10 Best Special Forces War Movies Of All Time

Paying tribute to the most elite specialists that various military organizations have to offer, the War

genre’s finest special forces offerings focus on the most highly trained soldiers on the planet, from hawk-eyed snipers to ice-cool ordnance disposal experts. Chronicling the exploits of infamous units like Delta Force, SOE, or the Navy SEALs, many of these highly-regarded movies are based on remarkable real-life stories, from thrilling covert missions behind enemy lines to heart-pounding last stands in the face of overwhelming odds.

These aren’t just classics within the sub-genre either; several special forces-centric entries have been lauded as some of cinema’s best war movies, winning prestigious awards and earning rave reviews. Highlighting the tactical expertise and physical proficiency of the individuals who serve in these units through an array of spectacular feats on the battlefield, the best special forces war movies of all time simultaneously capture the near-superhuman levels of resilience and bravery that these soldiers are required to possess.

10

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi (2016)

Directed By Michael Bay

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13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi

War

Action

History

Drama

Release Date

January 14, 2016

Runtime

144 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of James Badge Dale In The Los Angeles Premiere Of Paramount+`s `1923`, Hollywood American Legion

    James Badge Dale

    Tyrone ‘Rone’ Woods

  • Headshot Of John Krasinski In The Premiere of ‘If’ at the SVA Theatre

    John Krasinski

    Jack Silva

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Dominic Fumusa

    John ‘Tig’ Tiegen

  • headshot Of Max Martini

    Max Martini

    Mark ‘Oz’ Geist

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Based on the real-life attacks on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, following a wave of violent political unrest, Michael Bay’s 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi pays tribute to the heroics of a group of private military contractors comprised of former U.S. Navy SEALs who held the line in the face of fearsome odds. Bay’s picture takes some decided liberties with historical accuracy but still manages to produce a gripping special forces picture for the genre nonetheless.

13-hours-secret-soldiers-benghazi-true-story

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While the 2016 war movie is somewhat hampered by a weak script and some questionable direction, 13 Hours brings the chaos of this apocalyptic engagement to life in thrilling and visceral fashion. Many of Bay’s more prevalent shortcomings are glossed over by the sheer excellence of the movie’s battle scenes and the committed performances of an ensemble cast, culminating in an outing that rarely fails to entertain.

9

The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)

Directed By Guy Ritchie

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare showing Henry Cavill and Cast With Weapons Walking Away From an Explosion

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The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

Not Yet Rated

Action

Comedy

Drama

ScreenRant logo

6/10

18

9.4/10

Release Date

April 19, 2024

Runtime

120 Minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Henry Cavill In The World premiere of 'Argylle'

    Henry Cavill

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    Eiza González

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Loosely inspired by a true story, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is one of the sub-genre’s newest arrivals, speaking volumes to the quality of Guy Ritchie’s war movie. The film depicts a heavily fictionalized take on the Special Operations Executive, better known as SOE, a behind-enemy-lines special forces group formed o carry out espionage and sabotage missions during WWII, and their role in Operation Postmaster, a daring mission to steal several ships vital to the German war effort from right under the enemy’s nose.

Featuring a star-studded cast, crackling dialogue, and spectacular action sequences while saluting the legacy of this elite group of real-life soldiers, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is quintessential Guy Ritchie from start to finish. While the movie regrettably bombed at the box office, the Henry Cavill-led effort received positive reviews, highlighting its status as one of the director’s most underrated offerings.

8

Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant (2023)

Directed By Guy Ritchie

Guy Ritchies the Covenant Movie Poster

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Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant

R

Action

Drama

War

8/10

Release Date

April 21, 2023

Runtime

123 Minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Jake Gyllenhaal

    Jake Gyllenhaal

  • Headshot Of Dar Salim In The 74th Berlin International Film Festival

    Dar Salim

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In addition to 2024’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Ritchie’s recent run has highlighted a knack for excellent special forces war movies, with 2023’s The Covenant receiving positive reviews from critics. Led by Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim, the film follows U.S. Army Special Forces Master Sergeant John Kinley, and the debt of honor that ensues between the Green Beret and Ahmed Abdullah, a local interpreter who saves his life while fighting the Taliban during the war in Afghanistan.

The Covenant’s gripping story is carried by two stirring performances from the leading duo to land as one of the genre’s most underrated recent special forces entries.

Clocking in with an excellent 83% Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score, The Covenant’s gripping story is carried by two stirring performances from the leading duo to land as one of the genre’s most underrated recent special-forces entries. Drawing attention to the real-life suffering of the Afghan locals who were viewed as American collaborators by the Taliban while producing a powerful commentary on America’s role in the wider conflict, The Covenant sees Ritchie flex his underutilized dramatic muscles to great effect.

7

The Guns Of Navarone (1961)

Directed By J. Lee Thompson

The Guns of Navarone Film Poster

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The Guns Of Navarone

NR

War

Adventure

Thriller

Action

Release Date

June 22, 1961

Runtime

158 Minutes

Cast

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  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Gregory Peck

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    David Niven

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Anthony Quinn

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Stanley Baker

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Based on legendary war novelist Alistair Maclean’s 1957 book of the same name, 1961’s The Guns of Navarone depicts a daring mission and a thrilling race against time, as a British special forces commandos unit attempts to destroy a deadly pair of large-caliber guns housed in an impregnable island fortress before they obliterate an Allied convoy. One of the best war movies of the 1960s, J. Lee Thompson’s classic is led by an all-star cast including the likes of Gregory Peck, David Niven, and Anthony Quinn.

The Guns of Navarone Academy Award Nominations

Result

Best Special Effects

Won

Best Picture

Nominated

Best Director

Nominated

Best Adapted Screenplay

Nominated

Best Film Editing

Nominated

Best Original Score

Nominated

Best Sound

Nominated

Effortlessly translating one of the most thrilling war novels of all time to the silver screen, The Guns of Navarone has lost none of its originally electrifying entertainment factor more than half a century later. Carried by strong performances and a legitimately nail-biting story, this crackling war outing retains classic status to this day. Thompson’s picture received seven Academy Award nominations, taking home the statuette for Best Special Effects.

6

Where Eagles Dare (1968)

Directed By Brian G. Hutton

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Where Eagles Dare

PG

War

Action

Adventure

15

9.9/10

Release Date

March 12, 1969

Runtime

155 Minutes

Cast

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  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Richard Burton

    Maj. Smith

  • Headshot Of Clint Eastwood In The AFI Fest 2011

    Clint Eastwood

    Lt. Morris Schaffer

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Based on a screenplay written by Alistair MacLean as he wrote the novel of the same name, Where Eagles Dare highlights the author’s penchant for captivating special forces stories. Led by Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood, the war movie follows a Special Operations Executive team of commandos charged with infiltrating a remote mountain fortress accessible only by cable car at the height of WWII. An intensely paced war movie loaded with twists and shocking reveals, Brian G. Hutton’s tour de force is an absolute classic.

Steven Spielberg has cited Where Eagles Dare as his all-time favorite war movie.

Boasting one of cinematic icon Eastwood’s most underrated performances to complement its thrilling action sequences and exemplary cinematography, Where Eagles Dare might not be the most realistic special forces movie that popular culture has to offer, but it’s undoubtedly one of the most entertaining. An unabated thrill ride from start to finish, this timeless entry continues to age like a fine wine to this day.

5

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Directed By Kathryn Bigelow

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Zero Dark Thirty

R

History

Thriller

Drama

ScreenRant logo

7/10

9.3/10

Release Date

December 19, 2012

Runtime

157 Minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Jessica Chastain In The 10th Annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony

    Jessica Chastain

    Maya

  • Headshot Of Jason Clarke

    Jason Clarke

    Dan

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Based on the international manhunt for the individual behind the September 11 terrorist attacks, Zero Dark Thirty dramatizes the years of searching for Osama bin Laden. Placing an emphasis on intelligence agencies rather than the military, Kathryn Bigelow’s picture technically doesn’t revolve exclusively around special forces, but considering the movie involves them at its forefront and its wider significance in the genre, it would seem criminal to omit this acclaimed entry.

Zero Dark Thirty Academy Award Nominations

Result

Best Sound Editing

Won (in a tie with Skyfall)

Best Picture

Nominated

Best Actress

Nominated

Best Original Screenplay

Nominated

Best Film Editing

Nominated

While the star-studded movie was not without its controversies, Bigelow’s picture still received widespread critical acclaim. Spearheaded by a stellar performance from Jessica Chastain, the movie earned five Academy Award nominations, taking home Best Sound Editing in a tie with Skyfall to boot. Highlighting Seal Team Six’s involvement in taking down arguably the most infamous fugitive the world has ever seen, this entry remains indispensable special forces viewing for the wider genre.

4

Lone Survivor (2013)

Directed By Peter Berg

lone-survivor

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Lone Survivor

R

War

Action

ScreenRant logo

8/10

9/10

Release Date

December 25, 2013

Runtime

121 minutes

Cast

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  • A photo of actor Mark Wahlberg at a screening of Arthur The King

    Mark Wahlberg

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    Taylor Kitsch

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Based on a tragic true story, few war movies can match Peter Berg’s Lone Survivor for visceral intensity and brutal realism. The 2013 entry was inspired by Operation Red Wings, a disastrous mission during the war in Afghanistan that left 11 Navy SEALs and eight Special Operations aviators dead. The film centers on Mark Wahlberg’s Marcus Luttrell, the last man left standing from the initial four-man reconnaissance team, chronicling the devastating battle that saw his entire team killed by the Taliban and the remarkable series of events of his survival.

Lone Survivor‘s sequences depicting the SEALs falling down the mountainside used no CGI, editing multiple segments of footage depicting stunt performers falling down 20 feet of cliff faces at a time. Unsurprisingly, this led to multiple injuries during production, including a punctured lung (via The LA Times).

Lone Survivor has been criticized for an array of purported inaccuracies and controversies, but that doesn’t take away from what is still one of the finest war films of the 2010s. Replicating a real-life modern engagement with an intensity that few of its peers can claim, Berg’s adrenaline-fused entry pays respectful tribute to the fallen and the wider SEAL solidarity while simultaneously highlighting their near-superhuman capabilities. Simply put, it’s another must-see special forces viewing.

3

Black Hawk Down (2001)

Directed By Ridley Scott

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Black Hawk Down

R

War

Drama

History

28

8.9/10

Release Date

January 18, 2002

Runtime

144 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Jason Isaacs In The PaleyLive NY Series Hollywood Legend Cary Grant: The American

    Jason Isaacs

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    Eric Bana

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Based on the true story of a helicopter crash against the frenzied backdrop of the Battle of Mogadishu, Black Hawk Down is one of the genre’s most revered outings. Ridley Scott’s high-paced war movie chronicles Delta Force, the SOAR, and the 75th Ranger Regiment’s involvement in the conflict, with Black Hawk Down‘s star-studded ensemble cast boasting a host of current and future Hollywood stars at the time of the movie’s release.

Bringing this explosive confrontation to life in blockbuster fashion, Black Hawk Down is also one of Hollywood’s most gripping depictions of special forces’ involvement in a recent conflict.

While it’s decidedly not flawless, Scott’s outing is still touted as vintage viewing for the wider war genre. Bringing this explosive confrontation to life in blockbuster fashion, Black Hawk Down is also one of Hollywood’s most gripping depictions of special forces’ involvement in a recent conflict. The movie captures the chaos of the real-life battle in awe-inspiring fashion, with the Delta Force snipers’ valiant last stand, in particular, serving as one of the genre’s most stirring scenes.

2

American Sniper (2014)

Directed By Clint Eastwood

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American Sniper

R

Biography

Drama

Action

War

ScreenRant logo

8/10

10/10

Release Date

December 25, 2014

Runtime

132minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Bradley Cooper In The Premiere of ‘If’

    Bradley Cooper

  • Headshot Of Sienna Miller In The Los Angeles premiere of 'Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1'

    Sienna Miller

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Spearheaded by a mesmerizing performance from Bradley Cooper, few war films exact an emotional toll in the vein of 2014’s American Sniper, let alone from the special forces sub-genre. However, that’s not to take away from the quality of what is arguably Clint Eastwood’s finest war movie, with the American’s biopic on legendary U.S. Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle receiving six Academy Award nominations.

The deadliest marksman in U.S. military history, the late Kyle was credited with over 150 confirmed kills, although his total tally is unofficially acknowledged to be even higher. The hauntingly introspective American Sniper chronicles his brutal training for the SEALs, his exploits on the battlefield that saw him dubbed “the Legend” for his proficiency, and his struggles with PTSD upon his return home to life with unflinching clarity to earn modern classic status.

1

The Hurt Locker (2008)

Directed By Kathryn Bigelow

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The Hurt Locker

R

Thriller

War

Drama

ScreenRant logo

9/10

3.3/10

Release Date

July 31, 2009

Runtime

131 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Jeremy Renner In The World premiere event for Disney+ original series 'Rennervations'

    Jeremy Renner

  • Headshot Of David Morse In The 62nd Annual Drama Desk Awards

    David Morse

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Following the daredevil exploits of an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team lead during the Iraq War, The Hurt Locker is one of the most influential war movies ever made. Winning six out of the nine Academy Awards that it received nominations for, the 2008 film saw Kathryn Bigelow become the first woman in history to take home the Oscar for Best Director, while Jeremy Renner’s visceral lead bow as the adrenaline-hungry William James is often cited as one of the greatest performances the genre has ever witnessed.

Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker walking away and getting hit with a bomb explosion

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The Hurt Locker has been subject to some criticism from veterans for purported military and historical inaccuracies, but the quality of Bigelow’s movie rarely fails to disappoint. A sweaty-palms, nail-biting ride that highlights the immense physical and psychological pressure faced by bomb disposal units in the military, The Hurt Locker isn’t just the best special forces war movie of all time, it’s one of the most celebrated and significant entries the overall genre has ever witnessed.

Source: The LA Times