The 10 Best War Movies Based on Books, Ranked

The best war movies based on books bring powerful stories about combat to life, as seen in classics like Apocalypse Now and Grave of the Fireflies.

January 26, 2025 · 1 min · 143 words · Debra Fisher

This is true for any genre, from comedy to fantasy, sci-fi, and horror.

Yes, this is the case with war movies, too.

Others still, may choose to write a fictitious story with war as a backdrop.

The-10-Best-War-Movies-Based-on-Books,-Ranked

Image by Federico Napoli

Sure, maybe it didn’t deserve the award for Best Picture, but it definitely deserved something.

Unfortunately for the US, they have severely underestimated Aidid, who has studied US battle plans.

But the 1930 one is often regarded by critics as being the best one.

Hawkeye (Daniel Day-Lewis) runs into battle with British soldiers, a musket slung across his back

Image via 20th Century Studios

Unfortunately for them, they have no idea what they have gotten themselves into.

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Two American soldiers hold their rifles close and lie on their backs in tall grass in ‘The Thin Red Line’

Image via 20th Century Studios

Two Rangers face down a machine gun emplacement

Image via Sony

Paul (left) lays down while covering the mouth of a wounded soldier (right), who is also lying down

Image via Universal Pictures

Wladyslaw playing the piano in The Pianist

Image by Pathé Distribution

Flyora looking directly at the camera in Come and See

Image via Sovexportfilm

Lawrence of Arabia

Image via Columbia Pictures

lawrence of arabia poster

A little girl in a red coat walking alone in Schindler’s List

Image via Universal Pictures

Seita and Setsuko walk in a field of flowers and fireflies in Grave of the Fireflies

Image via Toho

Benjamin (Martin Sheen) sneaks through a muddy brook with his face camouflaged in paint in Apocalypse Now.

Image via United Artists

Movie

Apocalypse Now