some of the best war films of all time shed a spotlight on some lesser-known wars that are just as impactful and compelling. These films show the harrowing atrocities committed around the globe and educate viewers on battles and wars they may know very little about.

Films such as The Killing Fields showcase the brutal realities of the Cambodian Civil War and genocide, offering an unflinching look into one of Asia's most gruesome conflicts in a war film that is still as impressive today. Classics like Waltz with Bashir examine the Lebanon War that started in 1982 in a unique format, with a graphic style that does little to shield the barbaric and haunting actions suffered by so many. These films are just as important as any other about the major wars, broadening the audience's perspectives and highlighting historical events that keep viewers hooked.

10 Three Kings (1999)

Based On The First Gulf War

Written and directed by David O. Russell, known for producing stellar darkly comedic dramas, Three Kings is a black comedy war film adapted from a story by screenwriter John Ridley. The film follows four American soldiers (George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, and Spike Jonze) who are on a mission to capture Kuwaiti gold, which is as perilous as it sounds, with the group getting dragged into personal matters and violent mayhem. The film takes place during Iraq's 1991 uprisings against Saddam Hussein and the conclusion of the Gulf War, a conflict between Iraq and the U.S.-led 42-country coalition.

Three Kings is a captivating film about a war and conflict that hadn't received much coverage to that point, being only eight years removed from the events itself. O. Russell masterfully directs the lead actors and the action to create an intricate blend of many genres, including war, drama, comedy, and heist, which all stand on their own but are elevated by the matching contrasts of each. The film has a fantastic storyline with several distinct plotlines, brilliant performances, and stellar cinematography by Newton Thomas Sigel it creates an impeccable work about the aftermath of the Gulf War.

9 First They Killed My Father (2017)

Based On The Cambodian Civil War

Based on Loung Ung's eponymous memoir, First They Killed My Father is a Cambodian–American Khmer-language thriller directed by Angelina Jolie and co-written by Jolie and Ung. The biographical drama is set in 1975 and tells an intimate and horrific tale during the Cambodian Civil War about 5-year-old Loung, who is trained to be a child soldier after her siblings are forced into brutal labor camps. Taking place during the Khmer Rouge regime, it highlights some usually untold elements of war, and about a war, that is largely overlooked, from the perspective of someone so vulnerable.

The film is unflinching in every sense of the word, from its omnipresent camera work, long, extended shots of terrifying sequences, and its thorough examination of the consequences of war on those who are forced to participate. Though some viewers criticized the slower pace, this methodical approach really helps prolong and highlight the atrocities, not allowing them to hide behind quick cuts and dramatized action sequences that add a veil of valor. It's a truly authentic look that deserves praise and accolades for its direction, writing, and amazing, younger cast.

8 Beasts Of No Nation (2015)

Based On The Sierra Leone Civil War

Cary Joji Fukunaga's Beasts of No Nation is an incredible war drama that had Fukunaga's genius sprinkled throughout its creation, writing, directing, and even working as the film's cinematographer. The film is based on Uzodinma Iweala's 2005 novel of the same name and follows a boy called Agu, who is recruited and used as a child soldier in the Sierra Leone Civil War. The film features an ensemble cast with talent up and down, such as Idris Elba, Abraham Attah, and Ama K. Abebrese.

Unlike some of the major wars featuring countries like the United States, Russia, and , conflicts in African countries can often be overlooked, both in of modern media and in the cinematic world. Films like Beasts of No Nation shed much-needed light on these issues and the horrific warfare that goes on, with this film showing an unfiltered look at the rise of child soldiers and the devastation of a country in civil turmoil. The performances are spectacular, with a particular nod to Abraham Attah as Agu and Elba, who both ground the work in an already harrowing film.

7 Black Hawk Down (2001)

Based On The Somali Civil War And The Battle Of Mogadishu

In one of the best war movies of the 2000s, Black Hawk Down is directed by the legendary Ridley Scott from a screenplay adapted from journalist Mark Bowden's non-fiction book of the same name. The film follows the U.S. Military's raid and mission in Mogadishu, where special forces are tasked with capturing a Somali warlord in a pivotal conflict during the Civil War in Somalia. After the attempt turns hostile and the subsequent crash landing of a Black Hawk helicopter, events go from bad to worse in a gritty look at a real-life scenario.

Black Hawk Down has a 7.7/10 rating on IMDb based on 433,000+ ratings.

The film features the definition of an ensemble cast with a whole host of stars and future stars gracing the screen, such as Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, and Eric Bana, who all play their roles perfectly. Black Hawk Down has been praised for its intense realism and authenticity in both the terrifying firefight sequences and in the technology and techniques of the squads portrayed, with impeccable attention to detail throughout the film. The film was no doubt deserving of its two Academy Awards for its technical brilliance in both editing and sound mixing, creating a truly immersive experience.

6 The Wind That Shakes The Barley (2006)

Based On The Irish War Of Independence And The Irish Civil War

Ken Loach's The Wind That Shakes the Barley is set during two periods of conflict for Ireland, including its War for Independence and then the subsequent Irish Civil War. It was written by Paul Laverty, a friend and collaborator of Loach, and it follows the story of two fictional brothers (Cillian Murphy and Pádraic Delaney) from Country Cork who both enlist in the Irish Republican Army to fight against the UK's rule over Ireland. The film goes past just wartime conflict and into family dynamics and relationships as the brothers who once fought together find themselves on different sides.

The film gives a unique look at a rarely talked about war that had far-reaching complications that still continue to this day, in personal and political grievances that perhaps will never see resolution. The Wind That Shakes the Barley was widely acclaimed, earning a Palme d'Or at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival in part for its fantastic direction as well as the amazing chemistry and portrayals from Murphy and Delaney. It is a ionate and intense film that is as much a brotherly drama as it is a war film, whose brutality and authenticity are summed by its harrowing conclusion.

5 Zulu (1964)

Based On The Anglo-Zulu War

Zulu is a British war film that depicts the relatively unknown Battle of Rorke's Drift during the Anglo-Zulu War, a brutal conflict between British forces and the Zulus in 1879. The film stars Michael Caine - in the first significant role of his iconic career - alongside Stanley Baker as a small group of British soldiers defend against an onslaught by 4000 Zulu fighters. The film was acclaimed for its grand production and epic visuals, but it's widely debated over whether it was a fair and balanced depiction of events or given a more fictionalized and favorable slant to the British .

In one of the best war movies from the 1960s, Zulu is a masterclass in expansive battle sequences and has incredible attention to historical details that many viewers would never even think to notice. The storytelling, performances, and cinematography provide an amazing look at a little-known conflict that really captures the brutality of earlier wars with less technology and modernized communications. Caine's performance as Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead, an arrogant and dismissive leader, is exceptional and showcases his emerging talent for the world to see.

4 Land And Freedom (1995)

Based On The Spanish Civil War

Land and Freedom is another war drama directed by Ken Loach, who also directed The Wind That Shakes the Barley, making a name for himself in these incredible war films about less-publicized conflicts with incredible emotional depth. The film follows an idealistic British communist party member (Ian Hart) who goes over to the anti-fascist Republican militia during the Spanish Civil War against a nationalist takeover of the government. As the battle rages on and the brutality of combat sets in, the British man must grapple with physical and mental challenges and the undermining of his original ideologies.

Like many of Loach's works, the main background of the Spanish Civil War provides a backdrop for a more personal character study of a man who is experiencing the personal toll of warfare. The film was praised for its authenticity and emotional overarching storyline, with the director's almost documentary-style camerawork leaving the viewers with no choice but to find themselves in the middle of the battle. Land And Freedom focuses on the man's internal struggles as well as the external dangers, proving a gritty and nuanced work that saw it nominated and winning several international accolades.

3 Waltz With Bashir (2008)

Based On The Lebanon War And The Sabra And Shatila Massacre

Written and directed by Ari Folman, Waltz with Bashir is an animated war documentary that pieces together Folman's memories and recollections of the 1982 Lebanon War - particularly with the horrific massacres of Sabra and Shatila. The film provides a haunting insight into the director's mind as he interviews other veterans of the conflict and is able to use their own words to piece back his own fragmented past. The animations, rather than removing the edge from the conflict, actually highlight and elevate the tragic circumstances with truly harrowing visuals that stay with the viewer.

Waltz with Bashir was scored by German-born British composer Max Richter, adding a tension and beauty to the sequences.

The film focuses on the journey of Folman and the journeys of other veterans in a dream-like animation style that mirrors the disted imagery that they share. Though the film won a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, and was nominated for an Academy Award, throughout popular culture and media, it is still one of the most underrated war films of all time. It is a truly gripping piece of investigative work that explores the deep trauma and guilt of those survivors who reflect on the personal and political issues that went into one of Lebanon's most horrific periods.

2 The Battle Of Algiers (1966)

Based On The Algerian War

Gillo Pontecorvo's The Battle of Algiers is an epic war film that takes place during the Algerian War of Independence, with a particular focus on the National Liberation Front's combat tactics against the French government during the war. The neorealist film expertly portrays the harsh realities and brutality involved in urban warfare, which sees both sides of the conflict descend deeper into more depraved and destructive tactics in order to gain the upper hand. The film was renowned for its realistic approach, shooting on location, with sequences, using many non-professional actors to add to the authenticity of the work.

The Battle of Algiers is looked upon as a masterpiece of cinema, praised universally for its unflinching and unnerving look at a conflict that has been overshadowed and underreported. Nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Foreign Language Film, its depiction of violence feels genuine but also necessary in a work that has started many debates about military tactics and their effects on civilians' everyday lives. The film has had an influence both in the cinematic landscape and in military back-rooms, with the depictions being used as examples for the future in one of the finest war films ever conceived.

1 The Killing Fields (1984)

Based On The Cambodian Civil War

In one of the best war films of the 1980s and just one of the best war movies, The Killing Fields is a biographical film directed by Roland Joffé. The film, like First They Killed My Father, goes into the Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia, as it follows New York Times journalist Sydney Schanberg and Cambodian journalist Dith Pran, played by Sam Waterston and Haing S. Ngor, respectively. It focuses on their relationship, as Pran survives the atrocities of forced labor and the war, and Schanberg grapples with her trauma and guilt for leaving her friend in the situation.

The film's narrative is expertly crafted, showing both events interposed as Schanberg and Pran both deal with their situations in two exceptional performances, with Ngor winning the Oscar for Best ing Actor. Like any war film that makes an impact, it provides an incredibly authentic portrayal of the horrors of the Cambodian genocide, bringing an international and political spotlight to the brutal Khmer Rouge regime. The Killing Fields is an absolutely flawless war film that goes in-depth about a lesser-known conflict and provides a hauntingly intimate look at one of the country's - and the world's - darkest moments.