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They may not be as popular as rom-coms but war movies are still an integral part of Hollywood entertainment. Oftentimes, they shed light on some critical moments in history. The likes of Pearl Harbor, Dunkirk, and 1917 are all based on real historical event and attempt to portray the harsh realities of war.
However, there are also some war films that go beyond that and focus on the affects war can have on an individual's mental health, such as American Sniper and Brothers.While most of these movies do receive some form of recognition from critics and the public, some can also fly under the radar and go largely unnoticed (if one takes a look at the box office figures).
10 Hit: 1917 - $384,131,585
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Set in World War I, this war movie is recognized as one of the best WW1 epics of all time. The story focuses on two soldiers, played by Dean-Charles Chapman and George MacKay, who must cross enemy lines to deliver a critical message that can save thousands of lives. 1917 also features one of the best long takes in action movie history. For director Sam Mendes, the reason for doing this simple. He told Vox, “The feeling that you are going to have to live through the story with them is accentuated by not cutting.”
9 Hit: Saving Private Ryan - $481,840,909
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Some say that Saving Private Ryan is the greatest war movie ever made. For starters, it features one of the biggest battles of WWII in movies, specifically the movie’s opening sequence which reenacts the Allied Invasion during D-Day in Normandy. In crafting the sequence, the film’s director, Steven Spielberg, spoke with several war veterans to get an accurate account of what happened.
While speaking with DGA, Spielberg explained, “I spend hours interviewing veterans of that moment and they said there was blood everywhere.” That’s why he gave the beach a eerily-graphic look.
8 Hit: Dunkirk - $525,245,546
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Set in 1940, this war movie recounts the time that the Allied forces were trapped in Dunkirk following Germany’s advance into France. Although the characters in the movie are mostly unnamed, fans still recognized a slew of familiar faces, including Tom Hardy as pilot Farrier and pop star Harry Styles as British soldier Alex.
Dunkirk happens to be the first movie that Styles has ever done. And while speaking about his experience with director Christopher Nolan, the singer told The Big Issue, “[Nolan] never makes you feel like you have to try too hard.”
7 Hit: American Sniper - $547,426,372
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American Sniper stars Bradley Cooper as the late U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. The movie is based on a book written by Kyle, which discussed his experiences on the battlefield. While working on the movie, Cooper initially thought that he and Kyle would work on the film together.
The two had spoken once and the actor told NPR, “We had a great conversation, but little did I ever think that would be the last time I'd ever get to talk to him….” Unfortunately, Kyle was killed while he was at a shooting range. Nonetheless, his legacy lives on in this movie.