It’s one thing to learn about wars from the past through the (sometimes dry) pages of a textbook in school. It’s a completely other experience to watch the scenes unfold on screen.Warfilms allow movie watchers to see how combat impacts a variety of people–from those on the frontlines, those affected in war-torn countries, and family members of soldiers, among others.
However, it’s become apparent that not all of these films are ideal if you want to know what truly happened. While some filmmakers hold historical accuracy to a high standard, others don’t mind playing loose to tell the story in their hearts. Whether it’s fiddling around with dates, rewriting the personality of an infamous figure, or straight-up lying, there has been a slew of falsehoods in war films. Keep reading for 10 war movies you thought were historically accurate, but aren’t.
10’Braveheart' (1995)
Braveheart
Bravehearttakes viewers to the late 1200s during the First War of Scottish Independence. When warrior William Wallace was a child, he witnessed the murder of several Scots, including his father and brother. Now, after yet another loss as an adult, Wallace is determined to stop King Edward I’s conquest of Scotland.
A Shaky Foundation
The film’s story was inspired by a poem, which itself has questions about its validity.Braveheartopens with Scottish noblemen being hanged, which never happened. The creative liberties don’t stop there. Even Wallace’s tragic backstory with his father and brother is thought to be made up. Add on the anachronistic costuming and flubbed dates and you have a film that puts the “fiction” in historical fiction.
9’U-571' (2000)
U-571takes a different approach to a war movie, focusing not on land battlegrounds but underwater. Set during WWII, it revolves around American submariners who intercept a distress call from a German submarine. They disguise their submarine to resemble the German one to steal a coding machine.
Recoding History
In reality, it wasn’t Americans who captured the first Enigma machine, but British soldiers. Some British politicians and military personnel have criticized U-571 for changing this and giving the accolade to the U.S. During the war, American soldiers captured just a few of these devices, painting U-571 and the character’s struggles in a completely different light.
8’Enemy at the Gates' (2001)
Enemy At The Gates
Enemy at the Gatesrevolves around the Battle of Stalingrad during WWII. Based on a nonfiction of the same name, the protagonist is a Soviet sniper named Vassili. Full of scheming and high-stakes back-and-forth between Vassili and a Nazi sniper, many viewers found it exciting. Accurate? That’s another story.
What Really Happened?
Vasily Zaitsev was a real person and there is some truth to the events in the film. Historians are quick to point out that maps and how countries were divided and recognized were largely false in the film. Some even believe the so-called duel between the two snipers never even happened. While some events are up for debate, many still appreciate the atmosphere and characterization the film delivers.
The Best War Movies Not Based on WWI or WWII
War has no boundaries, race, or religion. Here are some of the best war movies that are not based on WWI or WWII
7’Pearl Harbor' (2001)
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbordepicts events leading up to and after the real-life attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Rafe and Danny are two childhood friends who are now Air Corps lieutenants. Rafe falls in love with a nurse named Evelyn but before they can give their relationship a chance, Rafe is declared dead. A complicatedlove triangleforms as Danny and Evelyn grieve together.
War Story or Romance?
The focus was on the relationships, not the details of the battles. Thus, viewers are forced to ignore an ongoing battle that ended months before, actions by then-President Roosevelt that didn’t occur, and a complete rewriting of a planned bombing. If you want a messy and complex love story, this may be a great choice. But a history course? Look elsewhere.
6’The Patriot' (2000)
The Patriot
The Patriotis set in California during the American Revolutionary War. Benjamin Martin is a veteran who wants nothing to do with the approaching fight against Great Britain. One of his sons, however, joins the cause. As much as Benjamin wants to ignore when callous British officers come into town and cause havoc, he can’t look away.
Loosely Based or Loosely Researched?
A major critique came from across the pond, where some outlets claimed British figures were demonized whereas bad traits of American people were glossed over or minimized. Even claiming the film is “loosely based” on real events didn’t stop criticisms that the narrative was biased against the Brits and thereforedid not accurately portraythe bloodshed both sides participated in.
Stream on AppleTV+
5’Flyboys' (2006)
The Flyboys
Flyboysis a World War I film that follows a group of young men who volunteered to become fighter pilots. It shows them during the enlistment period to their first and last missions. Despite recognizable names attached to the project and a modest budget,Flyboyswas a box office failure. One reason was the glaring historical inaccuracies throughout.
No Care to Detail
For starters, the film combined two distinct Air Force units. Moreover, the mechanics of how planes and fighter jets worked were largely wrong. For a movie about aviation, the lack of attention to detail came off as lazy. Not to mention the wrong use of uniforms, certain famous vessels, and colors of squadrons. When it came out that a fraudulent military hero was the movie’s sole military adviser, according toScreenRant, it all made sense.
Stream on Peacock
4’Glory' (1989)
Glory (1989)
Gloryis an American Civil War film starring Matthew Broderick in a role significantly different from hisFerris Buellerdays. Here, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw is the commanding officer of one of the first Black army regiments. It starred other well-known names like Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman and earned three Oscars despite the liberties it took.
Overlooking Discrepancies
In the film, the regiment is composed of mainly former slaves, but that is not the actuality. It also paints Shaw in an overly favorable light, as though he was a huge proponent of anti-racism when evidence proved he harbored racist beliefs. The list of inaccuracies is long, but it didn’t preclude viewers from enjoying an otherwise good movie.
8 Best Civil War Movies and Documentaries on Netflix
Discover the best Civil War movies and documentaries on Netflix in April 2024.
3’Red Tails' (2012)
Red Tailsrevolves around the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of Black pilots during WWII. The group has been mistreated during their time in training, but now they’re needed in Italy as the war becomes even deadlier. They are frustrated with their ground missions and wonder if they’ll be able to fight in the sky as they prepared to do.
What Can We Trust?
While the Tuskegee Airmen were real, and of course, WWII actually happened, that’s about where sticking to facts ends. The film made bold claims, such as no bombers were killed by Axis powers, but proved to be false. Additionally, it allegedly boasted the airmen’s record to look more impressive. The movie received middling reviews and didn’t surpass its budget at the box office, highlighting the difficulty of balancing entertainment and historical accuracy.
2’Napoleon' (2023)
Filmmaker Ridley Scott is known for his epic historical movies, andNapoleoncontinues that tradition by chronicling the rise of the notorious French leader. Joaquin Phoenix starred as the titular character (thoughhe almost backed out). After several pandemic-related delays, filming was completed, and the movie was released in 2023 with a whopping budget, reportedly exceeding $200 million.
What It Messed Up
Historians believe the film viewed Napoleon with a 21st-century lens, ignoring how adored he was by many French people of his time. By misrepresenting Napoleon, it failed to capture how and why he rose to power. The movie also shows him attending the execution of Marie Antoinette, shows him giving military orders he had no hand in, andmakes up key momentsin his marriage to his wife Josephine.
1’The Green Berets' (1968)
The Green Berets
InThe Green Berets, an anti-war reporter named George is assigned to follow a military group and cover the Vietnam War. Colonel Mike Kirby is given the task to kidnap the opposing side’s commander.The Green Beretsis largely seen as a pro-war, anti-communist movie.
Lost in Propaganda?
It’s also mostly seen as inaccurate. The pro-war sentiment forces the movie to ignore the injustices handed out by American soldiers. It appeared those behind the movie were so focused on getting the message across they sacrificed geographical details and flattened the perspective of Vietnamese people impacted by the war.
