The Top 10 Best Iraq War Movies
These Iraq War Movies Show the Realities of Modern Warfare
We’ve been stuck in the Iraq War for over 16 years now, which means that Hollywood has had plenty of time to profit off of it. They say that war is hell, but that doesn’t mean that all movies about war have to be hell to sit through. That’s why I decided that it would be a good idea to sit down and take a hard look at just how many movies are set during the Iraq War. There was a lot to choose from ranging from Oscar winners to some that were so bad they could probably be used during enhanced interrogations. Surprisingly though there are a lot of sides to this war that has been shown in movies, and it looks like Hollywood is taking a serious look at the toll that war takes not just on the soldiers that fight it, but also the ones they love at home. One thing that is clear from this list of movies, the Iraq War is complicated. Then again, war never is simple. So, get ready for this list of the Top 10 Iraq War movies and be sure to let me know if the comments below which is your favorite!
10. 12 Strong
The newest movie on this list boasts a cast made up of some of the manliest men that Hollywood could muster, which is great because this movie really stands on the shoulders of the cast. Based on the true story of some of the first soldiers to enter Afghanistan after 9/11 there’s a sense of nobility behind it that really seems to make the film greater than the sum of its parts. That’s not to say it’s a bad movie though because it’s filled with some truly epic battle sequences, making it one of the more exciting Iraq War movies we’ve seen over the years. While this war has had it’s fair share of amazing stories of warriors, 12 Strong is a tale that is considered one of the greatest victories the United States has seen.
9. Thank You For Your Service
If the Iraq War has shown us one thing, it’s that soldiers don’t leave battles behind when they come home. Thank You For Your Service is a film that examines the psychological impact war has on those who do manage to make it home. In fact, reintegrating to civilian life can be the hardest thing a soldier does. The film delivers some truly amazing performances that show just how much anguish returning soldiers feel after they’ve served the country. However, it also shows how the country they served so valiantly is slowly turning its back on its veterans. Gone are the days where they were out of sight out of mind. Now we are faced with the consequences of what we demanded of them
8. Megan Leavey
Some Iraq War heroes have four legs. Some of the unsung heroes of this war are the dogs that sniff out bombs to help save lives. Megan is a Marine who doesn’t really get along with people too well, which is why she’s paired with Rex, a problematic German Shepard. The two quickly form an unbreakable bond and go on to serve their country by locating bombs and weapons caches before they can hurt soldiers. The two go on to become bonafide war heroes but the greatest battle Megan has to face is getting a chance to be with Rex again after the Marine Crops separates them. For those of you anxiously wondering, I can confirm that the dog does not die in this war movie.
7. Last Flag Flying
One of the less common stories you hear about in the Iraq War is how those that fallen soldiers leave behind have to face life without their loved ones. This is another 2017 movie that was incredibly moving as a father is faced with having to bury his son just after the death of his wife. Luckily, he has some war buddies from Vietnam that are there to support him the best they can. There are very clear parallels drawn between the two wars because soldiers are facing a lot of the same issues. Their enemies don’t wear uniforms and many are faced with having to do unspeakable things in service of their country.
6. Buried
Let’s face it, I always try to fit Ryan Reynolds on my Top 10 list. It just so happens that he was in one hell of a psychological thriller set in the Iraq War. Reynolds stars as a civilian contractor in Iraq who is captured and buried alive in order to be ransomed. He finds himself alone in a box with no idea where he is an only a cell phone to contact the outside world in hopes that he will be rescued before his air runs out. The entire movie is shot inside the box and Reynolds is the only actor you see, which isn’t a bad thing. It’s a far departure from the typical wisecracking roles he normally takes, but he definitely sells is as a man caught in a war he’s not even fighting.