an estimated 400,000 people in attendance, and the subsequent chaos that ensued due to the lack of food and security. Despite this, the spirit of Woodstock remains an inspirational and iconic event, one that still stands as a beacon of peace and unity in a time of great turmoil.

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

Glory is a 1989 American historical war drama film directed by Edward Zwick 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 American Civil War. The regiment, which consisted of African-American free men and runaway slaves, was led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw (Matthew Broderick). The regiment's struggles to gain respect and recognition are portrayed over the course of the film, leading to their heroic and inspiring participation in the Battle of Fort Wagner. Along the way, there is conflict between the regiment's white officers and the African-American soldiers, as well as within the soldiers themselves. The film ends with a tribute to the fallen heroes of the 54th regiment and a closer look at the impact of their courage and sacrifice.

From Spike Lee, starring Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Delroy Lindo, Spike Lee
Rated PG-13

Malcolm X is a 1992 American epic biographical drama film directed by Spike Lee. It is based on the autobiography of the same name by Malcolm X, which was co-authored by Alex Haley. The film stars Denzel Washington in the title role, as well as Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Al Freeman Jr., and Delroy Lindo. The film chronicles the life of Malcolm X, a prominent African-American civil rights leader who was a controversial figure during the 1960s. After being released from prison, Malcolm dedicates himself to the Nation of Islam, quickly rising within its ranks and becoming a powerful and revered spokesperson for black empowerment. As his reputation grows, Malcolm is thrust into the spotlight of the civil rights movement and is forced to confront his own beliefs in light of the increasing violence and widespread racism he experiences. Eventually, Malcolm embarks on a pilgrimage to Mecca which leads him to become a changed man and publicly reconcile with his former enemies.

From Ava DuVernay, starring David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Wilkinson
Rated PG-13

Selma is a 2014 biographical drama film directed by Ava DuVernay, depicting the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches led by James Bevel, Hosea Williams, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Set in the Civil Rights Movement, the film tells the story of the courageous men and women who fought for voting rights for African Americans in the face of violent resistance from white supremacists. The film follows the efforts of Martin Luther King, Jr., and his Southern Christian Leadership Conference to secure equal voting rights in the face of strong opposition from the state of Alabama and its then-governor, George Wallace. The marches and protests culminate with a powerful march from Selma to Montgomery that culminates in a successful and historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, which ends with the passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The film is critically acclaimed, earning a nomination for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, with Ava DuVernay's direction also earning a nomination for Best Director.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Djimon Hounsou, Matthew McConaughey, Anthony Hopkins, Morgan Freeman
Rated R

From John Sayles, starring John Cusack, Clifton James, Jace Alexander, Gordon Clapp
Rated PG

From Edward James Olmos, starring Edward James Olmos, William Forsythe, Sal Lopez, Vira Montes
Rated R

From Gurinder Chadha, starring Joan Chen, Julianna Margulies, Mercedes Ruehl, Victor Rivers
Rated PG-13

From Chi Muoi Lo, starring Chi Muoi Lo, Sanaa Lathan, Paul Winfield, Mary Alice
Rated PG-13

From Steven Zaillian, starring Sean Penn, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Anthony Hopkins
Rated PG-13