Summary

• Megan Leavey highlighted the powerful bond between soldier and canine companion in a story of conflict and friendship.
• Other war movies like American Sniper and Private Benjamin explored the after-effects and challenges of wartime experiences.
• Films such as The Wall and A Private War delved into the intense struggles faced by soldiers and journalists in conflict zones.

The powerful biographical war drama Megan Leavey highlighted important messages about conflict and companionship that have been explored in other incredible war movies. As a true story about a Military Police K9 handler, Megan Leavey starred Kate Mara as a soldier deployed to Iraq who developed an intense bond with a military working dog named Rex. After both were wounded by an explosive device in the conflict zone, Megan was forced to fight for the right to adopt her canine companion in this effective story of conflict, friendship, and the extraordinary bond that can be formed between humans and animals.

Other films that highlighted many of the same themes or ideas seen in Megan Leavey included female-centric war movies like Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, which provided a more comedic side to conflicts in the Middle East and highlighted the challenges faced by women in these circumstances. Other war movies, such as American Sniper, told the true stories of returning veterans and their struggles to adapt to civilian society following the brutality of war and the consequences of PSTD. For those who wished to follow up Megan Leavey with a similarly great war movie, there were plenty of options.

10 American Sniper (2014)

American Sniper highlighted the after-effects of war for returning traumatized soldiers

While Clint Eastwood’s biographical war movie American Sniper had a far higher kill count than what’s depicted on screen in Megan Leavey, both films dealt with devastatingly traumatic consequences of conflict and the difficulties of adjusting to life after wartime. American Sniper told the story of Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper), a deadly marksman who, over four tours in Iraq, had 255 kills. A tense and sad of a soldier who underwent extreme psychological challenges, Cooper delivered a powerful performance that showcased the vulnerability at the center of his troubled character.

While Megan Leavey showcased the deep bond that was formed between a soldier and her companion, American Sniper was categorized by the toll PTSD can take on a soldier's personal life. This was a war movie that showcased the effects on those left behind and the neglect returned veterans in the United States often faced. A cautionary tale about the grim realities of war, American Sniper highlighted that, for those who must carry out murderous acts, peace should always be the goal.

9 Private Benjamin (1980)

Private Benjamin gave insight into the experiences of female soldiers

Much like Megan Leavey, Private Benjamin focused on a female soldier who, against all expectations, signed up for the army and found herself having to get used to a new military way of life. However, Private Benjamin was a fictional comedy that followed a sheltered high-society woman named Judith Benjamin (Goldie Hawn) as she confused and astonished those in her life with her impulsive decision. With irresistible charm and an appealing style, Hawn truly excelled as the lead in Private Benjamin.

Private Benjamin stood as one of the biggest box office hits of 1980 and took in $69.8 million against its budget of $9.2 million (via AFI.) The film led to a short-lived television series that recast Hawn with Lorna Patterson and ran for three seasons. Although Private Benjamin took a much more light-hearted approach to its military subject, like Megan Leavey, it highlighted a woman’s right to the United States Army and the way this was perceived by those in their lives.

8 The Wall (2017 film)

The Wall highlighted the challenges faced by those in conflict in the Middle East

The Wall was a war movie directed by Doug Liman that, like Megan Leavey, told the story of American soldiers serving in Iraq. However, instead of focusing on the K9 division and a soldier bonding with their dog, The Wall was about an American sniper and his spotting trapped by a lethal enemy sniper with just an unsteady wall between them. The tension-filled narrative of The Wall amounted to a gripping thriller that was well-paced, well-acted, and highly compelling.

Led by two strong performances from Aaron Taylor-Johnson and John Cena, The Wall was a tight and claustrophobic story that truly captured the difficulties of being stuck and in danger in conflict. With the only one who could hear the two soldiers' calls for help being their enemy sniper, The Wall presented a doomed situation that became even more frightening after one of the men was shot by the sniper. The Wall soon turned into a one-man movie and became nail-bitingly tense as his chance for survival became increasingly unlikely.

7 G.I. Jane (1997)

G.I. Jane offered a feminist look at sexism in the military

While Megan Leavey told the true story of a female soldier and the challenges she faced in Iraq, G.I. Jane was a far more action-orientated story that depicted a female soldier who proved her abilities in a military that was dominated by men. Lieutenant Jordan O'Neil (Demi Moore) overcame gender discrimination as she participated in a grueling military training program in this Ridley Scott-directed movie. As the first woman to enter the elite US Navy SEALs training program, G.I. Jane delivered a powerful feminist message for all those who underestimated women.

While it does not have a true story behind it like Megan Leavey, the messaging at the heart of G.I. Jane was very real.

While G.I. Jane was by no means a perfect film and was brought down by clunky dialogue and an often-absurd storyline, at its core, it was enjoyable fun that packed a relevant message about sexism in the military. Moore showcased intense commitment to her role as Lt. O’Neil and, in the process, Moore gave one of her very best performances. While it does not have a true story behind it like Megan Leavey, the messaging at the heart of G.I. Jane was very real.

6 Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Zero Dark Thirty explored the hunt to take down Al-Qaeda

Megan Leavey told the individual story of one soldier's experiences in the Iraq war while Zero Dark Thirty was a broader look at the Al-Qaeda terrorist network and the international manhunt for Osama bin Laden. As a depiction of the military raid, codenamed Operation Neptune Spear, where bin Laden was shot and killed on May 2, 2011, by US Navy SEALs, Zero Dark Thirty was a suspenseful portrayal of a major moment in the history of U.S. conflicts with the Middle East. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty followed up the conflict themes of her previous film The Hurt Locker.

Zero Dark Thirty, like Megan Leavey, also homed in on the female experience of those embroiled in conflict through the fictional character of Maya (Jessica Chastain), a CIA intelligence analyst who was instrumental in tracking al-Qaeda and bin Laden. The character of Maya was a composite of many who were involved the Operation Neptune Spear, although she was in part modeled after Alfreda s Bikowsky (via Zero Dark Thirty changed many things from the true story, it remained an intense war movie about a major moment in the history of conflict.

5 A Private War (2018)

A Private War showcased a female journalist's incredible determination

Close

The Military Police K9 handler Megan Leavey worked for the US Marine Corps in her fight against war and injustice while journalist Marie Colvin used her pen to highlight the horrors of war. The story of the American foreign affairs correspondent Colvin was told in A Private War, where she was depicted by Rosamund Pike in an exceptional performance that brought depth and nuance to her true story. Following Colvin’s experiences covering stories in the most dangerous conflict zones on the planet, A Private War was an of one woman’s unstoppable determination.

Like in Megan Leavey, Colvin in A Private War encountered traumatic experiences and even lost her eye after being ambushed by the Sri Lankan Army, which led to her wearing her signature eyepatch. A highly engrossing biopic to an awe-inspiring woman, A Private War showcased the sacrifices that journalists on the frontline of conflict have made and was one of Pike’s very best performances. Unlike Megan Leavey, Colvin did not survive and sadly met her end in the conflict in Syria, but A Private War acted as a fitting tribute to all that her incredible coverage achieved.

4 Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016)

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot was a more comedic look at Middle Eastern conflicts

Close

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

Not Yet Rated

Cast

See All

• 
  Margot Robbie
• 
  Christopher Abbott
• 
  Josh Charles
• 
  Tina Fey

• 
• 
• 

Where to watch

Close

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

• 
• 
• 

RENT

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

BUY

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Release Date

March 4, 2016

Director

John Requa, Glenn Ficarra

Powered by

Expand Collapse

While Whiskey Tango Foxtrot was based on a true story, it leaned more heavily into the comedic side of those who entered the conflict in the Middle East than Megan Leavey did. With a strong lead performance by Tina Fey as Kim Baker, a cable news reporter sent to Afghanistan, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot adapted Kim Barker’s memoir The Taliban Shuffle to produce a movie that balanced comedy with real-life experiences. With ing performances from Margot Robbie and Billy Bob Thorton, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot highlighted cultural disparities, the challenges for women in Islamic society, and the difficulties of adapting to these changes.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot did receive some criticism for its predictable screenplay, but the performances and messaging of the film helped balance its faults to deliver on its seldom-told story of women in war zones. With a sharp, satirical, eye cast toward the conflict in Afghanistan, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot started highly comedic and grew in seriousness as throughout its runtime. An underrated war film, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot would definitely appeal to those who enjoyed Megan Leavey.

3 The Stopover (2016)

The Stopover showcased three women’s wartime struggles

Close

The French language movie The Stopover, much like Megan Leavey, highlighted the experience of female soldiers who had faced conflict in the Middle East. However, instead of telling the individual story of one woman, The Stopover focused on three women returning from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. A highly acclaimed war movie, the sister writing and directing duo Delphine and Muriel Coulin won the award for Best Screenplay in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival for The Stopover.

With a setting in a luxurious beach hotel in Cyprus, The Stopover depicted its soldiers in a moment of respite from the psychological effects of war, which included group therapy sessions that brought the troubling experiences of the characters to the forefront. With building tension, The Stopover showcased that horrible experiences were not just limited to conflict zones, as they faced sexual assault at the hands of their comrades. A disturbing look at the brutality shown toward women in the military, The Stopover was an effective story that highlighted relevant topics.

2 Thank You For Your Service (2017)

Thank You for Your Service highlighted soldiers' PTSD

Close

Thank You For Your Service

R

Cast

See All

• 
  Keisha Castle-Hughes
• 
  Haley Bennett
• 
  Beulah Koale
• 
  Amy Schumer

• 
• 
• 

Where to watch

Close

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

• 

RENT

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

BUY

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Release Date

October 27, 2017

Director

Jason Hall

Powered by

Expand Collapse

The difficulties of trying to adjust to civilian life after having faced extraordinary circumstances in conflict zones united Thank You for Your Service and Megan Leavey. Based on a non-fiction book by Washington Post reporter David Finkel, Thank You for Your Service highlighted a soldier named Adam Schumann who returned from a harrowing 15-month combat tour in Iraq. With a strong lead performance by Miles Teller, Thank You for Your Service addressed PDTS among returning combat veterans and the nightmares and flashbacks their experiences brought up.

A sobering of the emotional impact of war, Schumann, much like Leavey, struggled to rebuild himself after leaving Iraq. Thank You For Your Service focused on realism and was an unflinching look at just how difficult it can be for veterans to reintegrate into society after having been institutionalized and transformed by their wartime experiences. While the anti-war message of Thank You for Your Service often came across as heavy-handed, it was still an effective war movie that deserved more attention.

1 Max (2015)

Max was a powerful look at extraordinary military dogs

Close

Both Megan Leavey and the adventure war drama Max effectively dealt with military dogs and the intense bonds that they formed with their handlers to produce films that packed a serious emotional punch. However, while Megan Leavey explored a woman’s quest to be reunited with her canine companion, Max involved the family who were tasked with adopting their deceased son’s former animal comrade and military dog named Max. An extraordinary of finding connection and solace for those who were gone through new connections, Max was a sentimental look at how a good dog can change somebody’s life.

The military dog Max, much like Rex in Megan Leavey, suffered PTSD from his wartime experience.

The military dog Max, much like Rex in Megan Leavey, suffered PTSD from his wartime experience, but gradually learned to carve out a friendship with Justin, the younger brother of his former handler. While Max can be criticized for its disted plot or emotionally manipulative moments, its story of heroism at the hands of the hound was a heartwarming tale that could be enjoyed by the entire family. For those wishing to follow up Megan Leavey with another story of war-serving dogs deployed to Iraq, look no further than Max.

Sources: AFI, The New Yorker