8 Best Movies About World War 1 You Need to Watch
World War 1, the Great War, fundamentally reshaped the global landscape, and its echoes resonate even today. Cinema has grappled with its immense scale, human cost, and complex legacy since the earliest days of film. For anyone seeking to understand this pivotal conflict through powerful storytelling, exploring the Best Movies World War 1 has inspired is essential. These classic films offer diverse perspectives, from the trenches to the home front, showcasing heroism, disillusionment, and the enduring human spirit amidst unprecedented turmoil. Here are eight remarkable films that provide context and perspective on the war and the experiences of those who lived through it.
Sergeant York (1941) – PG
A cornerstone of classic war cinema, Sergeant York remains a compelling and largely accurate portrayal of a WWI experience. Gary Cooper delivers an Oscar-winning performance as Alvin York, one of the most highly decorated American soldiers of the war. This biographical film traces his journey from a conscientious objector to a celebrated war hero. While depicting early scenes with alcohol and later battle sequences, the film handles these elements with relative restraint suitable for its era.
You can rent the film on Amazon.
Gary Cooper portraying Alvin York holding a rifle in the 1941 film Sergeant York
La Grande Illusion (1937) – PG
Directed by Jean Renoir, La Grande Illusion is a landmark achievement in WWI cinema, offering a poignant look at the French perspective. Set primarily within German prisoner-of-war camps, it explores themes of class, nationality, and shared humanity that transcend enemy lines. The film features aerial combat scenes and a non-graphic depiction of a character being shot. Its focus on the relationships between captives and captors provides a unique and deeply moving view of the war, different from typical American narratives.
You can rent the film on Amazon.
French officers in a German POW camp scene from the classic WWI movie La Grande Illusion (1937)
The African Queen (1951) – PG
While set against the backdrop of WWI in German East Africa, The African Queen is beloved for the sparkling chemistry between its leads, Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. Directed by John Huston, the story follows the unlikely pairing of a rough-edged riverboat captain and a prim missionary spinster who team up to sabotage a German gunboat. This adventure-romance expertly balances wartime tension with humour and touching character development. With minimal violence, it’s a classic suitable for a wide audience. For more details on content, see commonsensemedia.org.
You can rent the film on Amazon or watch it free with Amazon Prime.
Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn navigating treacherous waters in The African Queen (1951)
All Quiet On the Western Front (1930) – PG-13
Based on Erich Maria Remarque’s powerful anti-war novel, Lewis Milestone’s All Quiet on the Western Front is a harrowing and deeply moving depiction of the war from the perspective of young German soldiers. It starkly portrays their initial patriotic fervor giving way to brutal disillusionment in the trenches. Despite being produced under the Hays Code, which limited explicit content, the film contains impactful battle scenes that convey the horrors of war. It remains one of the most influential anti-war films ever made. Further information is available at commonsensemedia.org.
You can rent the film on Amazon.
German soldiers advancing through trenches in the impactful 1930 WWI film All Quiet on the Western Front
A Farewell to Arms (1957) – PG-13
Adapted from Ernest Hemingway’s semi-autobiographical novel, this version of A Farewell to Arms stars Rock Hudson as an American ambulance driver serving on the Italian front during WWI. After being wounded, he falls deeply in love with a British nurse, played by Jennifer Jones. The film intertwines the romance with the backdrop of the war. While made under the Code, limiting graphic content, a central theme involves the affair between the main characters. Battlefield scenes are present but generally subdued.
You can rent the film on Amazon.
Rock Hudson as an American soldier embraces Jennifer Jones as a British nurse in A Farewell to Arms (1957)
Paths of Glory (1957) – PG-13
Directed by Stanley Kubrick, Paths of Glory is a blistering critique of military hierarchy and the futility of war. Kirk Douglas stars as Colonel Dax, a principled French commanding officer who defends his soldiers against charges of cowardice after they refuse to carry out a suicidal attack. This intense anti-war film features stark depictions of trench warfare and highlights the callousness of some military leaders. It’s a powerful and challenging piece of WWI cinema. For content details, visit commonsensemedia.org.
You can rent the film on Amazon or watch it free with Amazon Prime.
Kirk Douglas as Colonel Dax inspects French troops in the trenches in Stanley Kubrick's Paths of Glory (1957)
The Lost Patrol (1934) – PG-13
Set in the Mesopotamian desert during WWI, John Ford’s The Lost Patrol follows a British cavalry unit whose commander is killed, leaving the sergeant (Victor McLaglen) in charge without knowing their mission. As they become stranded and picked off one by one by unseen enemies, the film builds suspense and explores the psychological toll of isolation and fear. It’s an intense, atmospheric war film with some scenes depicting death, though not graphically.
You can rent the film on Amazon.
British soldiers scan the Mesopotamian desert horizon in the tense WWI film The Lost Patrol (1934)
They Shall Not Grow Old (2018) – R
Peter Jackson’s groundbreaking documentary They Shall Not Grow Old uses state-of-the-art technology to restore, colorize, and add sound to original WWI footage from the Imperial War Museums’ archives. Paired with audio interviews from British veterans, the film offers an unprecedentedly immersive and visceral look at life on the Western Front. Due to the nature of authentic war footage, it contains graphic images of injury and death, making it suitable for mature audiences. Read more at commonsensemedia.org.
You can rent the film on Amazon.
Colorized historical footage of British soldiers in the trenches from Peter Jackson's WWI documentary They Shall Not Grow Old (2018)
Conclusion
From sweeping epics to intimate character studies and stunning documentaries, the Best Movies World War 1 offers provide invaluable insights into a conflict that changed the world. Films like Sergeant York, La Grande Illusion, All Quiet on the Western Front, and They Shall Not Grow Old stand as powerful testaments to the human experiences within the Great War. Exploring these classic and modern interpretations helps keep the history and the human stories of WWI alive for new generations. Which WWI films do you consider essential viewing? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
