War movieshave always fascinated audiences with their honest depictions of conflict and rousing messages of hope and courage. While some are so realistic they take us into the heart of battle, others shine a light on the trauma induced by war on innocents and civilians. Either way, these movies grip us like none other.
The greatest difficulty in making sure a war film resonates with the audience is making sure to stay as historically accurate as possible. Whether it is the depiction of scenes, army units, weaponry, or trenches, the wartime realization must leave the viewer with a sense of understanding. Yet, for all the bloodshed and horror, some moviesfail to translate to box office successes. While some of these films outperform their budgets, it’s well known that after marketing costs, films typically need to make at least double their budget to be seen as even a small financial success.
Buried among the most celebrated and popular war movies are cinematic gems that went unnoticed because of their box office numbers. The newer generation has come to appreciate and recognize their value, and it is time we gave these movies a fresh chance to shine, too. From bleak character studies to sweeping epics, this list takes a look at 20 underrated war movies that may have bombed at the box office but are definitely worth your time.
20Johnny Got His Gun (1971)
$767,794 Against a $1 Million Budget
Set in World War I,Johnny Got His Gunis an independent anti-war epic that follows a young American soldier who finds himself waking up in a hospital bed completely paralyzed, without sight, hearing or speech, as a result of being hit by an artillery shell. Confined to his own mind and prisoner to his body, he loses himself in his thoughts and memories, trying to figure out what happened. Soon, he finds a way to communicate with the doctors.
A Heartbreaking Exploration of World War I
Johnny Got His Gunis director Dalton Trumbo’s debut in the industry, and headapts the film from his own novelof the same name, which was inspired by an article Trumbo once read in the newspaper. The movie depicts the psychological and emotional anguish of being injured in war with graphic realism.
Timothy Bottoms plays the lead, portraying the character entirely through facial expressions and occasional head banging. Controversial yet deeply touching, the movie unfortunately flopped at the box office, earning just $767,794 against its budget of over $1 million.Stream on Tubi TV.
$152,972 Against a $10.7 Million Budget
Set during World War II and chronicling the iconic Battle of Stalingrad in 1942-1943, the movie follows a ground of knackered German soldiers following their seizure of almost all of Soviet Russia. Led by Hans von Witzland, the battalion must desert the Wehrmacht’s 6th Army. As the battle takes its toll on both armies, the soldiers find themselves questioning their purpose and the ideological foundations of the war.
A Look At How War Cripples Humanity
Stalingradhas a bleak and atmospheric tone that it maintains throughout its runtime. Featuring intense battle scenes and an uncompromising depiction of the conflict, the movie offered the audiencean anti-war storythey weren’t ready for. At the time, the box office returns on its estimated $10.7 million budget were also extremely low. Whether it was due to its subject matter or the nihilistic ending isn’t certain, but Stalingrad has earned its well-deserved cult status over time.
18U-571 (2000)
$127 Million Against a $62 Million Budget
A fictional reiteration of the British capture of U-110 and her Enigma and cipher keys but nowhere close to the actual events,U-571is a movie that focuses on a US Navy submarine crew as they attempt to secure the encryption machines from a disabled German U-boat before the Nazis can destroy them. Their top secret mission is met with dangerous curveballs like dwindling oxygen supplies and mechanical faults.
An Edge-of-Your-Seat Submarine Adventure
Directed by Jonathan Mostow,U-571was somewhat of a success with fans, but was criticized heavily later for the historical and factual inaccuracies in the nautical action and the Americans’ role in the mission. The excellent production values and tense sequences made for a thrilling period of submarine combat, and the movie performed okay-ish at the commercial box office by making $127 million. But because it was released after the blockbuster hits like Three Kings andSaving Private Ryan, it only added to the audience fatigue at the time.Rent on Apple TV.
Related:Best Submarine War Movies, Ranked
17The 13th Warrior (1999)
$61 Million Against an $160 Million Budget
Adapted from Michael Crichton’s 1976 novel Eaters of the Dead,The 13th Warrioris perhaps the biggest box-office disaster when it comes to war dramas. It stars Antonio Banderas as Ahmed ibn Faldan, a Middle Eastern poet exiled as an ambassador to 10th-century Scandinavia. Given his past, he is reluctant to join the Viking warriors and their investigations, but once he overcomes his own fears, Faldan uses his bravery and intelligence to defeat an unlikely army of enemies.
Perhaps it wasthe juxtaposition of fantasy elements into a war epicthat did not sit well with the audience at the time, becauseThe 13th Warriorstumbled at the box office with only $61 million earned in theaters against an estimated budget of $85 to $160 million. However, the movie is underrated for its seamless portrayal of medieval combat and Norse mythology. Banderas is truly enigmatic under John McTiernan’s ambitious vision, garnering praise for his adventurous and humane turn.Stream on Hoopla.
16Kelly’s Heroes (1970)
$5 Million Against a $4 Million Budget
In 1944, during the Second World War, a rogue American officer learns that a bank full of gold is being held by the German army. With hopes of getting rich, he assembles a motley crew of US soldiers and decades to go AWOL from the war and behind enemy lines. Facing unrelenting German troops, minefields, and enemy tanks on their adventures, the group must work together to pull off the heist.
Rebellious and Entertaining War Caper
Loosely based on the true story of a hunt for Nazi gold,Kelly’s Heroesis another underrated war movie from the 1970s, but this one is more on the rebellious and ambitious side. It includes an ensemble cast made of Clint Eastwood and Telly Savalas, and supporting stars Don Rickles, Donald Sutherland, and Harry Dean Stanton, who provide comic relief amidst the fast-paced action and unbreakable bond between the misfit soldiers. Although it had a budget of $4 million, the movie barely made $5 million at the box office.Rent on Apple TV.
15G.I. Jane (1997)
$48 Million Against a $50 Million Budget
Starring Demi Moore in her career-best role,G.I. Janetells the story of the first woman to undergo training in the U.S. Navy SEALs. In order to test whether women have the ability, guts, and willingness to succeed in military operations, the Navy pulls out a 27-week training course and Lieutenant Jordan O’Neil is selected as a candidate. She joins the secret naval special operations unit, faces discrimination, and undergoes grueling trials to prove herself as tough and capable as any man.
Moore Is a Role Model for Women
For a movie thatportrays women in such an intenseand powerful light and has gained widespread praise now, it is a surprise thatG.I. Janefailed at the box office. Under the precise direction of Ridley Scott, Moore carries the project and commits to the role of a female warrior. To make the film more realistic and accurate, Moore had insisted that her co-stars undergo real SEAL training. However, the film was heavily criticized, which contributed to a disappointing $48 million against a $50 million budget.Stream on DirecTV.
14Casualties Of War (1989)
$18.7 Million Against a $22.5 Million Budget
Directed by Brian De Palma and written by David Rabe,Casualties Of Warreiterates a shockingly inhuman instance that occurred during the Vietnam War. Presented as a flashback from the perspective of a veteran soldier. Private Eriksson is a righteous soldier who must go against the orders of his superiors when his squad is ordered to kidnap, abuse, and murder a young Vietnamese girl.
Perfect Blend of Thrill and Heart
Hailed now as a well-told ensemble piece that shines light on the Vietnam War and the harrowing events that were overlooked amidst the bloodshed and loss, Casualties Of War greatly suffered at the box office at the time of its release. It made only $18.7 million against a budget of $22.5 million, which clearly was not enough to break even. The movie encapsulates the brutality and destruction in Vietnam with the help of punch-pulling performances from Michael J. Fox and Sean Penn.Stream on DirecTV.
13A Midnight Clear (1992)
$1.5 Million Against a $5 Million Budget
Towards the end of World War II, on the front lines of the Battle of the Bulge during Christmas of 1944, an American infantry squad was diligently manning an outpost for the night. That’s when they locate a German platoon, isolated in harsh winter weather, nearly having given up on the war effort. As the men co-occupy the space, they develop a mutual understanding and begin questioning the absurdity of war.
An Intimate Glimpse Into Humanity
A Midnight Clearis written and directed by Keith Gordon, who guidesa terrific ensemble castincluding Ethan Hawke, Peter Berg, Kevin Dillon and Gary Sinise as they depict a profound and moving story about the fragile bond that forms between soldiers on opposing sides. Critics praised Berg for crafting an air of isolation and unease and filling the gaps with thoughtfulness and camaraderie. However, with a small $5 million budget, the movie failed to find an audience and only made $15.3 lakhs at the box office.Stream on The Roku Channel.
Related:The 15 Best War Movies Based on True Stories
12Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
Kingdom of Heaven
$218 Million ($47 Domestic) Against a $130 Million Budget
An epic historical drama directed by Ridley Scott,Kingdom of Heavenstars Orlando Bloom as Balian of Ibelin, a blacksmith who travels to Jerusalem and is drawn into the defense of the Kingdom during the Crusades. As the city disintegrates under greater threats and violence rises, Balian finds himself embroiled in a turbulent religious and political landscape.
A Lavish Period Spectacle
Shot on a $130 million budget, the movie’s aim was to offer a thought-provoking (and spectacular) perspective on the events that led to the Third Crusade through emotional character journeys. However, at $47 million domestically, it turned out to be an underwhelming project.Kingdom of Heavenwas criticized for havingan overly complex plotand for lacking depth. However, its lavish period setting led fans to re-evaluate the movie as Scott’s most ambitious feature of all time.Stream on Starz.
11The Thin Red Line (1998)
$98 Million Against a $58 Million Budget
Rightly seen as one of the greatest films about warfare, Terrence Mallick’s sprawling film takes you to the Battle of Guadalcanal in WWII, where both American and Japanese soldiers fought for a key strategic hill, Hill 210, on the island of Guadalcanal. The movie stars actors like Sean Penn, George Clooney, John Cusack, Jared Leto, and John Travolta, and was told through the eyes of men in the C Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division.
An Overlooked Masterpiece
HadThe Thin Red Linebeen made sometime in the last 5 years, it would have been considered a work of art and made waves at the box office. However, the fact that it was released only months afterSaving Private Ryanand was considered less of a war epic and more of a philosophical exploration of man’s relationship with mortality, made it a commercial failure. Against a budget of $52 million, the movie only made $9.7 million during the opening weekend and grossed $98 million worldwide.Stream on Starz.
