Summary
Naval war movieswere among the most exciting depictions of conflict ever seen on screen, as viewers witnessed the harsh conditions of the sea and the grueling expectations of those battling within it. The debilitating realities of naval warfare have been experienced for centuries as seamen and sailors traversed the seven seas, where individuals, countries, and regions found themselves at odds with one another. From awe-inspiring action sequences to technically marvelous cinematic spectacles, the best naval war movies were among the greatest feats of filmmaking.
The greatest war movies set at seadate back to the silent film era, when directors sought to depict historical naval wars despite the limitations of early filmmaking. Naval war movies have included historically accurate presentations of real events, genre-melding fiction full of fast-paced action, and deeply nuanced character studies that got to the very heart of humanity.The best naval war movies ever madewere among the most impressive battle presentations and have stood the test of time as must-watch cinematic events.
McHale’s Navy
Cast
A retired Navy officer returns to active duty, along with a group of misfit sailors, to battle his former nemesis.
The military comedyMcHale’s Navyfailed to live up to the legacy of the popular TV series it was based onand was slated by critics upon release. Despite a star-studded cast that included Harrison Ford, Tim Curry, and the return of the 1960s series actor Ernest Borgnine,McHale’s Navywas a naval war movie that sank like a stone as it bombed at the box office. However,McHale’s Navywas not nearly as bad as its reputation and was worth checking out for Bruce Campbell’s hilarious performance alone.
USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage
USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage is a historical drama film directed by Mario Van Peebles, starring Nicolas Cage as Captain Charles McVay. The film recounts the harrowing true story of the USS Indianapolis crew after their ship was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine during World War II. Stranded in shark-infested waters, the survivors face the daunting struggle for survival while awaiting rescue.
Based on the true story of a sunken ship during the closing stage of the Second World War,USS Indianapolis: Men of Couragewas a Nicolas Cage movie that depicted the greatest loss of life from a single ship in U.S. naval history. With more than 800 fatalities and just over 300 survivors (viaCBS),USS Indianapolis: Men of Couragewas a grand and dramatic storythat unfortunately deserved a better film. With lackluster special effects, little nuance, and a disappointing treatment of its central story,USS Indianapolis: Men of Couragecould have been great but was disappointingly average.
Pearl Harbor
Two best friends and pilots find themselves caught in a love triangle with a dedicated nurse just as the catastrophic attack on Pearl Harbor plunges America into war. The events of December 7 dramatically change their lives, and the film tells a dramatized tale set during the event that marked the United States' entry into World War II.
Director Michael Bay’s heavily fictionalized account of the attack on Pearl Harbor was reviled by critics but was hit with audiences as it grossed $449 million worldwide (viaBox Office Mojo.) Telling a love story set amid the attack,Pearl Harborwas packed with special effects and intense action sequences but lacked the emotional resonance to make it work. Seemingly an attempt to recapture what worked so well inTitanic,Pearl Harborjust never struck the right balance of strong characterization and impending disasterthat made that film so successful.
The Final Countdown
The Final Countdown is a sci-fi war film directed by Don Taylor. It stars Kirk Douglas and Martin Sheen as crew members of the USS Nimitz, a modern nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that mysteriously travels back in time to the day before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The film explores the moral and tactical dilemmas faced by the crew as they grapple with the potential to alter history.
The Final Countdowntold a story about a modern aircraft carrier that traveled through time to the day before the attack on Pearl Harbor, and it was filmed using the real US Navy ship USS Nimitz. Although a moderate success at the time of its release,The Final Countdownhas since garnered a cult following for its unusual premise and oddly effective style. WithKirk Douglas and Martin Sheen in the lead roles, this fascinating sci-fi story acted as a love letter to the capabilities and technologies of the Navy itself.
U-571
A German submarine is boarded by disguised American submariners trying to capture their Enigma cipher machine.
The tense thrillerU-571told a fictional story about disguised Americans boarding a German submarine to steal their Enigma cipher machine, a device used by Nazis to communicate top-secret messages. Although inaccuracies ledPrime Minister Tony Blair to describe the film as an “affront” to British sailors(viaBBC), that did not stopU-571from finding success at the box office. With beautiful cinematography, a talented cast, and an engrossing story,U-571may have issues regarding historical realism, but the film still made for riveting cinema.
Greyhound
Greyhound is a 2020 Apple TV+ war film starring and written by Tom Hanks. Hanks plays Captain Krause, a US Navy Commander who must lead his crew as they are hunted by the Germans during World War II. Elisabeth Shue, Stephen Graham, and Matt Helm star alongside Hanks in this Aaron Schneider-directed film.
Greyhoundwas a fast-paced World War II thrillerwritten by and starring Tom Hanks as Ernie Krause, an inexperienced U.S. Navy commander who must guide an Allied convoy being stalked by a German submarine. While the characterization could be stronger, the action sequences kept things moving full speed ahead as Hanks sought to avoid a total disaster.Greyhoundwas an insightful showcase of the logistics of battle that highlighted the more technical side of naval warfare during the Second World War.
Midway
Written by Wes Tooke and directed by Roland Emmerich, 2019’s Midway is a 2019 feature film starring Ed Skrein, Luke Evans, and Patrick Wilson. The film revolves around the invasion of Midway island and follows the war struggles between the United States and Japan.
The Battle of Midway was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II that took place six months after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, which was dramatized in the 2019 filmMidway. WhileMidwayfailed to make much of an impact at the box office, earning just $127 million with a budget of $100 (viaBox Office Mojo), it had incredible visuals but suffered from a weak screenplay. As one of the most expensive independent films of all time,Midwaywas overblown in its runtime, but its vivid battle sequences made it worth watching.
Tora! Tora! Tora!
Tora! Tora! Tora! is a historical war film directed by Richard Fleischer, Toshio Masuda, and Kinji Fukasaku. Released in 1970, the film offers a detailed account of the events leading up to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The film aims to present both the American and Japanese perspectives, featuring a dual narrative that provides an in-depth look into the planning and execution of the attack.
Although Michael Bay’s film may be the most widely known movie about the attack on Pearl Harbor, the greatest one wasTora! Tora! Tora!As an epic war film that depicted American and Japanese scenes, the action sequences were vivid, and it has remained a favorite among aviation aficionados. With an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects,Tora! Tora! Tora!was a spectacular war film whose reputation has only grown in the decades since its release.
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a historical drama directed by Peter Weir, featuring Russell Crowe as Captain Jack Aubrey. The film is set during the Napoleonic Wars and follows Aubrey as he navigates his ship, HMS Surprise, through treacherous waters in pursuit of a French privateer. Based on Patrick O’Brian’s series of novels, the film explores themes of leadership, strategy, and naval warfare.
With a plot and characters taken from Patrick O’Brian’sAubrey–Maturinseries,Master and Commanderreunited Russell Crowe and hisA Beautiful Mindco-star Paul Bethanyfor an epic Napoleonic War drama that maintained its humanity. As a wildly entertaining film with plenty of source material to expand upon,Master and Commander’sunderperformance at the box office meant its potential as a franchise was never utilized. Well overdue for reappraisal, any naval war movie lovers should do themselves a favor and watchMaster and Commander.
The Caine Mutiny
When a U.S. Naval captain shows signs of mental instability that jeopardises the ship, the first officer is urged to consider relieving him of command.
Screen legend Humphrey Bogartgave one of his final performances inThe Caine Mutiny, a military trial film set in World War II’s Pacific theater. Bogart played LCDR Philip Francis Queeg on board a U.S. Navy destroyer minesweeper, and it depicted his subsequent trial for mutiny. As one of the most popular movies of 1954,The Caine Mutinywas a fascinating and complex storyfilled with great characters, insightful performances, and a movie that packed a lot into its two-hour runtime.
