Movies About Vietnam War

From Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Sally Field
Rated PG-13

Forrest Gump is a 1994 American comedy-drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Eric Roth. It is based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film stars Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, and Sally Field. The story depicts several decades in the life of Forrest Gump (Hanks), a slow-witted but kind-hearted, good-natured and athletically prodigious man from Alabama who witnesses, and in some cases influences, some of the defining events of the latter half of the 20th century in the United States. The film differs substantially from the novel. Throughout the film, Forrest recounts his life story to strangers who sit next to him on a bench at a bus stop. His story begins in Greenbow, Alabama in the mid-1950s, where he meets local schoolgirl Jenny Curran. Jenny’s mother (Field) is a single parent who struggles to make a living. She has many failed relationships and her health deteriorates over the years. Jenny and Forrest form a close bond, despite her troubled life. Many of the people and events in Forrest’s life are

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. It stars Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Martin Sheen, and Frederic Forrest. Set in the Vietnam War, the film follows the central character, Army Captain Benjamin Willard on a mission to kill the renegade and presumed insane Special Forces Colonel Walter Kurtz. Willard's journey up the Nung River in Cambodia to find Kurtz takes him to the brink of madness. The film evokes the horror and chaos of the war, contrasting the surreal jungle settings with the instability of the human psyche. It also contains an important antiwar message, questioning the nature and purpose of the conflict.

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

Full Metal Jacket is a 1987 war drama written and directed by Stanley Kubrick. The film follows a platoon of U.S. Marine Corps recruits from the time of their training to their deployment in the Vietnam War. The story of the film is divided into two parts. The first part focuses on the experiences of the recruits during their boot camp training at Parris Island, South Carolina. The second part follows the same group of Marines after they arrive in Vietnam. The film follows these men as they face the harsh realities of war and its psychological effects on them. Through their experiences, the film highlights themes of patriotism, the psychological toll of war, and the consequences of violence.

From Oliver Stone, starring Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Keith David
Rated R

Platoon is a war drama directed by Oliver Stone and released in 1986. It tells the story of a young American soldier, Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen), who is sent to fight in the Vietnam War. The film follows Chris and his platoon as they experience the horrors of war, and the internal struggle between two veteran sergeants, Barnes (Tom Berenger) and Elias (Willem Dafoe), over how the platoon should be led. Through the course of the film, Chris experiences the fear, tragedy, and brutal realities of war, and ultimately discovers the importance of life and the true meaning of friendship.

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

The Deer Hunter is a 1978 American epic war drama film directed and co-written by Michael Cimino, and stars Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken and Meryl Streep. Set during the Vietnam War, the film follows a trio of Russian American steelworkers and their service in the Vietnam War. After being sent to Vietnam, the three friends are captured and forced to play a game of Russian roulette. After their capture, the trio must struggle to find their way back home, struggling with the lingering effects of war and the bonds of friendship. With its sweeping visual style, powerful score and award-winning performances, The Deer Hunter has been widely acclaimed as one of the greatest films of all time.

From Roland Joffé, starring Sam Waterston, Haing S. Ngor, John Malkovich, Julian Sands
Rated R

The Killing Fields is a 1984 British drama film directed by Roland Joffé and based on the experiences of two journalists, Sydney Schanberg and Cambodian Dith Pran, during the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. It follows the story of Schanberg and Pran from their initial meeting in the early 1970s, as Schanberg is assigned to cover the Cambodian civil war, to Pran's escape from Cambodia and eventual return to his family. As the Khmer Rouge take control of Cambodia, Schanberg stays in Phnom Penh and Pran is sent to the countryside, where he witnesses and suffers from the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge. Through Pran's experiences, the film sheds light on the brutality and suffering of the people of Cambodia during this time, as well as the courage and resilience of those who survived.

From Ted Kotcheff, starring Sylvester Stallone, Brian Dennehy, Richard Crenna, Bill McKinney
Rated R

First Blood is an action-packed adventure film from 1982, directed by Ted Kotcheff and starring Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo, a troubled Vietnam War veteran. After being denied help in a small town in the Pacific Northwest, Rambo, now a wanderer, is arrested and mistreated by the sheriff, causing him to snap, and flee into the surrounding wilderness. Pursued by the law, Rambo unleashes his combat skills, taking on an entire police force in a desperate attempt to escape. With the help of a sympathetic local, Rambo is eventually able to overcome his pursuers, but not without leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. Despite its violent content, First Blood is seen by many as a commentary on the plight of the Vietnam era veteran, and a condemnation of the way they were treated when they returned home.

From Sidney Lumet, starring River Phoenix, Christine Lahti, Judd Hirsch, Jonas Abry
Rated PG-13

Running on Empty is a 1988 drama directed by Sidney Lumet and starring River Phoenix. Set in the late 70s, the movie follows the story of the Pope family, who are on the run from the FBI after they were involved in a radical protest that ended with a bombing of an empty military building. The family is forced to keep their identities secret and constantly move to avoid capture, while still trying to provide a normal life for their two sons, Danny and Harry. Danny, the older son, struggles with his desire to break free of his past, while trying to find a way to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional pianist. The film follows the family's journey over a period of several years, as they navigate the difficulties of living a life of secrecy and the desire to be a normal family in spite of their hidden past.

From Milos Forman, starring John Savage, Treat Williams, Beverly D'Angelo, Annie Golden
Rated PG

Hair (1979) is a musical drama directed by Milos Forman and starring John Savage, Treat Williams, and Beverly D'Angelo. The film centers around Claude Bukowski (Savage), an Oklahoma farm boy who heads to New York City to join an anti-war hippie commune. As he struggles to find his place in the counter-culture, he discovers a newfound freedom and meets a group of young adults striving to live out their ideals of peace, love, and freedom. Throughout the film, Claude and his group of friends experience the highs and lows of living the communal lifestyle, all while coping with the challenges of the looming war in Vietnam. Ultimately, they must decide if they will continue to protest, or if they will join the military and take the fight to the enemy. Hair is an inspiring story of how the power of youth, freedom, and love can overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.

From Adrian Lyne, starring Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, Danny Aiello, Matt Craven
Rated R

From Barry Levinson, starring Robin Williams, Forest Whitaker, Tom. T. Tran, Chintara Sukapatana
Rated R

From Hal Ashby, starring Jane Fonda, Jon Voight, Bruce Dern, Penelope Milford
Rated R

From Julie Taymor, starring Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson, Dana Fuchs
Rated PG-13

From Werner Herzog, starring Christian Bale, Steve Zahn, Jeremy Davies, Zach Grenier
Rated PG-13

From Oliver Stone, starring Tom Cruise, Bryan Larkin, Raymond J. Barry, Caroline Kava
Rated R

From Alan Parker, starring Matthew Modine, Nicolas Cage, John Harkins, Sandy Baron
Rated R

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

From Brian De Palma, starring Michael J. Fox, Sean Penn, Don Harvey, John C. Reilly
Rated R

From Joel Schumacher, starring Colin Farrell, Matthew Davis, Clifton Collins Jr., Tom Guiry
Rated R

From Sidney J. Furie, starring Stan Shaw, Andrew Stevens, James Canning, Michael Lembeck
Rated R

From John Flynn, starring William Devane, Tommy Lee Jones, Linda Haynes, James Best
Rated R

From John Irvin, starring Anthony Barrile, Michael Boatman, Don Cheadle, Michael Dolan
Rated R

From Karel Reisz, starring Nick Nolte, Tuesday Weld, Michael Moriarty, Anthony Zerbe
Rated R

From George P. Cosmatos, starring Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Charles Napier, Steven Berkoff
Rated R

From Peter Markle, starring Gene Hackman, Danny Glover, Jerry Reed, David Marshall Grant
Rated R