Summary

• Great war movies use historical backdrops to ground their fictional narratives and explore themes of heroism, sacrifice, and the human experience in times of armed conflict.
• War films that are not based on true stories have the creative freedom to captivate audiences with unpredictable plots and characters, potentially offering new insights into the nature and effects of human warfare.
• Despite not being rooted in real events, war movies with fictional premises can still evoke deep emotions, prompt crucial questions, and serve as powerful explorations of the psychological, social, and political impacts of war.

Great war movies not based on true stories typically employ historical backdrops in order to better ground fiction in the truth. Amid the realistic chaos of war, these modern and complex parables often explore themes of heroism, sacrifice, and the human experience in times of armed conflict. By crafting original storylines instead of directly borrowing from actual historical events, filmmakers have the creative freedom to captivate audiences with unpredictable plots and characters - potentially prompting new insights into the nature and effects of human warfare.

Many of the best war movies of all time gained prominence precisely for their fictional narratives, which allowed them to provide fresh perspectives on war without being bound by the constraints of maintaining historical accuracy. This approach allows for the exploration of diverse themes and characters that might not be present in true story adaptations. Despite not being rooted in real events, war films with a fabricated premise can still evoke deep emotions and leave audiences with crucial questions about the psychological, social, and political effects of all-out war. In essence, these movies serve as a testament to the enduring allure and versatility of war as an immersive cinematic backdrop.

10 Apocalypse Now (1979)

Based on Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness.

Is Apocalypse Now based on a true story? No, but the film employs the realistic setting of the Vietnam War to draw parallels between the American military's presence in Asia and late 19th century European colonists in Africa. Like the book on which the epic war thriller is based on - Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness - Apocalypse Now is an entirely fictional but reality-based and visceral critique of how easily human morality devolves within colonial power dynamics. Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) and Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando) may be fictitious characters, but their dark stories underscore the atrocious realities of war throughout human history.

Out of the 8 Academy Awards that Apocalypse Now was nominated for, it won 2 - Best Cinematography and Best Sound.

9 Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Based on alternate World War II history.

Inglourious Basterds masterfully uses alternate history to craft a gripping revenge fantasy set during World War II. The film reimagines a daring plot to assassinate high-ranking Nazi officials, including Adolf Hitler, altering the course of history. As the writer and director, Quentin Tarantino skillfully blends fact with fiction, creating a parallel universe where Jewish-American soldiers seek vengeance against the Third Reich. By subverting historical accuracy, Inglourious Basterds provides catharsis for audiences yearning for a satisfying conclusion to one of history's darkest chapters. Inspired by Tarantino's obsession over exploitative violence in '70s grindhouse cinema, Inglourious Basterds uses the backdrop of war to elevate classic revenge flicks - and audience expectations.

8 The Deer Hunter (1978)

Based on another screenplay about Russian roulette.

The Deer Hunter's Russian roulette scenes - its most defining moments - are not just completely made up, but also caused controversy for falsely depicting the Viet Cong as inhuman savages. However, beneath The Deer Hunter's controversies lies a poignant reflection of the American people's disillusionment with the Vietnam War. Through the wildly fictitious experiences of Mike (Robert De Niro) and Nick (Christopher Walken), The Deer Hunter highlights the randomness of war and the psychological toll of combat on individual soldiers. While criticized for exaggerating wartime events, The Deer Hunter nonetheless stands as a powerful exploration of the alienation, shattered lives, and trauma that comes in the wake of war.

7 The English Patient (1996)

Based on the novel of the same name.

While not based on real events, The English Patient is a fictionalized of the struggles of Hungarian aristocrat, aviator, soldier, and desert explorer Laszlo Almasy. In the movie, Laszlo (Ralph Fiennes) is flying an interwar vintage British plane when he is shot down by German gunners in the desert. Laszlo's injuries result in memory loss, but he is cared for by the combat nurse Hana (Juliette Binoche), and the two fall in love. By intertwining personal dramas with the larger historical context of WWII, The English Patient sheds light on the complexities of human relationships and the enduring emotional and physical scars left by the war.

6 Atonement (2007)

Based on the novel of the same name.

Grounded by its wartime setting, Atonement centers around a woman haunted by a grave mistake she committed as a young girl, which led to the unjust imprisonment of an innocent man and his forced enlistment into war. While it doesn't begin as a war movie, the big Atonement are hinged on WWII events like the Battle of and the Blitz, ensuring that the film's metafiction elements make it back to reality. Told across several time periods, Atonement's nonlinear narrative isn't based on any specific true story - yet it is arguably the rawest and most realistic romantic war drama of its decade.

5 Ran (1985)

Based on King Lear.

An epic war film about a Japanese daimyo who decides to divide his powerful and wealthy kingdom among his 3 sons, Ran is considered by many to be Akira Kurosawa's greatest film. Similar to the William Shakespeare tragedy it's based on, King Lear, Ran is a timeless masterpiece about the encoming consequences of acquiring, maintaining, exercising, or lacking knowledge and power. By grounding the story in both Japanese history and English literature, Ran's fantastical visuals, intricate character dynamics, and epic battle sequences become more relatable to the vast majority of audiences. Notably, Ran is just one of many Kurosawa films that were inspired by Shakespeare's works.

4 Da 5 Bloods (2020)

Based on the untold stories of Black war veterans.

Da 5 Bloods distinguishes itself as a compelling war drama despite its fictional narrative, drawing heavily from Vietnam War history. Director Spike Lee navigates the complexities of the war and its aftermath through the lens of four African American veterans returning to the country decades later. While not based on a true story, Da 5 Bloods explores themes of brotherhood and long-term trauma on both the American and Vietnamese sides of the conflict. Although some scenes have been criticized for still having a colonial perspective, Da 5 Bloods remains a big step in both Black and Amerasian representation in contemporary war cinema.

3 Guy Ritchie's The Covenant (2023)

Based on modern US interpreters and soldiers in Afghanistan.

Is The Covenant based on a true story? No, but Guy Ritchie's war and action drama is rooted in the real experiences of soldiers and civilians in Afghanistan. Focusing on the latter parts of the post-9-11 Afghan war, The Covenant shines a light on the untold plight of the over 300 Afghan interpreters for the US Army who were already killed by the Taliban, and the thousands more still hiding and fearing for their lives. Through the struggles of Master Sgt. John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal) and his interpreter Ahmed (Dar Salim), The Covenant paints a startling picture of how deeply America's presence in Afghanistan affected its civilian population.

2 RRR (2022)

Based on Indian revolutionary history.

The epic period drama RRR is the most expensive Indian Telugu-language movie that's ever been produced. Set in the 1920s, during the latter years of the British Raj, RRR is grounded in reality by its protagonists - real-life Indian revolutionaries Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem. However, though these two are contemporaries, their story in RRR is completely fictional, dramatizing details from early parts of their lives and filling in parts of Indian history that haven't been well documented. From its fantastical fight scenes and dance numbers, to its romantic story of revolution and war, RRR blends realism and Tollywood blockbuster filmmaking to deliver a mesmerizing tale of social upheaval.

1 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Based on Star Wars lore.

Although it's technically not a war movie, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story tackles the human cost of winning a rebellion. Centered on the lives and struggles of the rebels who disobeyed orders to capture the Empire's Death Star schematics, Rogue One is obviously a science fiction feature that's not based on real events. However, the overarching politics of Star Wars allegorizes mass conflicts in the real world, and this is deeply explored in Rogue One, showcasing the franchise's merits beyond the Jedi and Sith conflict. Notably, Rogue One also spawned Andor, which took its overarching themes of war and revolution towards a promising path for the Star Wars franchise.