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10 incredible battle speeches from war movies that we cannot forget.

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Obi-wan kenobi's homeworld was a joke from george lucas, five years after rise of skywalker, star wars shows how incredible darth rey really would've been.

• Pre-battle speeches in war movies reveal the true nature of leaders and their relationship with soldiers, inspiring courage and loyalty.
• Ancient war movies often feature pre-battle speeches due to scheduled battles, while modern wars have more spontaneous battles without time for prepared remarks.
• The best pre-battle speeches in war movies are impactful due to the weight of the context, and the speeches can live long in the memory of viewers.

War movies often feature calm moments before their epic battles when military leaders have the chance to deliver unforgettable speeches. These moments show the true nature of a leader, and the relationship they have with their soldiers. The main goal of a pre-battle speech is to inspire the soldiers to take courage against their enemies. If an army has an intense loyalty to their leader, this is the time they will show it. These quieter scenes provide a contrast to the chaos and carnage of battle. They show a more human side, which can heighten the emotion of the conflict.

Most pre-battle speeches like this take place in movies about ancient warfare. War in the ancient world was more scheduled, so armies knew when to expect battle, and could prepare accordingly. In more modern wars, battles can break out more spontaneously, so there's no time for prepared remarks. However, movies about wars in the 20th century still feature some memorable speeches from leaders addressing their troops in a slightly different context, before deployment, for example. Battle speeches in war movies are always fascinating due to the weight of context surrounding them, and the best speeches can live long in the memory.

10 King Henry V Before The Battle Of Agincourt

The king (2019).

He delivers a rousing speech which shows that he has finally taken to his role as king.

Timothée Chalamet plays a young King Henry V in one of his most commanding performances to date. The historical war biopic , loosely based on Shakespeare's plays, follows King Henry's uneasy start to his reign, as he is thrust into a war with France. Before the Battle of Agincourt, he delivers a rousing speech which shows that he has finally taken to his role as king. He tells his soldiers to fight for a united England, and that any one of them may die, including himself. His speech is so powerful because he backs it up with his actions, staying in the heart of the battle until the bitter end.

9 Alexander The Great At The Battle Of Gaugamela

Alexander (2004).

Alexander has been praised by historians for its accurate depiction of ancient battle, and the Battle of Gaugamela is the most epic conflict in the movie. The battle took place in modern day Iraq, as Alexander the Great sought to conquer the Achaemenid Empire. In Alexander, Collin Farrell plays the Macedonian king, and he gives a very unusual speech to his men. Rather than speaking to the army as a whole, he singles out a few individuals and shares memories about their brave exploits. This proves his close bond with his soldiers, and it shows them who they are fighting for as a collective.

8 General Patton Addresses His Troops

Patton (1970).

Patton begins with General George Patton, one of the most important American generals in World War II, giving a speech to an unseen audience. The camera stays fixed on Patton, although he is utterly dwarfed by an enormous American flag. This framing choice highlights the sentiment of his speech, that the country is more important than any one man. In his speech, Patton claims that winning is so ingrained into the American ideology that the country will never lose a war. It's a very unorthodox speech. Usually, speeches in war movies hope to inspire courage, but Patton says that losing is simply not an option.

Screenwriters Francis Ford Coppola and Edmund North had to tone down some of Patton's language to avoid an R rating, but the speech is otherwise very accurate.

7 Winston Churchill Speaks To The Nation

Darkest hour (2017).

Gary Oldman's masterful portrayal of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour features a few speeches. Churchill was known as a great orator, and Oldman's performance has the same composure and gravitas. Of all Churchill's speeches in Darkest Hour , his first address to the nation is the most impactful. He makes a radio broadcast from a small room, and must draw the requisite energy without a live audience. Still, he manages to summon incredible fortitude to capture the minds of the British public, stating that Britain will not surrender to Germany. Darkest Hour 's historical accuracy is somewhat questionable, but Oldman's performance is a resounding success.

6 Aragorn At The Black Gate

The lord of the rings: the return of the king (2003).

Aragorn arrives at the Black Gate of Mordor with the hope of distracting Sauron from Frodo for long enough to allow the hobbit to enter Mount Doom. He gathers his troops and delivers a speech that lays bare the dire situation they are in, but he displays an unshakable resilience. He tries to inspire the same bravery in his men, saying that although their courage may falter in the future, " today is not that day." This moment marks the final stage of Aragorn's long journey to becoming king , not just in title but in stature. With his army completely surrounded, he shows no fear at all.

5 Queen Elizabeth I At Tilbury

Elizabeth: the golden age (2007).

Queen Elizabeth gave her most famous speech at Tilbury, as she rallied her troops in preparation for the Spanish Armada. Elizabeth managed to command the respect of her army even during a time of extreme gender discrimination. In Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Cate Blanchett delivers the speech in a full suit of armor, ready to ride into battle with her men. The words of the speech are slightly altered from the real version, but it still carries the same sentiment. Elizabeth expresses that together, the army form an indomitable collective, and she emphasizes this by saying she herself is willing to live or die alongside her men.

4 Dilios' Rallying Cry At Plataea

Following Leonidas' death, Dilios galvanizes the Spartan troops before they take on Xerxes' army at Plataea. His speech starts off very quietly, almost as if he is recalling the brave feats of Leonidas and the 300 for his own benefit, but he soon builds his energy and shouts to his entire army. 300 is full of incredible quotes , and Dilios' climactic speech is no exception. He acknowledges that the Spartans are outnumbered, but he also knows that they are inspired by the courage of the 300, and their numerical disadvantage doesn't count for much. He says " The enemy outnumber us a paltry three to one; good odds for any Greek."

3 Captain Jack Aubrey Prepares His Crew

Master and commander: the far side of the world (2003).

He doesn't need to raise his voice at all, and this gives him a palpable air of confidence.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World follows the crew of a British ship, the Surprise, as they chase down a French privateer, the Acheron. As the crew prepare for an assault on the Acheron, Captain Jack Aubrey prepares his crew with a speech that reminds them of their responsibilities while also giving them courage. There are no generic calls for bravery. Instead, Aubrey trusts his men explicitly, and he gives them intricate technical instructions. Nevertheless, the crew are clearly captivated by his speech. He doesn't need to raise his voice at all, and this gives him a palpable air of confidence.

2 William Wallace Speaks To The Rebels

Braveheart (1995).

When the Scottish rebels see the size of the opposing English army, many start to flee. The arrival of William Wallace is enough to stop them in their tracks, but it's his speech that encourages them to fight. He compels them to seize their chance at claiming their freedom, because they may not have another. This is a great tactic to flip the mentality of the army. Instead of fearing the chance of death, Wallace urges his men to relish the chance at victory . The speech also contains the most iconic pre-battle quote in the history of war movies: "They may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom."

1 Spartacus & Crassus' Opposing Speeches

Spartacus (1960).

As Spartacus prepares his rebel militia for a showdown with the Roman army, he gives a stirring speech about how dying free is greater than living in captivity. Director Stanley Kubrick intercuts his speech with one delivered by Roman Consul Crassus, whose rhetoric is inhumane and authoritarian. By juxtaposing these two speeches, Kubrick highlights the danger of submitting to the Romans, and the noble intentions of Spartacus' formerly enslaved army. The speeches also shine a spotlight on Kirk Douglas and Laurence Oliver, two actors on excellent form. Thanks to powerful moments like this, Spartacus remains one of the best gladiator movies ever.

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Top 10 best movie battle speeches.

By Tom Piccolo · September 26, 2013

Remember the last time you watched a movie and wished you could attack the enemy right then and there!  Even if it were almost certain you’d go down in flames, you were psyched for the contest.  A great movie battle speech touches the audience with its passion, putting the viewer in the center of the conflict.  It can be a rallying cry for victory; the motivational force that propels a warrior to act with bravery, and disregard the paralyzing effects of fear. It can be the recognition of almost certain defeat in the short term, realizing the enemy must be engaged, and victory focused on loftier future goals.

Historically, movies have played an important role in rallying the American spirit in wartime. Battle speeches have been used not only to inspire patriotism, but also to highlight the ideals, issues, and conflicts of the time.

Have a great speech you want to include in a script? Write your first draft in 5 weeks with this guide .

Alas, I know I have left out many great speeches and movies in my list, so I invite you to add your personal favorites to the list in the comments section.

10. Dawn Patrol (1938)

As payback for his insubordination and daredevil antics, crackerjack pilot Captain Courtney is handed the command of the 39 th Squadron in this film about the World War I Royal Flying Corps. Given the unsavory task of sending inexperienced pilots in worn-out planes against a well-equipped German air force, Errol Flynn as Captain Courtney gives the following pre-battle speech:

CAPTAIN COURTNEY

GOOD Evening Gentlemen, There’s no secrecy about these orders. GHQ has discovered that Fritz is making a big push the day after tomorrow. They’ve started minor advances already. You’re to patrol the Belleau Wood sector, that’s opposite the German Sixth Army. You’ll fly four patrols a day, which means that every man will be in the air at dawn tomorrow. As usual you got the dirty work to do, low flying, machine-gunning infantry, strafing supply trucks, and any shock troops that they try to bring up. You’re flying directly below Von Richter’s Patrols. So you better watch out. That’s all.

9. The Dirty Dozen (1967)

After Major Reisman’s team of 12 convicted murders prove themselves trained and ready by winning a combat game using unconventional tactics, Reisman, played by Lee Marvin, preps them for their real mission, the mass assassination of Nazi officers in a fortified chalet.

MAJOR REISMAN

We still have one operation to go. If you guys foul up on this one none of us will ever play the violin again. Cause up until now it’s all been a game. But as of tomorrow night it’s going to be the real thing. And if you want to know how real, I’ll tell you. It’s my guess that a lot of you guys won’t be coming back. But there’s no sense in squawking about that, right? Cause the army never did love you anyway. And besides you all volunteered, right? That’s more than I did.

Reisman drills his troops, having them recite a 16-point rhyming plan to attack the Nazi stronghold.

8. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

As Aragorn rides back from the Black Gate, he delivers this impassioned speech:

Sons of Gondor, of Rohan. My brothers. I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me! A day may come, when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of Fellowship, but it is not this day! An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the age of men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you, stand, men of the West!

7. Zero Dark Thirty  (2012)

With the war on terrorism, we fight a new type of battle, the covert action. And so comes a new kind of battle speech.  In this intense action drama about the pursuit of Osama Bin Laden, CIA agent Maya, played by Jessica Chastain, lays out the mission to a skeptical team of Navy SEALS:

Quite frankly I didn’t want to use you guys. With your dip and your Velcro and all your gear bullshit. I wanted to drop a bomb. But people didn’t believe in this lead enough to drop a bomb.  So they’re using you guys as canaries in the theory that if Bin Laden isn’t there, you can sneak away and nobody will be the wiser. But Bin Laden is there. And you’re gonna kill him for me.

6. Braveheart  (1995)

Delivered by the legendary Scottish rebel, William Wallace, played by Mel Gibson, this battle speech beckons the Scottish countrymen to lay down their lives as the cost of freedom from English tyranny:

Sons of Scotland, I am William Wallace.

YOUNG SOLDIER

William Wallace is 7 feet tall.

Yes, I’ve heard. Kills men by the hundreds, and if he were here he’d consume the English with fireballs from his eyes and bolts of lightning from his arse. I AM William Wallace. And I see a whole army of my countrymen here in defiance of tyranny. You have come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What would you do without freedom? Will you fight?

VETERAN SOLDIER

Fight? Against that? No, we will run; and we will live.

Aye, fight and you may die. Run and you’ll live — at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom!!!

5. Gandhi (1982)

This film depicts a different type of battle for independence; not of brutal combat, but of non-violent resistance. Playing Mohandas Gandhi, who led the revolt against British colonialism in India, Ben Kingsley delivers this inspiring speech:

We must defy the British… Not with violence that will inflame their will, but with a firmness that will open their eyes. English factories make the cloth that makes our poverty. All those who wish to make the English see bring me the cloth from Manchester and Leeds that you wear today and we will light a fire that will be seen in Delhi, and in London! And if, like me you are left with only one piece of homespun, wear it with dignity.”

Moved to passion by these words, the massive crowd throws their English clothes onto a burning fire. At the end of the film, as Gandhi’s ashes are poured into the sea, we hear him speak:

GANDHI (V.O.)

When I despair, I remember that the way of truth and love has always won. There may be tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it: always.

4. Apocalypse Now (1979)

In this film co-written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Lt. Colonel Bill Kilgore, portrayed by Robert Duvall, assists Captain Benjamin L. Willard and crewman Lance B. Johnson by launching a strike on Viet Cong outpost on the Nung River:

You smell that?  Do you smell that?

Napalm, son.  Nothing else in the world smells like that. I love the smell of napalm in the morning.  You know, one time we had a hill bombed for twelve hours…and when it was all over, I walked up.  We didn’t find one of them, not one stinking dink body. The smell, you know that gasoline smell? The whole hill – smelled like – victory.

He looks off nostalgically.  A shell comes in and HITS in the background.  Willard and the soldiers react; Kilgore ignores it.

Someday this war’s gonna end.

3. Spartacus (1960)

This movie has two great battle speeches intercut as the preface to the battle between the Roman Legions and a rebellion of slaves led by the gladiator slave, Spartacus. In the film directed by Stanley Kubrick, Kirk Douglas plays Spartacus:

Tonight a Roman army lands in the harbour of Brundusium.  Another army is approaching us from the west.  Between them, they hope to trap us here… against the sea…Rome will not allow us to escape from ltaly.  We have no choice but to march against Rome herself… and end this war the only way it could have ended: by freeing every slave in ltaly. “

I promise you…a new Rome…a new ltaly and a new empire. I promise the destruction of the slave army…and the restoration of order…throughout all our territories.

I’d rather be here, a free man among brothers…than to be the richest citizen of Rome…

I promise the living body of Spartacus…

We’ve fought many battles and won great victories…Maybe there’s no peace in this world…as long as we live…we must stay true to ourselves. I do know that we’re brothers, and I know that we’re free.  We march tonight!

…this campaign is not alone to kill Spartacus.  It is to kill the legend of Spartacus.

2. Armageddon (1998)

In this movie, the enemy is an asteroid the size of Texas that threatens the destruction of the entire earth. It is a fictional President that defines the battle:

I address you tonight, not as the President of the United States, not as the leader of a country, but as a citizen of humanity. We are faced with the very gravest of challenges; The Bible calls this day Armageddon. The end of all things. And yet for the first time… in the history of the planet, a species has the technology… to prevent its own extinction.

Rallying the entire population of the world to put their faith in the hands of a team of oddball deep core drillers, he goes on to say:

Through all the chaos that is our history, through all of our times, there is one thing that has…elevated our species above its origins. And that is our courage. Dreams of an entire planet are focused tonight… on those 14 brave souls… traveling into the heavens. And may we all, citizens the world over, see these events through. God speed and good luck to you.

1. Patton (1970)

Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor, dumb bastard die for his country.

With that compelling line, George C. Scott as General George S. Patton delivers the film’s opening speech directly to the movie audience.

Dressed in his decorated general’s uniform and dwarfed by an enormous American flag, he goes on to say,

Americans, traditionally, love to fight. All real Americans love the sting of battle…the very thought of losing is hateful to Americans.

One can imagine the impact of those lines as a 1970’s American audience embroiled in debate over the unpopular Vietnamese War listened to Patton’s incitement to winning as the only option in war.

In an introduction interview for the Cinema Classics collection DVD, Francis Ford Coppola, who co-wrote the screenplay, explains how he was fired from the project, largely because the opening speech was seen to be strange. He goes on to instruct young people that the things you are fired for, are often the things later on that you are celebrated for.

The speech ends with a line that is almost an afterthought for Patton:

Oh… I will be proud to lead you wonderful guys into battle anytime, anywhere. That’s all.

For the full text of this opening speech, go to: Patton’s Speech .

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16 times movie speeches got us seriously pumped

Ranked in order of epic stirringness.

Sometimes in life, whether you've just failed a test, flunked an interview or you were simply out for the count after 10 minutes at the gym, it would be really useful if someone were on hand to give you some hugely inspiring words to help you get back out there.

Well, look no further than the movies. Over the years, there have been some incredible speeches before the characters entered battle, literally or metaphorically.

We've ranked some of the very best (and worst) of these eve-of-battle speeches to get you seriously pumped for the day ahead.

16. Major League

Speechifier: Jake Taylor (Tom Berenger)

Pumped-up quote: "Well then I guess there's only one thing left to do. Win the whole f**king thing."

Sometimes, you don't need to say much at all. Just state the damned obvious. With an F-bomb.

15. Street Fighter

Speechifier: Colonel Guile (Jean-Claude Van Damme)

Pumped-up quote: "I'm not going home. I'm gonna get on my boat, and I'm going up river, and I'm going to kick that son of a bitch Bison's ass so hard that the next Bison wannabe is gonna feel it!"

OK, it's not exactly "once more unto the breach dear friends", but it's up there. Right? We barely remember who Bison is (the late Raul Julia), but we certainly want to kick his ass too after that speech.

14. Harry Potter: The Deathly Hallows Part II

Speechifier: Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis)

Pumped-up quote: "People die everyday. Friends... family. Yeah, we lost Harry tonight. But he's still with us… in here. So is Fred, Remus, Tonks… all of them. They didn't die in vain! But you will! Cause you're wrong! Harry's heart did beat for us! For all of us! It's not over!"

Neville Longbottom might not be Russell Crowe, but he does it for the weird nerd in all of us. And it was so good it brought Harry back to life, bitches.

13. Animal House

Speechifier: Bluto (John Belushi)

Pumped-up quote: "Over? Did you say 'over'? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no! And it ain't over now. 'Cause when the goin' gets tough... The tough get goin'! Who's with me? Let's go!"

He might not know his history, but someone like John Belushi's Bluto can sometimes be exactly the right person to give you that swift kick up the arse.

12. Gladiator

Speechifier: General Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the armies of the north, etc etc

Pumped-up quote: "Three weeks from now, I will be harvesting my crops. Imagine where you will be, and it will be so. Hold the line! Stay with me! If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!"

In a weird way, Maximus prepares you for the harshness of battle while also giving you some perspective. Worst-case scenario? You'll die. Fair enough.

11. D2: The Mighty Ducks

Speechifier: Coach Bombay (Emilio Estevez)

Pumped-up quote: "We're not goons. We're not bullies. No matter what people say or do... we have to be ourselves. And we're gonna stick together. You know why? Because we are Ducks. And ducks fly together."

Coach Bombay will always remind us to never become a douche, to always be ourselves, and to be there for those around us. Sorry, hard not to be soppy after watching that.

10. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I

Speechifier: Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence)

Pumped-up quote: "You can torture us and bomb us and burn our districts to the ground. But do you see that? Fire is catching... And if we burn... you burn with us!"

If something or someone is pissing you off no end, try and channel Katniss Everdeen's pure anger and take them on. But don't actually burn them or anything, you maniac.

9. Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Speechifier: Queen Elizabeth (Cate Blanchett)

Pumped-up quote: "My loving people. We see the sails of the enemy approaching. We hear the Spanish guns over the water. Soon now, we will meet them face-to-face. I am resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die amongst you all. While we stand together no invader shall pass. Let them come with the armies of Hell; they will not pass! And when this day of battle is ended, we meet again in Heaven or on the field of victory."

It's not just gruff blokey blokes who can give rousing speeches. And this one was real and everything. The Queen gathers her troops in Tilbury in preparation for the next round of war against the Spanish Armada. We'd love to see Elizabeth II in full battle armour on a horse.

8. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

Speechifier: Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen)

Pumped-up quote: "I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!"

We like Aragorn's added notion of realism in this speech. Yeah, we'll probably fail for good one day, but not today, dammit. TODAY WE WIN.

7. Independence Day

Speechifier: President Whitmore (Bill Pullman)

Pumped-up quote: "'Mankind'. That word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps it's fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom. Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution... but from annihilation. We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the world declared in one voice: 'We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate… our Independence Day!'"

We're still not quite sure whether this speech is utterly dreadful or so bonkers it's genius. Any President that can riff on Dylan Thomas while shouting a battle cry against aliens is pretty special, either way.

6. Remember the Titans

Speechifier: Herman Boone (Denzel Washington)

Pumped-up quote: "This is where they fought the battle of Gettysburg. 50,000 men died right here on this field, fighting the same fight that we are still fighting among ourselves today. This green field right here, painted red, bubblin' with the blood of young boys. Smoke and hot lead pouring right through their bodies. Listen to their souls, men. I killed my brother with malice in my heart. Hatred destroyed my family. You listen, and you take a lesson from the dead. If we don't come together right now on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed, just like they were. I don't care if you like each other or not, but you will respect each other. And maybe... I don't know, maybe we'll learn to play this game like men."

You don't always need bombastic screaming to get you in the right mood. Sometimes, you just need some pathos and a short history lesson and your place within it. And if it's Denzel Washington saying it, that helps.

Speechifier: King Hal (Laurence Olivier)

Pumped-up quote: "And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by from this day until the ending of the world but we in it shall be remember'd. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, For he today who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother, Be he ne'er so vile, this day shall gentle his condition, and gentlemen in England now abed shall think themselves accursed they were not here, and hold their manhoods cheap whilst any speaks, that fought with us upon SAINT CRISPIN'S DAY!"

Combine Shakespeare's words with Olivier's acting and you've got yourself quite the epic speech.

Speechifier: Dilios (David Wenham)

Pumped-up quote: "Just there the barbarians huddle, sheer terror gripping tight their hearts with icy fingers... knowing full well what merciless horrors they suffered at the swords and spears of 300. Yet they stare now across the plain at 10,000 Spartans commanding 30,000 free Greeks! The enemy outnumber us a paltry three to one, good odds for any Greek. This day we rescue a world from mysticism and tyranny and usher in a future brighter than anything we can imagine. Give thanks, men, to Leonidas and the brave 300! TO VICTORY!"

Dilios might waffle on a bit compared to his old pal Leonidas, and we're not totally sure those at the back can hear him, but if this doesn't make you want to go out and fight anything that moves, nothing will.

3. Any Given Sunday

Speechifier: Tony D'Amato (Al Pacino)

Pumped-up quote : "I don't know what to say, really. Three minutes to the biggest battle of our professional lives. All comes down to today, and either, we heal as a team, or we're gonna crumble. Inch by inch, play by play. Until we're finished. We're in hell right now, gentlemen. Believe me. And, we can stay here, get the shit kicked out of us, or we can fight our way back into the light. We can climb outta hell... one inch at a time.

"Now I can't make you do it. You've got to look at the guy next to you, look into his eyes. Now I think ya going to see a guy who will go that inch with you. You're gonna see a guy who will sacrifice himself for this team, because he knows when it comes down to it you're gonna do the same for him. That's a team, gentlemen, and either we heal, now, as a team, or we will die as individuals. That's football guys, that's all it is. Now, what are you gonna do?"

Tony D'Amato look as if he's rambling, but it's a damn inspiring ramble. Just when you feel down and out and ready to quit, just think to yourself: What would Al Pacino say to me? (You better hope he's in Tony D'Amato mode rather than Tony Montana mode.)

2. Braveheart

Speechifier: William Wallace (Mel Gibson)

Pumped-up quote: "I am William Wallace! And I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny. You've come to fight as free men... and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight? Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you'll live... at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willing to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEEDOMMM!"

Thinking of backing down from a challenge when it looks like the easier option? Not on yer nelly.

1. The Great Dictator

Speechifier: The Barber (Charlie Chaplin)

Pumped-up quote: "To those who can hear me I say: do not despair! The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass. And dictators die. And the power they took from the people, will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.

"Soldiers! Don't give yourselves to brutes! Men who despise you and enslave you! Who regiment your lines and tell you what to do, what to think, what to feel! Who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder! Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men! Machine men, with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don't hate. Only the unloved hate. The unloved and the unnatural.

"Soldiers! Don't fight for slavery, fight for liberty! In the 17th chapter of St Luke it is written, the kingdom of God is within man. Not one man, nor a group of men but in all men. In you! You the people have the power! The power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You the people have the power to make this life free and beautiful! To make this life a wonderful adventure! Then in the name of democracy let us use that power! Let us all unite!"

It's remarkable how poignant and urgent everything that Charlie Chaplin says in this 1940 film remains today. When you need something to help you rise up against those in your way, this will help.

While we're here, we just wanted to leave you with Melodysheep's amazing autotuned edit. Because when else are we going to have the excuse to use it?

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32 Most Inspiring Speeches In Film History

There's nothing better to fire you up than an inspiring speech.

A lot of great speeches come from sports movies, but that's not the only genre that can make us want to run through walls. Some speeches are so good it has us rooting for the bad guys. Most are by the good guys though, and we'll follow those good guys anywhere. Here is our list of the most inspiring speeches in film history. 

Independence Day - President Witmore

President Thomas J. Whitmore's ( Bill Pullman ) speech in Independence Day has become one of the most iconic film moments of the last 50 years. While the movie can be polarizing, some people can't get enough of it, others hope to never see it again. Still, it's hard to find anyone who truly hates the speech and that moment in the film. If you ever find yourself fighting against annihilation by a bunch of E.T.s, this is the speech for you. 

The Hunt For Red October - Captain Ramius

If you thought you could never get fired up about the Soviet Union picking a fight on the United States during the Cold War, check it out. When Captain Marko Ramius ( Sean Connery ) tells his crew that the salad days of the Cold War are not behind them, and the United States will "tremble again - at the sound of our silence," it makes you want to stand up and fight for communism. At least for a brief moment. 

Any Given Sunday (Coach D'Amato)

It's used at almost every professional football game in America, almost every Sunday, because in Any Given Sunday , Coach D'Amato implores his team and the rest of us to claw for every inch we can. It might not be Pacino's most award-winning role, but that scene... that scene is some of his finest and most enduring work. 

Gladiator (Maximus)

"My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius." If those words don't immediately fire you up, it's time to check for a pulse. Audiences spend most of Gladiator waiting for Maximus ( Russell Crowe ) to finally get his revenge on that conniving Commodus ( Joaquin Phoenix ) and finally we get it. Maximus will have his vengeance, in this life or the next.

Friday Night Lights (Coach Gaines)

In Friday Night Lights , Coach Gaines ( Billy Bob Thornton ) tells us how to be perfect. It has nothing to do with the final score, or winning. It's about how we treat each other and ourselves. It's about telling the truth and not letting anyone down. Live in the moment, "with joy in your heart." That's what makes us perfect. The swelling music by Explosions in the Sky only adds to the drama of the moment. 

While he doesn't say "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose," (that comes from the TV show), he does mention his clear eyes and his full heart and afterward, none of us lose. 

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Henry V (Henry V)

It's not just one of the most inspiring speeches in film history, it's one of the most famous speeches in human history. When William Shakespeare wrote the words to the famous St. Crispin's Day Speech in Henry V , he could not have known that it would be used for centuries afterward to inspire men. For we few, we lucky few, we can watch the speech brilliantly delivered by Kenneth Branagh in one of his finest roles , in his film version from 1989. 

Animal House (Bluto)

"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" Of course it wasn't! Bluto (John Belushi) does a lot to inspire the brothers of the Delta house in Animal House but nothing more so than his speech after "Wormer dropped the big one" and suspended the fraternity. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, the men of Delta are inspired to have the best time of their lives, and Wormer? He's a dead man! Marmalard? Dead! Niedermeyer...

Gone With The Wind (Scarlett O'Hara)

Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh) is not the most sympathetic movie character of all time. In fact, she ranks close to the bottom in that category, but you can't deny the power of her speech just before the end of the first part of the movie. Her family's plantation, Tara, is in shambles, her mother is dead, and her father has lost his mind. When all hope is lost, she promises herself she will fix it, and she will "never be hungry again."

Barbie (Gloria)

It's truly a show-stopping moment in Barbie when Gloria ( America Ferrera ) lays out what it's like to be a woman in today's world. The entire essence of the movie's message is summed up in that brilliant speech. It makes everyone want to jump up on their feet and applaud. It's a moment that will forever live in cinema history. 

Good Will Hunting (Sean Maguire)

It's not just the words that matter. It takes a special actor to deliver a speech like Sean Maguire's in Good Will Hunting . Thankfully there was the great Robin Williams. In a speech that is meant to devastate and inspire Will (Matt Damon), Williams tells him everything he is doing wrong but manages to show him how he can fix it, and open up an entirely new world for himself. It's cutting and loving. And brilliant. "Your move, chief."

Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King (Aragorn)

Like so many other battle scenes in movies, Aragorn's (Viggo Mortensen) speech at the Black Gates in Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King has us willing to fight to the death with our fellow soldiers. There is nothing like a leader riding back and forth on horse inspiring his troops. 

Braveheart (William Wallace)

Always remember, that no matter how badly you are treated by a tyrannical English king, he can never take your freedom! William Wallace (Mel Gibson) brilliantly reminds us of that in Braveheart . While it's easy to mock the poor history telling in the movie (and we argue if it was really one of the best movies of 1995 ), you can never say that the speech Wallace gives before the biggest battle in the movie won't have you ready to take on the entire British Empire. 

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Elizabeth)

Speeches made by leaders to inspire men in battle aren't unique in movies. What makes the speech unique in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is that the speech is made by a woman. Elizabeth's (Keira Knightly) speech isn't a lot different than a lot of its ilk, but it's more inspiring to hear it from a woman because we've never heard that before. So hoist the colors! 

Stripes (John Winger)

John Winger (Bill Murray) is the biggest misfit in a platoon filled with them in Stripes . He's the least likely to inspire the rest with a razzle-dazzle speech firing them up, yet that's exactly what he does before their graduation from boot camp. Bill Murray has some of the best lines in movie history, and this speech is near the top of them. 

Miracle (Herb Brooks)

"Great moments are born from great opportunity." That is something we can all stand to remember. In Miracle , Herb Brooks inspires his rag-tag team of college kids to defeat maybe the greatest hockey team ever assembled in the Soviet National Team at the 1980 Winter Olympics. The movie is based on a true story and while it's impossible to know exactly with the real Brooks said, if it was anywhere close to what Russell delivers, it's no surprise we all believe in miracles today. 

Rocky IV (Rocky Balboa)

The Cold War inspired a lot of movies, even sports movies like Rocky IV . Early in the Rocky series, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) wasn't a man of many words, but at the end of Rocky IV , he finds some of the most inspiring words of the whole series, imploring all of us to get along, despite our differences. 

Swingers (Trent)

What's a good friend if not someone to pep you up when you're feeling low? That's exactly who Trent (Vince Vaughn) is to Mike (Jon Favreau) in Swingers . Not only does he take him to Vegas for a night of fun, on the way home, after the trip doesn't pep Mike up as much as it should, Trent explains exactly why Mike is so money, and he doesn't even know it. 

Network (Howard Beale)

It's scary just how much a movie like Network , released almost 50 years ago is still so relevant. We don't need Howard Beale (Peter Finch) to tell us just how bad things are, we just need to him to inspire us to go to the window, open the window and yell to the world that we're not going to take it anymore! 

The Goonies (Mikey)

"The Goonies never say die!" When all seems lost in the Goonies quest to rescue their neighborhood from developers, Mikey (Sean Astin) reminds them all exactly how far they've come in the quest for One-Eyed Willie's gold. We don't get a lot of inspirational speeches from kids, but when we do, we love them. 

Clueless (Cher)

When Cher (Alicia Silverstone) compares her garden party to a refugee crisis, your inclination is to think she's an airhead. But like so many before and after her, there is kind of a subtle brilliance to her thought process. She takes what she knows and uses that to find the emotion we should all feel for her side of the argument. 

Milk (Harvey Milk)

Milk , based on the true story of Harvey Milk (Sean Penn), is inspiring in and of itself, but Milk's speech on the steps of San Fransisco City Hall at the Gay Pride Rally is a masterpiece. 

Troy (Achilles)

In another classic example of a military leader inspiring his troops, Achilles' (Brad Pitt) speech reminding his men that they are lions, is enough to get anyone to storm the beaches of Troy. There's a reason the story has been told for thousands of years. 

Norma Rae (Norma Rae)

The best thing about Norma Rae's (Sally Field, in one of her best roles ) speech in Norma Rae is that the most important word isn't spoken at all. She simply holds up a sign that says "Union" in the middle of her sweatshop. That's all she needs to "say" to get everyone in the textile mill to agree. It's brilliant. 

We Are Marshall (Jack Lengyel)

We Are Marshall tells the tragic and heroic story of the 1971 Marshall University football team. At the end of the 1970 season, a plane carrying most of the team and its coaches crashed in North Carolina. Before the start of the next season, the new coach, Jack Lengyel (Matthew McConaughey) makes a speech at a memorial for some of the lost players and what he says about never forgetting the past but looking to the future will bring a tear to anyone's eyes.

Legally Blonde (Elle Woods)

More than 20 years after the first Legally Blonde movie was released Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) continues to inspire us. With an address like the one she makes at the end of the movie, as she's graduating, it's easy to see why. "You must always have faith in people. And most importantly, you must always have faith in yourself."

Avengers: Endgame (Captain America)

In a room full of superheroes, leave it to Captain America to make the hype speech. In Avengers: Endgame , that's exactly when Cap (Chris Evans) psyches the cadre up for their mission to reverse the Snap. "Whatever it takes."

Hoosiers (Norman Dale)

When tiny Hickman High School makes it to the Indiana State Basketball Finals, they are facing a huge school, in a huge arena. Coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) takes only a minute or so to lay out what will make them successful, and a minute is all he needs. It's why Hoosiers one of the best sports movies ever made. 

Rudy (Rudy)

The speech in Rudy is a little different. Rudy really has no audience, save for one person, but that doesn't stop him from delivering a first-rate speech that any Notre Dame alum gets goosebumps when they hear it, including the parts he lifted from the great Knute Rockne.

Juno (Mac MacGuff)

When Juno MacGuff (Elliot Page) is wondering what her future holds, her father Mac MacGuff (J.K. Simmons) explains simply and succinctly, "The best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are." We couldn't have said it better ourselves. 

Stand And Deliver (Jaime Escalante) 

Jaime Escalante (Edward James Olmos) is a no-nonsense math teacher who is determined to get the most from his students. He decides he needs to raise the level of expectations inside and outside of the classroom and he starts by breaking down when he is going to be so hard on his students, to get the most out of them. All they need is ganas – motivation. 

Rocky Balboa (Rocky)

Leave it to Rocky to make a speech in 2006's Rocky Balboa meant to inspire his son to inspire all of us together. It's pure Rocky, leave it all out, don't accept things you don't like, and never make excuses, no matter how hard it is. And it seems like this was advice he took to heart when it became a struggle to make the film . 

300 (Dilios)

Dilios (David Wenham) fires up the Spartans like no other person could. It's truly one of the great hype speeches in film history. It's exactly what you would expect from a civilization of warriors. Whether it really happened or not is irrelevant. The message is the same, "Remember us."

From sports to war, love to education, and beyond, a great speech raises goosebumps like nothing else in film can. These examples are some of the best speeches we've used to inspire us. 

Hugh Scott is the Syndication Editor for CinemaBlend. Before CinemaBlend, he was the managing editor for Suggest.com and Gossipcop.com, covering celebrity news and debunking false gossip. He has been in the publishing industry for almost two decades, covering pop culture – movies and TV shows, especially – with a keen interest and love for Gen X culture, the older influences on it, and what it has since inspired. He graduated from Boston University with a degree in Political Science but cured himself of the desire to be a politician almost immediately after graduation.

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10 Greatest Ever of Battle Movie Speeches

by Kolarele Sonaike

What is the point of a movie if it doesn’t move us to tears or laughter? If it doesn’t take us down to a valley of despair only to raise us back up to the highest heights?

The Eve of Battle Motivational Speech is one of those defining moments in movies. The soldiers are about to head into a momentous battle. There is no guarantee of victory (except that we know our heroes will always win) and the forces of evil seem overwhelmingly strong.

It’s a moment that calls for leadership and powers of motivation and oratory, to instil them with courage and fortitude and to inspire them to give more of themselves than they believe possible.

Here are our pick of the Top Ten Eve of Battle Speeches in movies:

OK, the movie may be sentimental twaddle, but this address to his people in the face of the alien invasion is the stand out moment. Bill Pullman having been a pretty ineffectual President through the movie suddenly raises his game to deliver some inspirational words that help to turn the battle against the invaders. That and some typically brazen bravado from Will Smith.

9. 300 (David Wenham)

Though the action in this movie is superbly cinematic, one of the most played non-action clips was the speech at the end of the movie following the death of King Leonidas and his 300 brave warriors. His right hand man, Dilios, uses the great example of his King’s death to rally the entire army to face the Greek tyrant King Xerxes.

An epic war movie featuring the first African American soldiers in the US Union army. Here Morgan Freeman (surely a man with one of the greatest actor voices in modern movie history) reminds his fellow soldiers of their place in history. He draws on the tradition of the Baptist preacher and implores his men to fight for pride, for their families and for their people.

7. Tilbury Speech (Ann Marie Duff)

“I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king and a king of England too” – possibly the most powerful words ever spoken by a Queen. Though there is some dispute over the exact wording of Queen Elizabeth 1’s speech at Tilbury to her troops, this transcript is generally accepted as the most likely and one can only imagine the incredible impact it must have had on the soldiers to be addressed in so forthright and stirring a manner by a female sovereign.

Though this is not a speech from a movie, Kenneth Branagh delivers an understated but authentic performance of the speech to his troops by Colonel Tim Collins at the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The text of this speech hung on the walls of the Oval Office in the White House. It was a call to his troops to fight hard but with honour and respect.

At the final battle of a remarkable trilogy, King Aragorn addresses his soldiers, who are small in number and facing an overwhelming and evil force. It is short (slightly Shakespearean) but powerful. And of course, they go on to win with a little help from a little Hobbit at Mount Doom.

4. Glengarry Glen Ross (Alec Baldwin)

Though not a time of actual war, this tour de force was given by Alec Baldwin to his lowly staff members faced with a struggling market in which they were fighting to save their jobs by closing the most sales. He is odious, rude and obnoxious, but incredibly compelling. He doesn’t go for the ‘inspire your people’ option so much as the ‘instil the fear of God in them’ route. In the circumstances, it is highly effective.

3. Henry V (Kenneth Branagh)

Kenneth Branagh and Shakespeare go together like Ham and Cheese and in his eve of battle speech to his heavily outnumbered soldiers at the battle of Agincourt, Henry V delivers the most famous battle speech of all of Shakespeare’s plays. It is from this speech that we get the phrase ‘We happy few, we band of brothers’. And in Branagh, we are given the quintessential Shakespearean performance.

2. Braveheart (Mel Gibson)

Dodgy Scottish accent aside, Mel Gibson’s turn as William Wallace is absorbing and this speech to his young Scottish warriors faced with their age-old enemy, the English, is dramatic as it is hair-raising. The blue face paint no doubt helped.

1. Any Given Sunday (Al Pacino)

This is just motivation at its finest. Though the movie itself is forgettable, Al Pacino never is. And in this moment, his delivery has never been stronger. Even if most of us will never experience the thrill of the locker room before an American Football game, for the moment when Pacino talks about “inches” being the difference between winning and losing, between living and dying, we are all right there in the thick of the action with him and the guys. Brilliant!

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The 30 Best Movie Inspirational Speeches

Cinema's most stirring oratories and spirit-raising team talks.

In times of trouble, you need a little help getting up and going, and film can often provide just that. Cinema has a long and storied history of providing great words of motivation and encouragement, sometimes for the characters' own benefit and occasionally to the audience. Here, we've chosen 30 of the best that should fit almost any occasion - but if you're really pressed for time, here are 40 condensed into a two-minute span { =nofollow}. If you have a little longer, read on!

Also: The 25 Best Movie Bollockings

The Great Dictator

Made at a time when the shadow of World War II was looming over Europe, Charlie Chaplin’s speech here – he’s playing a poor Jewish barber in disguise as a preening dictator and forced to address a Nuremberg-style rally – is a heartfelt plea for sanity and compassion in a time of madness. It’s the perfect antidote to extremism, and uses fiery rhetoric for good. If only we’d be able to pull this switcheroo in real life.

Buy The Great Dictator

Independence Day

Sure, there are cheesemongers with less cheese on offer than you see here and OK, the American jingoism doesn’t work at all for those of us not of a Yank disposition. But Bill Pullman’s slightly sheepish style blends here with steely determination, and he delivers the American St Crispin’s Day speech with conviction. Then, like any US President, he leaps into his fighter jet and flies off to battle aliens.

Buy Independence Day

For those who prefer a little humour in their motivational speeches, try the pitch-black streak in this opener, establishing Russell Crowe’s Maximus Decimus Meridius as a leader of men and a helluva guy. Galloping around the Legions in his cool armour and fur-lined cloak, you might question whether he really needs an entire army to back him up, but you’ll never doubt for a moment that they’d choose to follow him as he unleashes hell.

Buy Gladiator

Any Given Sunday

There’s a lot to be said for a little personal touch to leaven your high-flung rhetoric, and it’s a trick that Al Pacino uses well here, in the first of three American football speeches we’re going to include (hey, we can’t help it if the heavily-padded sport produces some great pep talks). Pacino’s troubled Tony D’Amato unveils his own problems with brutal honesty before using his own failures as a spur to rev on his team to greatness, speaking of team spirit and commitment as someone who has been known to suck at both.

Buy Any Given Sunday

Friday Night Lights

The film has been somewhat overshadowed nowadays by the equally good TV show that followed it, but watch Billy Bob Thornton here and be reminded that Kyle Chandler isn’t the only fundamentally decent man who can inspire a team of small-town boys to great efforts in pursuit of perfection. It’s also worth noting that he puts his emphasis here on excelling and not winning, making it clear that victory isn’t only measured by the scoreboard. Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.

Buy Friday Night Lights

It is, and will probably always be, the greatest inspirational speech ever made. It’s endlessly flexible, and works even when not declaimed by the classically trained (see this Renaissance Man version for proof). And it’s by Shakespeare, still the best writer in Hollywood. We have, controversially perhaps, chosen Branagh’s version over Olivier’s because the latter sounds a little shrill to the modern ear, while Branagh convinces us that he could convince his men. This speech, given by the titular monarch to a vastly outnumbered force about to fight the French, obviously works especially well for English people, but by God, Harry and St George, it’s universal in its rousing effect.

Buy Henry V

This is a little-known film in the UK but it’s revered in certain communities in the US. Sean Astin’s Rudy has overcome dyslexia, poor grades and his relatively small stature to win a place on Notre Dame’s famous Fighting Irish American football team. Only problem is that he’s never been off the bench, and with his final game approaching he threatens to quit the team if he isn’t allowed to play – prompting this inspirational speech / telling off from a friend who points out that he’s being whiny and entitled and needs to grow a pair. Soon he’s back on the bench and given a starting position when his entire team threatens not to play unless he’s given a shot.

An honourable mention for Hector’s pep talk but Achilles wins the battle of the inspirational speeches just as he wins their duel (c’mon, that’s not a spoiler; it’s in the 2000 year-old Iliad). This is a short snippet, but then godlike Achilles, the man-killer, is a man of action rather than words. And what he does say – focusing on lions, glory and the manifold abilities of his small, hand-picked group of Myrmidons – would convince a rock to fight any Trojan who dared oppose it.

Animal House

Not every inspirational speech is about trying to inspire his cohorts to kill people or batter them up and down the length of a football field. Some aspire to a higher goal. Some aspire to debauchery, drinking and probably nudity. Some aspire to party like 1999 might have done had it tried harder. Some aspire to a particular kind of grubby, deranged greatness. One such is John Belushi’s Bluto, and this is the greatest night of his life.

Buy Animal House

The Goonies

Come the hour, cometh the man – and in this case the man is a small, asthmatic Sean Astin, inspiring his fellow Goonies to never say die and to keep going in their quest to find treasure and save their community. In his yellow rain slicker and with his voice on the edge of breaking he may not look like a modern Napoleon, but he has the same effect on his exhausted and discouraged troopers. He’s so good you’ll almost forget to laugh at his mentions of One-Eyed Willy. snigger

Buy The Goonies

The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King

Death comes to us all, and Aragorn ain’t going to lie about it. But he still gees up his troops with the assurance that their civilisation will survive the onslaught of the forces of Mordor. Sure, they’re vastly outnumbered and sure, it seems likely that Frodo has failed in his quest to destroy the Ring in Mount Doom (especially if you’re watching the Extended Edition) but Viggo Mortensen’s Aragorn ensures that no one will be quitting any time soon. Not this day!

Buy The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King

Bill Murray isn’t usually the guy you turn to for sincere, inspiring words of comfort. He’s more the type to puncture any attempt at same, and probably to fast-talk his opponents into giving up and going for a karaoke session while he’s about it. But after his heart grows two sizes during the course of Scrooged, he makes a plea for kindness and niceness from all mankind. He still does it in a recognisably Murray, manic and scattershot way, but that just makes him all the more compelling. Someone hire this man to play Santa Claus.

Buy Scrooged

Stirring sports speeches are limited to American Football. Miracle On Ice chronicles the based-on-truth tale of how the US Olympic hockey team triumphed over their Russian rivals. Kurt Russell's the speech-giver here, playing coach Herb Brooks. "Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world," he tells them. You'll feel a swell of pride and inspiration too.

Rent Miracle

Deep Blue Sea

“You think water’s fast? You should see ice.” Samuel L. Jackson’s been around the block more than once, and he’s seen the worst of mankind. It’s with the weight of that history behind him that he takes charge and orders his fellow survivors of a marine disaster to start pulling together and quit arguing. His speech also has what is, unquestionably, the greatest punchline on this list. Still, it achieves the desired effect once everyone has quit screaming.

Buy Deep Blue Sea

If in doubt, steal from classical history, something that David Wenham’s Dilios demonstrates with aplomb here. In actual history, the one survivor of the 300 was so shamed by his survival that he executed a suicidal one-man attack on the Persians at this Battle of Plataea, but Wenham seems more in control and also like he has quite a bit of back-up. “The enemy outnumber us a paltry three-to-one,” notes Dilios triumphantly. Why, it was hardly worth the Persians turning up.

Good Will Hunting

Here’s an inspirational speech well-suited to highly-paid sports teams and the enormously talented. Ben Affleck’s argument is, basically, that if you’re lucky enough to get extraordinary chances in your life, it’s your duty to the rest of us schmoes to actually take those chances and run with them as far as you can. If you can get past the shellsuit and the hair, he’s basically Yoda-like in his wisdom.

Buy Good Will Hunting

Most people only remember the last word – “Freedom!” – but the rest of the speech is pretty killer too. Mel Gibson’s William Wallace starts off by puncturing his own legend, and acknowledges the urge to cut and run in the face of a far superior English force. But then he reminds his men what they’d be missing if they do, and soon they’re all back on side and facing down the hated English. By the end of this speech, you’ll all hate the English with them – even if you are one.

Buy Braveheart

Coach Carter

You’d expect the inspiration in this basketball film to come from the titular no-nonsense coach, played by a fiery Samuel L. Jackson. But in fact it’s one of his players who nabs the best lines, as he and the team sit studying to keep their grades as high as their scores. There is a little cheating here: Rick Gonzalez’ Timo actually steals his inspirational speech from Marianne Williamson (it’s sometimes wrongly attributed to Nelson Mandela) but he delivers it well so we’re going to allow it.

Buy Coach Carter

While it’s his skills in the ring that he is most lauded for, Rocky Balboa is something of a poet to boot. An incoherent one, certainly; a poet who says “I guess” a lot more often than Wordsworth might like, but a poet nevertheless. His moving words here, as he single-handedly ends the Cold War and ushers in a new era of East-West relations, are just one example. Another is…

Buy Rocky IV

Rocky Balboa

If his last speech was incoherent – in fairness, his rhythm may have been thrown off by the translator – this one verges on incomprehensible when he really gets going. Still, there’s real passion in Rocky’s plea for one last shot and an argument that’s applicable to all sorts of situations of institutional injustice or unfeeling bureaucracy.

Buy Rocky Balboa

Stand And Deliver

Those who've watched him on the modern Battlestar Galactica know that Edward James Olmos is a past master at giving speeches. This is him from a little earlier in his career, playing Jaime Escalante, a real-life teacher who inspired his students to stop dropping out and start taking calculus seriously. Here, he's handing out as pop quiz, so anyone having to home school their kids can take note.

Rent Stand And Deliver

Good Night, And Good Luck

This one is couched particularly at media moguls, but there’s a call for excellence and the highest moral standards here that we would all do well to live by. David Strathairn’s Edward R. Murrow, in a speech lifted directly from Murrow’s actual address to the Radio and Television News Directors Association in 1958, pleads for TV to inform as well as entertain. We feel that if more people saw this speech, Made In Chelsea would be cancelled immediately and reality TV would be banned, so spread the word!

Buy Good Night, And Good Luck

Anyone who has ever flirted with a romantic interest knows the risk of being knocked back, and Jon Favreau's Mike is experiencing a crisis of confidence. Luckily for him, he has Vince Vaughn's Trent to talk him back into the game, and Alex Désert's Charles to remind him that he's so money. He's a bear! And she's a bunny! Everything is going to be fine.

Buy Swingers

Charles Dutton’s second appearance on this list, after Rudy, sees him once again reminding lesser men (and women) to get with the programme, pull the finger out and generally stand up and be counted. But this time they’re facing unstoppable acid-blooded xenomorphs rather than American football players, so he has to be extra-emphatic.

Buy Alien 3

Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End

Remarkably few women get to deliver inspirational speeches in movies – apparently they’re relegated to clapping admiringly from the sidelines. Thank goodness for Elizabeth Swan (Keira Knightley) who is elected King of the Pirates and rouses her troops into action for a last-ditch fight against the Lord Beckett’s overwhelming forces, led by the Flying Dutchman. She may not have quite the lungs of others on the list, but there’s no doubting her conviction as she calls for them to “Hoist the colours!” – the Jolly Roger – and sail out one last time.

Buy Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End

The Replacements

One doesn’t expect lengthy speeches from Keanu “Woah” Reeves (although he’s done his share of Shakespeare actually) but he’s rarely more succinct and to the point than in this chat with his fellow Replacements. And in fact there are few speeches more likely to be effective in motivating an exhausted team for one last effort. “Chicks dig scars” could be used by virtually every example here to drive on the listeners.

Buy The Replacements

Bill Murray at it again, and once more an unconventional speech. This time out, he's John Winger, a loser who decides that he and best pal Russell Ziskey (Harold Ramis) will join the Army. Stuck with a group of oddballs, and, after a night of partying, decides to rally his fellow troops. It works... Sort of. But Murray's typically laconic style works well for the speech itself.

Rent or buy Stripes

The Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King

All seems lost for Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin again) and Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) as they lie, exhausted, on the slopes of Mount Doom. Frodo’s beyond endurance and raving as the influence of the Ring grows ever stronger on him, and his desperate straits drive Sam to one last push. It’s barely a speech, really – he uses his words better here – but there are few moments more inspirational.

Buy The Lord Of The Rings: Return of The King

The Shawshank Redemption

A quiet moment between Tim Robbins' Andy Dufresne and Morgan Freeman's Red became one of the more memorable moments in Shawshank , a movie with no shortage of them. And for those who are spending more time inside than perhaps they might be used to, Andy's musing on what he would do if he got out of prison are inspirational in themselves, even before he gets to that iconic line.

Rent The Shawshank Redemption

Avengers: Endgame

Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America, is not shy of breaking out speech mode when the moment calls for it. And inspiring the Avengers as they're about to embark on a trip through space and time to retrieve the Infinity Stones certainly seems like that moment. "Whatever it takes," indeed.

Rent Avengers: Endgame

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10 of the Most Amazing Monologues in War Movies

There have been plenty of articles on motivational speeches in movies.  Many of these speeches come from sports movies where the coach is trying to motivate his team or a player is trying to motivate another player.  The “big speech” is a great staple for any movie and it’s the director’s chance to inspire the audience.  One particular genre I’d like to focus on today is the war movie.

If there’s one place you can see some amazing speeches and monologues it’s in war movies.  From Braveheart’s “Freedom” speech to the opening marine scene in Full Metal Jacket , here are 10 of the most amazing monologues in war movies.

William Wallace Braveheart Speech

Patton Speech

300 Call to Battle

Smell of Napalm

Aragon’s Speech at the Black Gate

Henry V St. Crispin’s Day Speech

Gladiator Opening Battle Scene

Full Metal Jacket

Horrock’s Speech in a Bridge Too Far

Schindler’s List: The War is Over

Aiden's been an entertainment freelancer for over 10 years covering movies, television and the occasional comic or video game beat. If it's anything Shawshank Redemption, Seinfeld, or Kevin Bacon game related he's way more interested.

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16 excerpts from the greatest military speeches ever given

By Team Mighty

Updated on Feb 22, 2024 10:25 AM PST

For as long as wars have been fought, great military leaders have been able to use the power of the pulpit to motivate their troops. The right words delivered in the right way at the right time have helped to turn the tide when morale was suffering, when casualties were high and ammo was low.

Here are 16 excerpts from the best orations given to key audiences during history’s crucial pivot points:

1. pericles appealing for war against the spartans, 432bce.

“When our fathers stood against the Persians they had no such resources as we have now; indeed, they abandoned even what they had, and then it was by wisdom rather than by good fortune, by daring rather than by material power, that they drove back the foreign invasion and made our city what it is today. We must live up to the standard they set: we must resist our enemies in any and every way, and try to leave ot those who come after us an Athens that is as great as ever.”

2. HANNIBAL  addressing his soldiers after crossing the Alps, 218 BCE

“On the right and left two seas enclose you, without your possessing even a single ship for escape. The river Po around you; the Alps behind hem you in. Her soldiers, where you have first met the enemy, you must conquer or die; and the same fortune which has imposed the necessity of fighting hold out to you, if victorious, rewards than which men are not wont to desire greater, even from the immortal gods.”

3. ST. BERNARD rallying the troops before the Second Crusade, 1146

“Christian warriors, He who gave His life for you today demands yours in return. These are combats worth of you, combats in which it is glorious to conquer and advantageous to die. Illustrious knights, generous defenders of the Cross, remember the example of your fathers who conquered Jerusalem and whose names are inscribed in Heaven.”

4. QUEEN ELIZABETH I supporting her military against the Spanish Armada, July 1588

“I am amongst you at this time, not as for my recreation or sport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die amongst you all; to lay down, for my God, and for my kingdom, and for my people, my honor and my blood.”

5. GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON calming his increasingly rebellious and doubtful army, March 15, 1783

“You will, by the dignity of your conduct, afford occasion for posterity to say, when speaking of the glorious example you have exhibited to mankind, ‘Had this day been wanting, the world had never seen the last stage of perfection to which human nature is capable of attaining.'”

6. GENERAL NAPOLEON BONAPARTE firing up his forces before the Battle of Marengo in Italy, June 14, 1800

“Shall we allow our audacious enemies to violate with impunity the territory of the Republic? Will you permit the army to escape which has carried terror into your families? You will not. March, then, to meet him. Tear from his brows the laurels he has won. Teach the world that a malediction attends those that violate the territory of the Great People. The result of our efforts will be unclouded glory, and a durable peace.”

7. PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN speaking to the 166th Ohio Regiment, August 22, 1864

“For the service you have done in this great struggle in which we are engaged I present you sincere thanks for myself and the country. I almost always feel inclined, when I happen to say anything to soldiers, to impress upon them in a few brief remarks the importance of success in this contest. It is not merely for today, but for all time to come that we should perpetuate for our children’s children this great and free government, which we have enjoyed all our lives. I beg you to remember this, not merely for my sake, but for yours . . . The nation is worth fighting for, to secure such an inestimable jewel.”

8. PRIME MINISTER WINSTON CHURCHILL  before the House of Commons as the French retreat from Hitler, May 13, 1940

“We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalog of human crime. That is our policy.”

9. PREMIER JOSEPH STALIN appealing to the Russian people to defend their soil as the German Army advances, July 3, 1941

“The issue is one of life or death for the Soviet State, for the peoples of the U.S.S.R. The issue is whether the peoples of the Soviet Union shall remain free or fall into slavery . . . There must be no room in our ranks for whimperers and cowards, for panic-mongers and deserters. Our people must know no fear in fight and must selflessly join our patriotic war of liberation, our war against the fascist enslavers.”

10. GENERAL SIR BERNARD MONTGOMERY speaking to his demoralized troops before defeating Rommel’s Afrika Corps, August 13, 1942

“Here we will stand and fight; there will be no further withdrawal. I have ordered that all plans and instructions dealing with further withdrawal are to be burned, and at once. We will stand and fight here. If we can’t stay here alive, then let us stay here dead.”

11. GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON exhorting the Third Army, Spring 1944

“I don’t want to get any messages saying, ‘I am holding my position.’ We are not holding a goddamned thing. Let the Germans do that. We are advancing constantly and we are not interested in holding onto anything, except the enemy’s balls. We are going to twist his balls and kick the living shit out of him all of the time. Our basic plan of operation is to advance and to keep on advancing regardless of whether we have to go over, under, or through the enemy.”

12. GENERAL DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER ordering the Normandy Invasion, June 6, 1944

“You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the eliminations of Nazi tyranny over oppressed people of Europe, and the security for ourselves in a free world.”

13. MENACHEM BEGIN speaking to the people of Israel on the radio, preparing them for an Arab attack, May 14, 1948

“We shall go our way into battle . . . And we shall be accompanied by the spirit of millions of our martyrs, our ancestors tortured and burned for their faith, our murdered fathers and butchered mothers, our murdered brothers and strangled children. And in this battle we shall break the enemy and bring salvation to our people, tried in the furnace of persecution, thirsting only for freedom, for righteousness, and for justice.”

14. GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR addressing West Point, May 12, 1962

“Let civilian voices argue the merits or demerits of our processes of government; whether our strength is being sapped by deficit financing, indulged in too long, by federal paternalism grown too mighty, grown too rampant, by morals grown too low, by taxes grown too high, by extremists grow too violent . . . These great national problems are not for your professional participation or military solution. Your guidepost stands out like a ten-fold beacon in the night: Duty, Honor, Country.”

15. PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY bracing the nation for the Cuban Missile Crisis, October 22, 1962

“The path we have chosen for he present is full of hazards, as all paths are; but it is the one most consistent with our character and courage as a nation and our commitments around the world. The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender or submission. Our goal is not the victory of might, but the vindication of right; not peace at the expense of freedom, but both peace and freedom, here in this hemisphere, and, we hope, around the world. God willing, that goal will be achieved.”

16. PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN hastening the fall of Communism while speaking at the Berlin Wall, June 12, 1987

“There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Easter Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

(The complete transcripts of these speeches and many others can be found in Charge!, History’s Greatest Military Speeches , edited by Congressman Steve Israel and published in 2007 by the Naval Institute Press .)

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15 Best Movie Speeches of All Time

Dialogues and speeches are the string, which binds the beads of a good cinema. Acting, cinematography, production they can all fall apart if the writing sucks. There are so many movies with great stories who aren’t impactful, because of lame dialogues. On the other hand, people remember even mediocre movies because of a powerful speech. These speeches are so inspirational that they make the listener believe that anything’s possible. The sheer power of words is strong enough to move mountains. In these speeches, the speaker enthralls the audience with his wisdom and experience and motivates them to carry out the impossible in life. We, at the Cinemaholic, made a list of top movie speeches ever that will inspire you. Be ready to get motivated!

15. Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End (2007) – “Hoist The Colours”

Consider this. A fleet of pirate ship have been surrounded by the elite force of Her Majesty’s Royal Navy. The pirates are broken, without any command and their faith lies in their pirate queen Elizabeth who probably due to a turn of fate, became their leader. Tricked into a cornered position, by a cunning lord Beckett, she is left with no choice but retaliate with whatever she has. And she choses this moment to rise to the occasion. She thunders at her fellow pirates, asking them to fight like free men and not surrender meekly like cowards. And it resonates with pirates, irrespective of their clans and they roar as every version of Jolly Roger starts flying high in the wind.

14. V For Vendetta (2005) – “The Revolutionary Speech”

Just like Hitler crafted a dictatorship, disguised within a so-called superior race driven government, in a not so distant future version of London, the chancellor Adam Sutler formed a reign where in the name of security, privacy was looted. In return of order and peace to the society, the people traded their foremost weapon – consent. In the garb of protecting the people, the reigning government unleashed tyranny and oppression. In such times, one fine day, every TV gets tuned into a channel where a man wearing a Guy Fawkes mask speaks to them. He reminds them of Guy Fawkes, who brought a revolution to the people 400 years ago. To end this cruelty and meek submission, he asks everyone to join him in exactly one year later, on 5th of September on the gates of the Parliament. This speech sets in motion, of the events of ‘V for Vendetta’.

13. The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013) – “I’m not fuckin’ leaving”

The high flying, corrupt and megalomaniac Jordan Belfort is finally caught and as a part of the deal with the FBI, he’s supposed to leave Stratton Oakmont and never ever indulge in the market of share trading, which made him so rich. He appears in his office and makes an announcement about his stepping down from the company, in front of his beleaguered colleagues. He explains his pain in leaving them in lurch and how he’s going to miss them all. While talking about their collective effort to make money overcoming their individual struggles in life, all of sudden he realizes, this is place where he belongs after all. And despite the warning of FBI, he screams his lungs out – ‘I’m not fuckin’ leaving !!’

12. Rocky Balboa (2006) – “It ain’t about how hard you hit”

Rocky Balboa is an ageing boxer, who has left the sport, only to come back to it again. His wife’s dead and his son is sick and tired of the name and pressure of being related to Rocky. His father’s fame has started to affect him professionally and personally as well. So he gets the news of his arthritic father, gearing up for another bout of boxing, he discourages him by stating his example of being a failure, despite of being a Balboa. Rocky thunders when he says, ‘It’s ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.’ He asks him to stop blaming others for his failure. It’s an moving speech with some profound advice for life. Life’s meant to be unfair and its sole plan is to keep you down. Instead of cribbing, you’ve to accept your loses and move forward. That’s how you win.

11. Any Given Sunday (1999) – “Life’s a game of inches”

Before an all important play off game, coach D’Amato, played by Al Pacino gathers around his players. Through many difficulties and infightings, they’ve reached a place where one mistake can cost them everything. He begins the talk with comparing their current position to being in a shit hole and it’s totally up to them to get beat the shit out of themselves or fight hard to come back. He cites his own example of being a broken man who lost money, family and himself for taking bad decisions in life. But life is just like a game of football . It’s all about the margin of error. Just like a game of football, where once one starts losing, he gets the drift of the game and then tries crawl into those inches. He urges them to come together as a team and win it for themselves.

10. Wall Street (1987) – “Greed, for lack of a better word, is Good”

Wall street is about money. Wall street is about power. Wall street is about greed. And greed, ladies and gentlemen, for the lack of a better word, is good. That’s what Gordon Gekko believed in. In a speech to the investors of a loss making paper company Teldar, he explains meticulously that the sole reason the company lost so much of money is because of inefficient people at the top and not because he broke the company to pieces. He argues that his greed of making money actually liberates loss making industries. Greed is an evolutionary trait and it’s greed which has made man go for more, be it knowledge, technology or profit. It’s an amazing take on something which itself is labelled as a biblical sin. Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko, gives an amazing performance.

9. Dead Poet’s Society (1989) – “Carpe Diem, seize the day boys”

In a school, where discipline is revered, a new English teacher comes in a breather among the strict disciplinarians. To a motley group of students, he reaches out and asks them to come out of their shell. He tells them to live their lives in their own way and not to someone’s expectations. One’s life duration is limited and eventually everyone will die. What will be left, is his legacy. So instead of living a dull life, one should do something to make it extraordinary. That’s the essence of Carpe Diem. The character of John Keating was played by the late Robin Williams , who demonstrates the importance of individuality to the students through this inspiring speech. He inspires them to be achieve greatness rather than to be successful.

8. Remember The Titans (2000) – “Take a lesson from the dead”

At the heights of racism, a black man is appointed as the head coach of a school, where traditionally it’s usually filled up by a white man. Tackling racism and discrimination at every step, coach Boone takes up the challenge. The team suffers from racially motivated conflicts and its success is deterred due to the ever meddling school authorities. Coach Boone takes everything to his stride and takes his team through a gruelling schedule of training at the Gettysburg cemetery where thousands of men died during the battle of Gettysburg. Through this speech, he asks his team to learn from those people, who laid their lives while fighting for each other. He urges them to be better by coming together and play as one team. His speech motivates his team to achieve success. Denzel Washington plays coach Boone in the sports drama ‘Remember The Titans’.

7. Braveheart (1995) – “They may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom”

In an English ruled Scotland, a young William Wallace witnesses the English massacring his family. He flees from the country only to return as a rebel who takes charge to lead the rebellion against the English. As he leads a rag-tag army of Scottish peasants and farmers, he asks them to fight as free men, against the enormous English army. When somebody from the army says that it’s better to hide and live than to fight and die, Wallace roars back by saying that the enemy may take their lives but they will never be able to take their freedom. Mel Gibson acted as well as directed this film, which went on to win five academy awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

6. Scent Of A Woman (1992) – “When shit hits the fan, some guys run and some guys stay”

At the Baird school, which traditionally has given the country many leaders and achievers, a disciplinary meeting takes place, for an act of mischief. While the reason remains trivial at its best, the focus shifts to two persons, who were supposed to be the witnesses of the events. One of those witnesses is a boy, whose father is a key figure in the school management. Hence he gets off the hook, after naming the suspects. Naturally it’s the other guy Charlie, who despite of being innocent, gets to take the blame. And it almost happens but for the presence of Lt Colonel Frank Slade. He makes his point that while everyone chose to be indifferent to the situation, Charlie showed integrity by not behaving as a snitch. And this is the stuff leaders are made of. Al Pacino played Lt Colonel Slade and gave a performance of a lifetime.

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5. Independence Day (1996) – “Today, we celebrate our independence day”

While the world burns and is at the mercy of aliens, it comes down to a few brave men who decide to join forces to fight against the aliens. After repeated attempts of failure, a final assault is planned in the lines of a kamikaze attack, similar to a suicide mission. The president, himself a pilot mans the mission. Before they leave the base, he reminds them that this mission, incidentally to commence on 4th of July will be the biggest battle of their lives. And should they win, it will no longer be an American holiday. Rather it will be the day, when the world will be liberated of their common enemy. It shall be the world’s independence day. It’s a speech that evokes thunderous applause from everyone, as their belief in their leader becomes firm.

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4. Network (1976) – “I’m mad as hell and am not going to take it anymore”

News these days, are more of shock inducing and eye grabbing details rather than journalism based on facts. In ‘Network’, a TV network’s struggle with declining viewership turns into a full-blown war when its own people start making factory made shows to get ratings. The movie is primarily about how TV controls the life and through it audio-visual medium, can sway public opinion about everything. In a way, this is what controls the masses today. When the veteran news anchor Howard Beale screams at his viewers to shout that they’ re mad as hell and are not going to take it anymore, he vents out his frustration at the growing influence of TV on the people. He cites example of life going astray while the TV shows paint a rosy picture. Many years later, as we see today, the real has imitated the reel and today literally the TV controls everything. This speech is truly pathbreaking.

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3. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) – “Get busy living or get busy dying”

There’s nothing new that can be told about ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ . Arguably the best movie ever, this is Andy Dufresne’s story spanning across nineteen years in the infamous Shawshank penitentiary. While Andy makes the most out of his time at the prison doing various jobs, he also gets into a tiff with a corrupt warden over his discharge which leads him into a solitary confinement. When he’s out, his friend Red becomes afraid that this may break him forever. However a nonchalant Andy tells him about his dream destination and his wish to spend rest of his life there, thus explaining that life is all about hope and at times, it comes down to one simple choice – Get busy living or get busy dying. This speech is also a metaphor for being hopeful in the most hopeless of situations.

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2. A Few Good Men (1992) – “You can’t handle the truth”

A soldier dies at GITMO base camp and the blame goes to couple of fellow soldiers as an act of negligence. While the soldiers plead that they were under order to punish the dying soldier, it comes down to one of the most laziest of military lawyers to take up their case. As the case reaches its final stage, upon repeated provocation from the defence lawyer, Colonel Nathan Jessup becomes enraged and tells that at times, despite being wrong, people need to take decision that may take one life but in return save thousands. Freedom comes at a price and being a provider of the same, that’s what entitles him to take decisions which may or may not be ethical. This’s the truth and that possibly cannot be fathomed by a layman. A stunning performance by Jack Nicholson !

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1. The Great Dictator (1940)- “We think too much and feel too little”

Charlie Chaplin ’s ‘The Great Dictator’ is a political satire, in the garb of comedy and it condemns the ways of the contemporary dictators of the time, namely Hitler and Mussolini. A Jewish barber, who’s also a lookalike of the tyrant ruler of a fictional country gets to replace the dictator and ends up in a podium where he has to deliver a speech. He rises to the occasion when he tells his subjects that instead of ruling everyone as a dictator, he wants to help everyone. As human beings, one should rise above the ever engulfing greed. Though the world has progressed into future through numerous innovations, still it does distinguish people based on their caste, creed and colour. Humanity has been lost its meaning in the countless machinery that does our jobs. We’ve become cynical due to our ever growing penchant for knowledge. And that’s where we all lose as mankind.

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The 30 Greatest War Films Of All Time, Ranked

It's hard to reckon with the consequences of war, but great films have explored the devastating impacts of combat since the earliest days of cinema. War footage was shown in early movie houses in the form of newsreels and propaganda films, and the gripping images became etched in the minds of many filmmakers.

Cinema has looked to many historical conflicts for inspiration. Historical epics that told grandiose stories have used large budgets to bring these larger-than-life stories and characters to life. Not every war film aims for accuracy; while some have been praised by historians and veterans as authentic, others aim for a more crowd-pleasing approach, or change historical details for dramatic effect.

Not every war film focuses on soldiers, either. Some explore the effects a conflict has on the civilian population. Others star journalists, politicians, children, or medical personnel. War films have the ability to spotlight stories that are largely unknown, or cover well-known topics from a more diverse perspective. A war film doesn't have to be about a real conflict, either — some imagine entirely fictional events. With all of that being said, here are the 30 best war movies of all time.

30. Cold Mountain

Both a gripping survival epic and an old-fashioned period romance, Anthony Minghella's "Cold Mountain" explores the lengths people will go in order to hold on to love during wartime. William Inman (Jude Law) lives in a small North Carolina community and becomes smitten with the local preacher's daughter, Ada Monroe (Nicole Kidman). Although he has little personal interest in the Civil War, North Carolina's secession from the Union forces Inman to enlist. Deserting the army when his forces are massacred, William begins a long quest to return home.

Law and Kidman's chemistry early in the film makes their separation crushing, but "Cold Mountain" also features a memorable supporting cast. Renee Zellweger won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Ruby Thewis, Ada's quirky neighbor who cares for her after her father dies. Ruby has an engaging story arc as she struggles to forgive her father Stobrod (Brendan Gleason), who served in the war with William and seeks to reenter his daughter's life.

29. Rescue Dawn

Werner Herzog's untraditional approach to filmmaking makes him a fascinating choice to helm a grizzly adventure saga. "Rescue Dawn" tells the true story of German U.S. Navy pilot Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale) during a combat mission in Laos during the thick of the Vietnam War. Dengler's plane is shot down and he is captured by the Liberation Army, who offer him clemency if he renounces the United States. A steadfast idealist, Dengler refuses, and he's brutally tortured by his captors as they try to break his spirit.

Bale is known for his dramatic physical transformations, and over the course of "Rescue Dawn," he's starved and scarred. Dengler's attempts to escape are even more grueling to watch due to Bale's fractured physical state, and Herzog incorporates elements of body horror to make the violence more sickening. Bale has great chemistry with the actors who play his fellow survivors, particularly Steve Zahn as Lieutenant Duane Miller.

A grim survivalist story, "Rescue Dawn” shows Herzog's ability to capture authentic environments, as he shot much of the film in the Thailand jungles. Herzog often tells stories about characters that descend into madness; "Rescue Dawn" does this too, largely through hallucinatory cinematography. A box office disappointment, "Rescue Dawn" is an underrated entry in the canon of great Vietnam movies.

28. The Hurt Locker

"The Hurt Locker" is one of Kathryn Bigelow's best films, tackling the complex theme of soldiers' obsessions with near-death experiences. The film follows Sergeant William James (Jeremy Renner), a bomb diffuser for the U.S. Army who is dispatched to Iraq. James' squad is skeptical of him, feeling that he takes unnecessary risks and intentionally puts himself in harm's way. James clashes with Sergeant J. T. Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) as they search for their superior officer's killer.

When he returns home between tours, James is unable to adjust to an average life. Renner does an incredible job showing how war is a drug for James, as despite his occasionally playful attitude he's unable to find others who can relate to his experience. The prolonged sequences of James defusing bombs are meticulously staged and anxiety-inducing. "The Hurt Locker" took home six Academy Awards, including Best Picture; Bigelow also became the first female filmmaker to win Best Director.

27. Platoon

Oliver Stone's personal involvement in Vietnam inspired many of his films, which largely center on anti-war themes. Stone developed a reputation as one of the most politically outspoken filmmakers of the '80s, and he broke boundaries with projects that criticized American policies and questioned the established facts of history. After dabbling in horror early in his career, Stone broke out in 1986 with two incendiary war films. While "Salvador" is a classic in its own right, Stone's Best Picture-winner "Platoon" is one of the definitive accounts of the dehumanizing effects that militarism has on both soldiers and civilians.

Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen) is a stand-in for Stone himself, as Chris volunteers to join a U.S. Army platoon to gain worldly experience before realizing how extreme war can be. Chris serves under Sergeant Elias (Willem Dafoe), who encourages friendship amongst the men and warns them against harming the native Vietnamese population. Elias' tenderness is a counterpoint to the cynical, brutal tactics of Sergeant Barnes (Tom Berenger), a hardened veteran willing to destroy entire villages and massacre families.

"Platoon" explores how even Chris' friends, who think of themselves as noble, can be spurred into violent action under Berenger's influence. The shocking death of Elias is a heartbreaking moment that solidified Stone's reputation as a storyteller who pulls no punches.

26. Black Hawk Down

Ridley Scott's depiction of the 1993 American military operation in Mogadishu is one of the most violent war films ever made, but the brutality is justified — this is a story that avoids sentiment. Rather than clouding the story with politics, Scott takes the time to flesh out each of his characters' perspectives and shows how their opinions change throughout their mission to bring humanitarian supplies to Somalia, during which they're unexpectedly caught behind enemy lines.

Scott delicately balances his ensemble, which includes many of the most prominent young actors of the early 21st century. Josh Hartnett gives the best performance of his career as staff sergeant Matt Eversmann, who is forced to step into a leadership role after his commanding lieutenant is killed. Eversmann scolds his men for mocking the African natives and shows empathy for their plight. The film also features one of Hans Zimmer's most unique scores, as he incorporated traditional African musicians and instruments with his signature sweeping compositions.

25. Born on the Fourth of July

Following the acclaim for "Platoon," Oliver Stone was keen to continue criticizing American involvement in the Vietnam War. With "Born on the Fourth of July," he took a very different approach. While "Platoon" told a fictional story inspired by Stone's experiences, "Born on the Fourth of July" depicts the life of famed antiwar advocate Ron Kovic (Tom Cruise). The film follows Kovic from his childhood and throughout his military service, which left him permanently scarred. A traumatic event in which Kovic witnesses U.S. troops killed by "friendly fire" inspires him to question his dedication to military service for the first time.

In 1989, Cruise was at peak popularity thanks to "Risky Business" and "Top Gun," and "Born on the Fourth of July" showed that he was just as good in weighty, dramatic roles as he was in crowd-pleasing blockbusters. While Cruise seamlessly slips into the role of a Kovic who is beloved by his community in his younger years, he showed his range once Kovic's injuries isolate him. The Vietnam combat sequences are unflinching in their brutality, and Stone uses recurring flashbacks to show Kovic's PTSD.

The use of news footage makes the "Born on the Fourth of July" more authentic, and a beautiful John Williams score gives it the feeling of a grand spectacle. While Stone has been accused of being too preachy, "Born on the Fourth of July" doesn't force-feed morals to the audience; its recreations of Kovic's speeches allow the viewer to create their own interpretations.

24. The Thin Red Line

When "The Thin Red Line" came out, Terrence Malick was known for romantic dramas like "Badlands" and "Days of Heaven," and hadn't made a film in 20 years. Any suspicions that the gap was too long or that Malick's romantic sensibilities wouldn't fit the massive scale were soon silenced, however. "The Thin Red Line" is an unflinching ensemble epic strengthened by a brilliant cast. While the violence is starkly realistic, Malick incorporates dreamlike sequences that find moments of beauty within the dark setting.

At almost three hours in length, "The Thin Red Line" takes the time to develop each of its characters. Among the most compelling is Private Robert E. Lee Witt (Jim Caviezel), who abandoned his post and joined a Melanisian community. Witt searches for natural beauty after the horrors he's witnessed, but he's captured by an American battalion, whose First Sergeant Welsh (Sean Penn) prohibits him from rejoining the unit and forces the deserter to carry stretchers. Caviezel's pacifism is sympathetic, but Penn doesn't depict Welsh as a caricature of an overbearing commanding officer.

23. Anthropoid

When most people study World War II, Czechoslovakia is treated as a mere footnote, a piece of land that was used as a bartering chip between Hitler, who could not have made his intentions of conquering all of Europe more clear, and Neville Chamberlain, who wanted to buy time to ready England for war and perhaps put too much trust in the idea of appeasement. 

But one of the most successful resistance plots of the entire war unfolded in former Czechoslovakia, resulting in the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, Hitler's heir apparent and the so-called "Butcher of Prague." It's this plot, codenamed "Operation Anthropoid," that occupies the majority of "Anthropoid," a faithful exploration of the team who were tasked with this mission. Starring Cillian Murphy and Jamie Dornan as the two leaders of the operation, "Anthropoid," is a tense, heartbreaking production with a real-life emotional resonance that has lost none of its power over the years.

22. Kingdom of Heaven

Ridley Scott is no stranger to war epics, and while "Gladiator" and "Black Hawk Down" were acclaimed when first released, his 2005 film "Kingdom of Heaven" received more muted reactions due to its underdeveloped storylines and character relationships. However, Scott's vision had been tampered with. 20th Century Fox forced him to cut 45 minutes from the film. Scott's longer director's cut , released later in 2005, rectified these issues and solidified "Kingdom of Heaven" as one of his most essential films.

Set during the Crusades, "Kingdom of Heaven" follows the French blacksmith Balian of Ibelin (Orlando Bloom), who grieves over his wife's suicide as he reunites with his father (Liam Neeson). Although initially reluctant to embark on his father's quest to visit the Holy Land, Balian is forced to join him after he kills a town priest. Suffering another tragedy when his father dies on the journey, Balian arrives in Jerusalem and attempts to broker a peace agreement between the dying King Baldwin IV (Edward Norton) and the sultan Saladin (Ghassan Massoud). Balian falls in love with Baldwin's sister (Eva Green), but after the sickly king dies the peace is shattered, leaving Balian to front the city's defense.

While the performances aren't properly fleshed out in the theatrical version, Scott's director's cut features Bloom's greatest performance to date; he's constantly pulled in different directions thanks to his simultaneous, conflicting commitments.

21. Braveheart

Mel Gibson's gripping war film is a throwback to old-fashioned Hollywood epics, even as it brings the story of Scottish revolutionary William Wallace to the screen for the first time. In addition to directing, Gibson takes the lead role, a Scottish peasant who witnesses the brutal execution of Scottish nobles by the British Army at a young age. Wallace is content to stay out of the conflict, but after a pair of British soldiers murder his secret bride Murron MacClannough (Catherine McCormack) he frees his town from the oppressive rulers.

Wallace amasses a following among the Scottish lords who join his movement, including Robert the Bruce (Angus McFadyen). The cruel King Edward "Longshanks" (Patrick McGoohan) hunts him down, but Wallace develops a surprisingly intimate relationship with the French Princess Isabella (Sophia Merceau). Gibson's massive action sequences are brutal and show the overwhelming odds the Scottish rebels faced; the religious imagery used to depict Wallace's final sacrifice makes the conclusion even more emotional.

20. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Is there a more perfect title card than the one that opens "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World"? It's 1805, and Britain and France are at war. Russell Crowe plays a naval captain who is tasked with hunting down a French ship, an operation that will lead him and his men as far afield as they've ever been. 

You don't get many naval war dramas anymore — not like we saw in the 1930s, when Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone played swashbuckling heroes and villains at sea — but "Master and Commander" is a loving ode to exactly that genre of adventure film. It's boisterous and filled with action, with director Peter Weir measuring each scene carefully for maximum impact. It's another entry in Russell Crowe's brief foray into the historical epic, and a reminder that when he was on his game, no one could match his panache and gift for a rousing speech.

19. Apocalypse Now

"Apocalypse Now" was developed by some of the most important filmmakers of the '70s as a response to the situation in Vietnam. Director Francis Ford Coppola, screenwriter John Milius, and producer George Lucas adapted Joseph Conrad's novella "Heart of Darkness" into an examination of the cult of violence that causes soldiers to abandon reason. Production was notoriously troubled, as the shooting dates were extended and the crew met with technical setbacks; never completely satisfied, Coppola released several director's cuts . Although it may have been "cursed," the chaotic journey nonetheless crafted a harrowing cinematic descent into madness.

U.S. Army Captain Benjamin Willard (Martin Sheen) is a Vietnam veteran sent on a covert mission to assassinate the Special Forces Colonel William Kurtz (Marlon Brando). Kurtz has abandoned his post and leads a rogue army in Cambodia, amassing a loyal following that worships him. Although he suffered a breakdown and had a heart attack during filming , Sheen gives one of his best performances. Willard is initially ambivalent about his task, but gradually begins to shed his values as he travels deeper into the heart of the jungle.

Brando's unveiling during the film's conclusion serves as a nightmarish reflection of the horrors of war. Spewing strained philosophies about the pain of the human condition and praising the Viet Cong for their brutality, Kurtz is one of the most terrifying film characters of all-time.

18. Barry Lyndon

"Barry Lyndon" is a gorgeous historical epic from Stanley Kubrick that depicts several major conflicts through the eyes of a devious character. Ryan O'Neal stars as the Irish rogue Redmond Barry, who abandons his home in Ireland in the 1750s after a dispute regarding his cousin Nora Brady (Gay Hamilton). Barry desires his relative's hand in marriage and slays a rival suitor in a duel, forcing him to become a fugitive. After a scheming highwayman steals his possessions and humiliates him, Barry decides to avoid attention by joining the British Army to fight in the Seven Years' War.

Barry is an untraditional protagonist, and one who is completely unlikeable. With no loyalty to any nation, Barry is willing to switch his allegiances and deserts his military duty when he sees no personal gain. After shedding his identity and forging a false one, Barry joins the Prussian Army. That he would be fighting the men he was once allied with matters little to Barry. O'Neal gives an incredible performance as the impulsive character; while his actions are reprehensible, he's undeniably a compelling lead for a three-hour film.

With its natural lighting and long takes, "Barry Lyndon" is one of the most meticulously crafted visual achievements of Kubrick's career. "Barry Lyndon" is thrilling even for those who generally don't enjoy costume dramas, as its dark humor and unreliable narration make it undeniably unique.

17. Bridge on the River Kwai

When released in 1957, "Bridge on the River Kwai" was heralded for its epic scale and thrilling action setpieces. The practical filmmaking is just as impressive today, and the film's themes remain as relevant as ever. "Bridge on the River Kwai" examines the dueling obligations of imprisoned soldiers who want to both serve their country and retain their honor; it's a complex consideration of patriotism that focuses on individual values instead of blind patriotism.

"Bridge on the River Kwai" follows an ensemble of British soldiers who are held as prisoners-of-war at a Japanese camp. They receive orders to surrender, with Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness) and Commander Shears (William Holden) reluctantly agreeing to aid their captors in building a railway bridge. As the men work tirelessly to complete construction, Nicholson develops a productive relationship with the Japanese leadership and becomes engaged with the task. He's infuriated when his men intentionally sabotage production, and Shears begins to question Nicholson's leadership.

After escaping to the nearby jungle, Shears plots to destroy the bridge but finds himself in contention with Nicholson. Driven mad by his commitment to seeing the bridge completed, Nicholson turns against the soldiers under his command. Guinness does a terrific job with Nicholson's slow descent into unreason; at first, he's only trying to make the best of a bad situation, only realizing the harm he caused during the final siege. "Bridge on the River Kwai" took home seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Guinness.

16. From Here to Eternity

War films released only shortly after the events they depict are fascinating, as they offer insight on how the public perceives recent tragedies. The 1953 classic "From Here to Eternity" allowed director Fred Zimmerman to reflect on the American consciousness in the days leading up to the 1941 Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, exploring a more innocent period in which soldiers weren't expecting to be sent into a destructive war.

"From Here to Eternity" follows three soldiers stationed in Hawaii. Former boxer Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt (Montgomery Clift) joins the company of Captain Dana Holmes (Phillip Ober), who tries to convince the athlete to join his competitive team. Prewitt refuses, as he's reeling from a recent match in which he wounded a friend; the angered Holmes prepares to court-martial him. Prewitt finds an unlikely ally in Holmes' second-in-command, First Sergeant Milton Warden (Burt Lancaster), who has his own reasons to fear the Captain; he's secretly sleeping with Holmes' wife, Karen (Deborah Kerr).

The squabbles and melodrama between the soldiers fade following the Pearl Harbor attack; Zimmerman reflects on how momentary strife seems less relevant in the wake of actual tragedy.

15. Land of Mine

When a war goes on long enough and the fatalities add up, eventually a country will send boys onto the battlefield. "Land of Mine" takes place in the last days of World War II, when German prisoners of war, often teenagers, were sent to Denmark with a horrifying task. When Germany occupied Denmark, it planted thousands upon thousands of land mines on the shore, and it was the responsibility of these prisoners to remove every last one by hand, a perilous job with a low survival rate. 

Danish sergeant Carl Leopold Rasmussen (Roland Møller) is placed in charge of these operations, and although he is at first brutally committed to the task at hand and cruel to the young German soldiers he commands, it's difficult for him to maintain a cavalier attitude when directly facing their terror and sheer humanity. A tense and nerve-wracking production that shines a light on a lesser-reported aspect of a familiar conflict, "Land of Mine" goes beyond the black-and-white thinking that separates a cold-hearted villain from a teenage boy sent off to war.

14. Quo Vadis, Aida?

American cinema has an understandable fascination with the wars that the U.S. was directly involved in: World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, and so on. But when we expand our focus beyond the conflicts that defined the 20th century for America, we can devote more attention to the humanitarian crises that often go overlooked. "Quo Vadis, Aida?" takes place amidst the Bosnian genocide of the mid-1990s, in the doomed town of Srebrenica. 

Jasna Đuričić plays Aida, a translator for the United Nations peacekeeping troops, who have arrived in an effort to stop an outright conflict between Bosnians and Serbians. The film depicts in chilling detail the failure of the U.N. to protect the civilians in their charge, a death by 1000 cuts as both the organization and Aida slowly cede ground, thinking that if they cooperate just a little bit more, they can appease bad faith actors for whom violence is a tragic inevitability. Haunting and emotionally devastating, "Quo Vadis, Aida?" leaves a mark on the viewer that is not easily shrugged off.

13. Full Metal Jacket

Stanley Kubrick's subversive approach to familiar genres was perfectly suited to the Vietnam era, and "Full Metal Jacket" is among the most devastating anti-war films ever made. Using a brilliant bifurcated structure, Kubrick brought the dehumanizing effects of militarism to the screen, incorporating shocking imagery and dark humor to show how seemingly honorable people can develop an aptitude for violence.

The first half of "Full Metal Jacket" focuses on the brutal training process that a squad of new recruits endure under their strict drill sergeant, Gunnery Sergeant Hartman (Lee Ermey). Hartman subjects the men to rigorous physical tasks and demeans them with cruel insults. Gradually, the initially empathetic Private Joker (Matthew Modine) grows hardened and begins to emulate his superior's behavior. Vincent D'Onofrio delivers the film's most powerful performance as the sensitive Private Lawrence, who is singled out by Hartman and relentlessly bullied. Lawrence's breakdown is difficult to watch, and when his squad is unwilling to aid him, it marks a key moment in the loss of the soldiers' humanity. Joker grapples with his instincts to care for Lawrence, who he knows will struggle in actual combat.

The second half of the movie follows the soldiers during the early stages of the Tet Offensive, during which Joker is assigned to a war correspondent position. The battles themselves are fraught and confusing, as it's unclear to the soldiers which Vietnamese militias are allied with or against them. The film concludes with the striking image of soldiers singing the "Mickey Mouse March" on their patrol.

12. The Big Parade

Released just a handful of years after World War I ended, "The Big Parade" is a shockingly modern depiction of the horrors of trench warfare. John Gilbert plays a spoiled young man who enlists in the army because it's exciting, it's fashionable, and it will impress his fiancee. However, he soon discovers that the reality of warfare, especially the gruesome meatgrinder of World War I, is quite different from the glorious battles that he was expecting. 

Director King Vidor puts together some marvelous set pieces: the men marching in lines through the forest, their terror palpable; romantic interest Renee Adoree chasing after the troops on parade, desperate for one last goodbye. Gilbert, a star of the silent era whose career fell off a cliff with the advent of sound, is at his best here, playing a romantic hero entirely in over his head. The charming chemistry between Gilbert and Adoree provides a much-needed reprieve from the relentlessly grim battle sequences.

11. Saving Private Ryan

Whether it's an action-packed adventure movie or a gripping historical epic, few filmmakers create spectacles like Steven Spielberg. Spielberg had longed to tell the story of the Normandy Invasion as a tribute to his father's service in World War II, and while he had told World War II stories with "1941," "Empire of the Sun," and "Schindler's List," "Saving Private Ryan" is the first of his films that took place in the thick of combat. The opening sequence in which American soldiers storm Omaha Beach is one of the most gripping, violent, and emotional combat sequences ever committed to film.

"Saving Private Ryan" asks complex questions about the value of individual lives in a war that takes thousands. Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) and his squad are ordered to travel deep into enemy territory in order to rescue Private James Ryan (Matt Damon); all three of Ryan's brothers were killed in action. Miller is reluctant to take the mission, skeptical about its importance and wary of the threat it poses to his men. Hanks is phenomenal, showing Miller's reluctance, despite his empathy for Ryan. Damon is equally powerful, as Ryan commits to stay at his post even after he learns the terrible news about his family.

"Saving Private Ryan" is undeniably patriotic, but it doesn't disrespect veterans with overblown sentiment. The framing device, in which an older Ryan reflects on his experiences with Miller, creates a profound statement about how the lasting wounds of war don't heal.

10. Paths of Glory

Stanley Kubrick's World War I drama isn't only one of the greatest war films of all time, but one of the best courtroom dramas, too. "Paths of Glory" questions the sanctity of nobility through a story about men who questioned their orders.

French Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas) leads a battalion in an attack on the German stronghold "Anthill," and is ordered by Brigadier General Paul Mireau (George Mcready) to launch an ambitious assault. Dax is skeptical of the assignment, as it poses little strategic value and would only result in a massacre of his troops. During the battle, Dax's men are overwhelmed and retreat. The vengeful Mireau sees this as an obstacle to his ascent within the French Army, and decides to court-martial Dax's troops.

Douglas delivers a gripping performance as he argues for his men's bravery, questioning Mireau's ego and the chain of command. It's not subtle about its anti-war perspective, either — even after all they've endured, Dax's men are forced to return to the front.

9. The Great Escape

It's impossible to be objective here: It simply doesn't get any cooler than Steve McQueen in "The Great Escape." The film explores life in a German prisoner-of-war camp where English and American soldiers are kept on a tight leash, consigned to hard labor as the war passes them by. The men in the camp may not be actively fighting, but they do have one military duty left: When captured, it's their responsibility to attempt to escape as frequently as possible to force the Germans to use valuable resources to keep them confined. Hence, "The Great Escape." 

It's a cleverly written action-adventure film with a talented ensemble cast and some fantastic set pieces, but make no mistake, everyone's just orbiting McQueen as he proves himself to be one of the decade's greatest superstars. It functions as a war film all on its own, but is also notable for the influence it had on other movies and television shows — you can see parodies and copycats in everything from "Chicken Run" to "The Simpsons."

Sam Mendes' "1917" takes a fascinating approach to combat, as it was filmed to create the illusion that it was all shot in one take. While not a new filmmaking technique — it had been previously used in Alfred Hitchcock's "Rope" and Alejandro Gonzales Innaritu's "Birdman," among others — the continuous tracking shot suits the war epic by detailing both the split-second decisions and the moments of intimacy between soldiers in real-time. While it weaves in and out of key battles, "1917" is first and foremost a mission movie about two novice soldiers tasked with delivering a message that could change the tide of the war.

Will Schofield (George McKay) and Thomas Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) are part of a British company on the Western Front, and they're ordered by commanding officer General Erinmore (Colin Firth) to travel behind enemy lines. Erinmore fears that if Lieutenant-Colonel Mackenzie (Benedict Cumberbatch) continues his forward expansion he'll be caught off guard and there will be a massacre. Schofield and Blake plot a course across no-man's land, where they must survive German traps and snipers. While both have seen action before, their isolation presents new challenges.

"1917" never lets up on the tension, and shocking story developments continually change the stakes. McKay and Chapman have great chemistry, and the cameos by Firth, Cumberbatch, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, and Richard Madden aren't distracting — the actors all establish the situation's gravity, even in brief scenes.

7. The Great Dictator

Charlie Chaplin is one of the greatest comedians in Hollywood history, and his groundbreaking directorial projects changed the perception of slapstick with their brilliant stunt work and satirical themes. While he was known for his unparalleled physical comedy, Chaplin would explore more serious topics with his later works, all without losing his unique comedic lens. "The Great Dictator" was a brave film that tackled fascism and antisemitism during the early days of World War II; showing these current issues through a comedy of errors allowed Chaplin's message to reach a broad audience.

In "The Great Dictator," Chaplin plays two roles. One is an unnamed barber from a poor Jewish community who is haunted by his service in World War I and has lost many memories. The barber bears a striking resemblance to Chaplin's other character, the fascist dictator Adenoid Hynkel. Hynkel is clearly modeled after Adolf Hitler, and leads the persecution of the Jewish ghettos. In order to protect his home, the barber disguises himself as Hynkel and finds a peaceful way to end his regime.

Watching the goofy barber inadvertently impact global events is often hilarious, especially the film's most iconic moment , in which he dances with a globe in Hynkel's office. "The Great Dictator" was Chaplin's first sound film, and it concludes with a stirring monologue criticizing prejudice and hate.

6. All Quiet on the Western Front

Released in 1930, "All Quiet on the Western Front" is one of the earliest war films, and remains one of the best. The pre-code era of Hollywood allowed filmmakers to incorporate controversial elements that were removed from later Hollywood productions, and the massive combat sequences utilize thousands of extras, making "All Quiet on the Western Front" unique among other early war films.

"All Quiet on the Western Front" follows a group of young German men, including Paul Bäumer (Lew Aryes), who are inspired to enlist in the national militia after a speech by Professor Kantorek (Arnold Lucy). Kantorek waxes poetic about the adventures his students will have in combat and the values that they'll develop, but shortly after their basic training begins, the characters realize that Kantorek's words are misguided. The soldiers are subjected to a brutal training process under Corporal Himmelstoss (John Wray), who only sees them as weapons of destruction.

Politically charged, "All Quiet On The Western Front" explored the perspective of German infantrymen who were unaware of the political forces that forced them to head to the front lines. Given the outcome of the actual conflict, the viewer knows that these men are doomed from the beginning. Due to its criticism of the German government, the film provoked the wrath of the actual Nazi party , which tried to ban it.

Only 12 years after World War II ended, "Kanal" took a raw look at the devastation of street combat. It's the first film to depict the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, one of the few examples of widespread armed rebellion in occupied Poland. By the time we meet the brave resistance fighters, however, they're on their last legs. Only a few have survived, and they have no choice but to retreat to the sewers of Warsaw in order to avoid being massacred by German forces.

They're living on borrowed time, though — this solution can only last for so long before they have to emerge to the surface and face the music. The mood darkens the longer they spend underground; Everyone seems to know that the end is near, but no one is willing to admit it. "Kanal" was well-received by critics — except, ironically, in Poland itself . For Polish audiences, the Warsaw Uprising was still a fresh memory, and seeing their idealized freedom fighters hiding in the sewers was understandably unappealing.

4. Lawrence of Arabia

With wide, expansive shots of pristine desert that stretches as far as the eye can see, "Lawrence of Arabia" is a blockbuster in every sense of the word. It chronicles the exploits of T.E. Lawrence (played by the incomparable Peter O'Toole), an unconventional British soldier who becomes involved in an alliance that would see the British and the Arabs join forces against the Turks. But when the war ends, British priorities shift, leaving the question of Arab self-rule very much up in the air. 

With O'Toole supported by Omar Sharif and Alec Guinness, "Lawrence of Arabia" features high-quality performances across the board, and the entire production represents a Herculean effort from director David Lean, whose shooting schedule became extremely burdensome; the production was forced to relocate several times , moving between Jordan, Spain, and Morocco. His work was justly rewarded — "Lawrence of Arabia" took home seven Academy Awards , including best picture and best director for Lean.

"Patton" deserves a spot on this list for its opening sequence alone. You know the one: George C. Scott, playing the legendary general, gives a no-holds-barred motivational speech to the troops against a backdrop of a gigantic American flag. It's the beginning of one of the quintessential military biopics, depicting Patton as a gruff, often brutally unsympathetic war hero who nonetheless captivates us. 

Since this film came to us during the height of the Vietnam War, when audiences were not exactly eager to sit through a bunch of pro-war propaganda, there's a touch of a cynical anti-hero in Patton. Scott's portrayal of the man never shies away from the more famous general's more controversial aspects, and it is the film's approach to the character that makes it such a success. "Patton" took home seven Academy Awards , including one for Scott, although he refused to accept it, citing his lack of interest in competing against other actors.

2. Inglourious Basterds

If there's one thing Quentin Tarantino can't seem to get enough of lately, it's revisionist history. His take on World War II, "Inglourious Basterds," features a ragtag group of American soldiers who go behind enemy lines and take on the massive project of not raining terror down on German soldiers, but assassinating Hitler himself. As ultra-violent as we've come to expect from Tarantino, "Inglourious Basterds" is nonetheless a masterful showcase for the slow burn. Scenes play out at an agonizing pace, gradually ratcheting up the tension. 

From the opening sequence on the French farm that introduces Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz in an Oscar-winning performance ) to a Mexican standoff in the basement of a bar to Shoshanna's epic revenge scheme, Tarantino luxuriates in letting moments breathe rather than rushing right into the kill. Featuring incredible performances from Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, Daniel Bruhl, and Melanie Laurent, "Inglourious Basterds" is one of Tarantino's most layered, emotionally satisfying, and unexpectedly funny films in ages.

1. The Deer Hunter

"The Deer Hunter" tells a comprehensive story about what soldiers experience before, during, and after their service in Vietnam, conveyed through the changing relationships between a group of lifelong friends. At over three hours, "The Deer Hunter" takes the time to develop its characters, noting how their personalities change as they accumulate emotional scars. The film was a breakthrough for its sensitive handling of PTSD, and its sequences of torture are often difficult to watch.

Pennsylvania steelworkers Mike Vronsky (Robert De Niro), Steven Pushkov (John Savage), and Nick Chevotarevich (Christopher Walken) celebrate Steven's wedding before heading to Vietnam. Nick takes the opportunity to propose to his girlfriend Linda (Meryl Streep), and bonds with Mike as they promise to protect each other overseas. The ceremonies conclude with a deer hunt, a recurring symbol that represents the men's affinity for their simple hometown.

In the film's most famous sequence, Mike, Steven, and Nick are held hostage by the Viet Cong and forced to play a game of Russian Roulette. Once they return home, their near-death experiences make it impossible for the men to re-integrate with their community, and cast a shadow over their deer hunts. It's impossible to enjoy their favorite activity when any violence sparks disturbing memories. Walken depicts Nick's obsession with Russian Roulette in heartbreaking detail, and De Niro gives one of his most sensitive performances as Mike tries to help his friends cope.

:            : Long I pondered my King's cryptic talk of victory. Time has proven him wise. and his , hordes face obliteration! : HA-OOOH!! :  Just there the barbarians huddle, sheer terror gripping tight their hearts with icy fingers -- knowing full well what merciless horrors they suffered at the swords and spears of : : The enemy outnumber us a paltry 3 to 1; good odds for any Greek. This day we rescue a world from mysticism and tyranny, and usher in a future brighter than anything we can imagine.   Scriptwriting Best Movie Monologues — Top 20 Ranked for Writers & Actors M ovies have been known to transport us to different worlds, times, and experiences through the power of storytelling. And one of the most magical ways that movies do this is through the use of monologues. From inspiring speeches that make us want to stand up and take action to heart-wrenching confessions that bring us to tears, the best movie monologues can capture the essence of a film and stay with us long after the credits have rolled. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the best monologues in movie history that have left an imprint on our hearts and minds.  Watch: "You Talkin' to Me?" Scene Breakdown Subscribe for more filmmaking videos like this. Best Monologues from Movies 20. call me by your name  (2017). Call Me By Your Name Monologue  In the film Call Me By Your Name , Elio’s father, played by Michael Stuhlbarg shares a powerful monologue with his son as they sit quietly together. The father reflects on his own experiences with love and heartbreak, and shares a powerful message about the importance of embracing life's challenges and being courageous in the face of uncertainty.  The monologue is a poignant moment of connection between father and son, and a reminder to all of us to live fully in the present moment, and to never be afraid to take a chance on love, no matter where it may lead us. Best Movie Monologues in Dramas 19. manchester by the sea (2016). Manchester by the Sea Police Station Scene Manchester by the Sea is a powerful film that deals with themes of grief, loss, and redemption. One of the most memorable moments in the film comes in the form of a monologue delivered by the character Lee Chandler, played brilliantly by Casey Affleck, in a police station.  The monologue is a raw and heartbreaking exploration of the human condition and is a testament to the film's incredible writing and acting. The scene is a pivotal moment in the story and showcases the power of cinema to move us deeply and challenge our understanding of the world around us. Best Monologues from Movies  18. gone girl (2014). Gone Girl  •  Cool Girl Monologue In Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl , one of the most memorable and chilling moments comes in the form of the "cool girl" monologue by Rosamund Pike playing Amy Dunne. The monologue is both a scathing critique of societal norms and a poignant examination of the masks we wear to fit in. With razor-sharp prose and a gut-punch of a message, the "cool girl" monologue is a standout moment in an already-iconic novel. Famous Movie Monologues 17. hidden figures (2016). Hidden Figures Bathroom Speech Scene This powerful monologue from the award-winning   Hidden Figures is short, but powerful. As one of the few black women working as mathematicians at NASA during the Civil Rights era, Katherine Johnson, played by Taraji P. Henson, is constantly faced with discrimination and segregation.  Her words ring with a raw truth and an unflinching determination to fight against the systemic racism that surrounded her every day. The bathroom may seem like a small issue, but it becomes a poignant symbol of the larger struggle for equality and dignity in a world that seeks to diminish the humanity of those who do not fit into its narrow mold. Oscar Winning Best Monologues from Movies 16. everything everywhere all at once. Everything Everywhere All at Once  •  Monologue  One of the most recent monologues on this list comes from The Daniels’ iconic Everything Everywhere All at Once  (2022). The scene features the character of Ling, played by Michelle Yeoh, who reminisces about a past life where she wished to share the mundane yet intimate moments of daily life with someone she loved.  We brought the monologues into StudioBinder’s screenwriting app to analyze it further and see how it helped land Ke Huy Quan his first Oscar. The monologue is a testimony to the emotional depth and subtlety of the film's storytelling, and it will surely leave a lasting impression on anyone who watches it. 15. The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow  While the writing of the monologue itself can’t be attributed solely to the Coen’s, their adaptation of it on the screen as well as Denzel Washington’s brilliant performance gives it a spot on this list.  In this  adaptation  of  Macbeth from the Coen Brothers , Denzel Washington delivers a haunting performance in the iconic "Tomorrow Tomorrow Tomorrow" monologue. The Coen Brothers' haunting imagery , coupled with Washington's unforgettable performance, makes this one of the most captivating and memorable adaptations of Shakespeare's tragedy. Tarantino’s Best Movie Monologues 14. inglorious basterds (2009). Inglourious Basterds Monologue Brad Pitt's opening monologue in one of Quentin Tarantino's best movies , Inglourious Basterds , is a tour de force in cinematic storytelling. Playing the role of Lt. Aldo Raine, Pitt delivers a fiery and captivating speech that sets the stage for the entire film. His aggressive and almost comical demeanor adds to the intensity of his words, as the audience is pulled into the world of WWII-era Europe.  As an actor, Pitt brings a larger-than-life quality to the role that perfectly captures Tarantino's punk rock style of filmmaking. Overall, Pitt's opening monologue in Inglourious Basterds is a masterclass in acting and writing, and sets a tone for the film that is both exciting and unforgettable. Famous Movie Monologues in Voice Over 13. american psycho (2000). Morning Routine  •  American Psycho The morning routine voice-over monologue in American Psycho has become one of the most iconic and recognizable scenes in film history. Christian Bale's portrayal of the psychotic Patrick Bateman perfectly captures the absurdity and darkness of the character's morning rituals.  The monologue's absurdity and dark humor have made it a favorite among fans, and it has since been parodied and referenced in countless films, TV shows, and even internet memes. Bale's mesmerizing performance and the monologue's unique mix of horror and humor have solidified its place in cinema history as one of the most memorable and iconic monologues. Best Movie Monologues in Action Films 12. the matrix (1999). Blue Pill or Red Pill  •  The Matrix "Red or blue? The choice is yours." These famous words spoken by Morpheus in the sci-fi blockbuster, The Matrix , have become synonymous with the idea of making life-altering decisions. The moment when Morpheus holds out his palms, offering Neo the choice between the red pill and the blue pill, is a pop culture classic.  The red pill or blue pill monologue is more than just a movie quote, it's a metaphor for the truth-seeking journey we all embark on at some point in our lives. Whether we choose the red pill and accept the harsh realities of the world or the blue pill and live in blissful ignorance, this moment in The Matrix will forever be remembered as a pivotal point in cinematic history. 11. The Godfather  (1972) THE GODFATHER  •  Opening Scene While there are a few great monologues in one of the greatest gangster films of all time The Godfather perhaps the most iconic is found in the opening scene. "Bonasera, Bonasera." These two simple words, uttered by Salvatore Corsitta have become synonymous with cinematic brilliance. The opening monologue delivered by Corsitta is a masterful display of storytelling that sets the tone for what is to come. In just a few short minutes, we are transported into the world of the Corleone family and understand the power dynamics at play.  The melancholic music, coupled with the somber tone of the scene is a stark contrast to the violence that lies ahead. Salvatore Corsitta's monologue is not only a scene-setting device but also an iconic moment in cinematic history.  Related Posts The Best One-Liners in Cinema → Top Screenplays to Read for Aspiring Screenwriters → FREE: Create and share a production calendar online → Robin Williams’ Famous Movie Monologues 10. good will hunting (1997). Robin Williams' Speech  •  Good Will Hunting Robin Williams' performance in Good Will Hunting was unforgettable, particularly his powerful monologue in the park scene. In that scene, Williams, who played the character of therapist Sean Maguire, talked to Matt Damon's character Will Hunting about love, loss, and life. It was a perfectly written and performed monologue that achieved exactly what it had to for the plot, character, and emotional story Williams' performance in Good Will Hunting remains a testament to his incredible talent and his ability to connect with audiences in meaningful ways. His work in the film will be remembered for years to come as a true cinematic masterpiece. 9. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) The Shawshank Redemption  •  Rehabilitation Through his measured and melodic delivery, Freeman brought a sense of wisdom and gravitas to his monologue in The Shawshank Redemption , making it a standout moment in the film. He spoke with empathy and insight about the challenges of re-establishing oneself in society after being incarcerated. Critics and audiences alike praised Freeman for his performance, which was a testament to his incredible talent as an actor. His portrayal of Redding remains one of the highlights of his career, and his monologue is often considered to be one of the most poignant and memorable moments in the film. Brando’s Best Movie Monologues 8. apocalypse now (1979). Apocalypse Now: Marlon Brando Horror Speech  It would be difficult to have any sort of best monologue list without one mention of Marlon Brando. In one of Francis Ford Coppola’s best films Apocalypse Now , Brando's character, Colonel Kurtz, delivers a haunting speech in which he reflects on his experiences during the Vietnam War. Despite the notorious challenges on set with Brando, his performance in the monologue scene is truly mesmerizing. He was given free reign to improvise (since Brando never read the script) which in the end contributed to the truly immortal performance. Overall, Brando's monologue in Apocalypse Now is a testament to his talent as an actor. Despite the challenges, he was able to deliver a performance that is still talked about and revered today. Monologues Movies Female Performances 7. fences (2016). Fences  •  The Same Spot As You Scene Viola Davis' performance as Rose in the film Fences cements her as one of the best actors working today. As Rose confronts her husband (Denzel Washington) about his infidelities and his failure to appreciate her sacrifices, Davis delivers a raw and emotional performance that leaves a lasting impact on the audience.  Her words are filled with pain and frustration, yet also with a deep sense of resilience and determination. Through her powerful delivery and aching vulnerability, Davis captures the essence of a woman who has endured years of hurt and betrayal but refuses to be broken. It's a stunning moment in a truly unforgettable film. Great Monologues in Movies 6. to kill a mockingbird (1962). All Men Are Created Equal  •  To Kill a Mockingbird In the film adaptation of Harper Lee's masterpiece novel, To Kill a Mockingbird , Gregory Peck delivers a stunning closing argument monologue that leaves a lasting impact on the viewer.  Peck plays Atticus Finch, a small-town lawyer defending a black man falsely accused of rape. With unwavering conviction, Peck captures the essence of Atticus, delivering a poignant speech that speaks to the human spirit and embodies the virtues of courage, compassion, and equality. His masterful portrayal of Atticus Finch is a testament to his exceptional talent as an actor and solidifies his place as a Hollywood legend. 5. Pulp Fiction (1994) Pulp Fiction  •  The Gold Watch monologue In the iconic film Pulp Fiction , Christopher Walken proves his ability to captivate audiences even when he has only a few minutes of screen time. Playing the role of Captain Koons, Walken's character regales a young Butch Coolidge with the history of the watch, which had been passed down through generations of Coolidge's family.  The intensity in Walken's voice and delivery captures the attention of audiences as he recounts the watch's journey from a prisoner of war camp in Vietnam to Coolidge's father, who died with the watch hidden in his rectum.  Rocky’s Best Monologues from Movies 4. rocky balboa (2006). Rocky Balboa's inspirational speech In the 2006 film Rocky Balboa , Sylvester Stallone delivers an inspiring monologue as Rocky Balboa, the boxing legend, as he motivates his son.  Stallone's delivery is masterful, depicting the wise and grounded wisdom of a seasoned fighter imparting his knowledge to his son. It is a powerful speech that resonates with anyone who has had to face struggles and hardships in life, and it serves as a reminder that the only things that can truly hold us back are the limits we place on ourselves. 3. Persona (1966) Persona  •  Alma’s Confessions The 1966 film Persona features a riveting monologue delivered by Bibi Andersson in her role as Alma, a nurse caring for a mentally unstable actress. In the monologue, Alma pours out her innermost thoughts and feelings, confessing her darkest secrets and desires to the actress.  The monologue provides a deep understanding of who Alma is, giving the audience insight into her complex psyche.  The monologue beautifully explores the themes of identity, self-discovery, and the blurred lines between reality and fiction.  Spielberg’s Dramatic Monologues from Movies 2. jaws (1975). Jaws  •  The Indianapolis Speech Scene  The Indianapolis Speech monologue in one of Spielberg’s best films Jaws is considered one of the most iconic movie monologues of all time. In the scene, Quint, played brilliantly by Robert Shaw, tells the story of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the horrific events that followed.  Shaw's delivery of the monologue is spellbinding, drawing the audience in with his captivating storytelling and vivid descriptions of the shark attack, the struggle for survival, and the aftermath. Even decades after the movie's release, the Indianapolis Speech remains a powerful moment in one of cinema’s most unforgettable films.  Best Monologues from Movies of All Time 1. the great dictator (1940). Charlie Chaplin  •  Final Speech from The Great Dictator Charlie Chaplin's closing monologue in the film The Great Dictator is a powerful plea for peace, unity and compassion, and it remains one of the most iconic speeches in cinema history. The speech denounces fascism, anti-Semitism, and intolerance, and calls for humanity to embrace love, respect and brotherhood. The speech's universal message is as relevant today as it was when the film was made over 80 years ago.  It continues to inspire people all over the world to strive for peace and to stand up against hate and oppression. Chaplin's eloquent words remind us that, as human beings, we have the capacity to create a better world for ourselves and for future generations.  The Best One-Liners in Cinema On the opposite end of the monologue is the cinematic one-liner. Check out our next article to see some of the best single-line deliveries in all of cinema, ranging from comedies to dramas. Up Next: Best One-Liners→ Write and produce your scripts all in one place.. Write and collaborate on your scripts FREE . Create script breakdowns, sides, schedules, storyboards, call sheets and more. Leave a comment Your email address will not be published. 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Making It: From Pre-Production to Screen What is a Biopic — Definition & Best Examples Explained How Many Rocky Movies Are There — All Rocky Movies in Order Storyboard Ideas, Examples, and Techniques Explained What is a Femme Fatale — Definition, Characteristics, Examples Screenplay Example for Formatting, Genres & PDF Downloads 0 Pinterest Trending on RT 100 Best War Movies of All Time From peacetime to frontlines, from coming home to left behind: Rotten Tomatoes presents the 100 best-reviewed war movies of all time, ranked by Certified Fresh films first. — Alex Vo Page 1: Movies #1-#100 | Page 2: Movies #101-#137 Grave of the Fireflies (1988) 100% A Man Escaped (1956) 100% Casablanca (1942) 99% The Battle of Algiers (1966) 99% Henry V (1989) 98% Schindler's List (1993) 98% Apocalypse Now (1979) 97% Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) 98% All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) 98% Das Boot (1981) 98% The Hurt Locker (2008) 96% The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) 97% Army of Shadows (1969) 97% Grand Illusion (1937) 97% Son of Saul (2015) 96% Waltz With Bashir (2008) 97% '71 (2014) 96% The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) 96% Ran (1985) 96% Paths of Glory (1957) 96% To Be or Not to Be (1942) 96% Eye in the Sky (2015) 95% The Pianist (2002) 95% Saving Private Ryan (1998) 94% Lawrence of Arabia (1962) 93% Three Kings (1999) 94% Spartacus (1960) 94% The Great Escape (1963) 94% Glory (1989) 95% No Man's Land (2001) 93% Wonder Woman (2017) 93% Wings (1927) 94% The Last of the Mohicans (1992) 88% The Killing Fields (1984) 93% Dunkirk (2017) 92% Land of Mine (2015) 92% Zero Dark Thirty (2012) 91% Letters From Iwo Jima (2006) 91% Stalag 17 (1953) 91% Full Metal Jacket (1987) 90% Gallipoli (1981) 91% All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) 90% The Imitation Game (2014) 90% Rescue Dawn (2006) 90% Downfall (2004) 90% The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006) 90% Lebanon (2009) 90% Gone With the Wind (1939) 90% Patton (1970) 91% The Big Red One (1980) 90% Inglourious Basterds (2009) 89% Lincoln (2012) 90% Platoon (1986) 89% Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) 90% The Wind Rises (2013) 88% From Here to Eternity (1953) 88% Tangerines (2013) 88% Zero Motivation (2014) 88% A Midnight Clear (1992) 88% The Deer Hunter (1978) 86% The English Patient (1996) 86% Courage Under Fire (1996) 86% Born on the Fourth of July (1989) 84% Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) 85% Hacksaw Ridge (2016) 84% M*A*S*H (1970) 84% Doctor Zhivago (1965) 82% Operation Mincemeat (2021) 83% Atonement (2007) 83% Casualties of War (1989) 84% The Dirty Dozen (1967) 82% Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) 80% The Thin Red Line (1998) 80% Life Is Beautiful (1997) 81% Devotion (2022) 80% Che: Part Two (2008) 79% Greyhound (2020) 78% A Very Long Engagement (2004) 79% Michael Collins (1996) 78% Black Hawk Down (2001) 77% Fury (2014) 76% Black Book (2006) 77% Good Kill (2014) 75% Empire of the Sun (1987) 77% War Horse (2011) 75% Lone Survivor (2013) 75% Braveheart (1995) 76% Merry Christmas (2005) 74% Flags of Our Fathers (2006) 76% American Sniper (2014) 72% Henry V (1945) 100% Ivan's Childhood (1963) 100% The Forgotten Battle (2020) 100% Narvik (2022) 100% Come and See (1985) 90% Major Dundee (1965) 97% The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943) 97% Zulu (1964) 96% Twelve O'Clock High (1949) 96% Gunga Din (1939) 93% Pages: 1 2 Next Related News Andrew Garfield Movies and Series Ranked by Tomatometer All Emily Blunt Movies Ranked Liam Neeson Movies Ranked by Tomatometer More All-Time Lists 56 Worst Sequels of All Time The 100 Best Asian-American Movies of All Time All 96 Best Picture Winners, Ranked by Tomatometer Movie & TV News Featured on rt. Resident Evil Movies In Order: How To Watch The Series Chronologically September 13, 2024 All Friday the 13th Movies Ranked By Tomatometer All Blumhouse Horror Movies Ranked Transformers One First Reviews: The Best Transformers Movie Yet September 12, 2024 Top Headlines Resident Evil Movies In Order: How To Watch The Series Chronologically – 50 Best New Horror Movies of 2024 – Best Movies of 2024: Best New Movies to Watch Now – All Friday the 13th Movies Ranked By Tomatometer – All Blumhouse Horror Movies Ranked – The 133 Essential Spanish-Language Movies – The 10 Most Psychological War Movies, Ranked Your changes have been saved Email is sent Email has already been sent Please verify your email address. You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics. When it comes to war movies, they tend to take the action-oriented or drama route, depicting a battle or war for the sake of spectacle or for a more intimate biopic. This isn't a bad thing by any means, as there have been several remarkable films that fall into these categories. However, what is less common, and harder to pull off, is a war movie that not only looks at war itself, but also how it can affect other people, especially after witnessing these terrible conflicts. Sometimes, these movies take audiences by the hand and throw them right into their worlds, so that the audience can understand the trauma that goes on underneath a soldier's helmet. When this is pulled off, it really packs a punch, as it helps viewers feel the legacy of these heroic sacrifices, and sympathize with the main characters as they find themselves traumatized and anxious in their nightmarish daily lives. These are the most psychological war movies, which play into the human mind and the way it functions far more than any other films have. 10 'Zero Dark Thirty' (2012) Conflict: global war on terrorism (2001-). Zero Dark Thirty tells the story of Maya ( Jessica Chastain ), whose real name is Alfreda Frances Bikowsky , a CIA analyst who was one of the key figures in the ten-year manhunt for terrorist leader Osama bin Laden . Though this movie doesn't go in any particularly dark directions, it does explore the morality of Maya as she witnesses her fellow agents die in the field during meetings she scheduled and operations she provided information for. As she grapples with herself and struggles to continue her mission, things begin getting worse and worse, until she at last locates America's most wanted man in the world. When the deed is done and bin Laden is killed, Maya begins to shake and cry, feeling that she has expended so much effort into this one mission, and now it has been taken away, leaving her feeling without a purpose. Jessica Chastain brings a phenomenal performance as the CIA analyst, and portrays the background of what goes on during special forces missions, with Maya serving as a troubled, if efficient overseer for multiple aspects of the manhunt. Zero Dark Thirty RENT ON AMAZON 9 'The Nightingale' (2018) Conflict: black war (mid-1820s-1832). The Nightingale is actually a psychological horror that comes from Australian film director Jennifer Kent , known for her 2014 masterpiece The Babadook . The film takes place in the midst of Australia's Black War, following an Irish woman named Clare ( Aisling Franciosi ) who has been exiled to Australia as a result of her crimes back in her homeland. At the time, Australia was a place where many British and Irish criminals were exiled, which makes the continent a highly hostile environment. Before long, Clare is attacked by a band of ruffians, and sets out on a quest for revenge. Taking a critical look at the anger that can come with trauma, The Nightingale uses a lot of psychological techniques to amp up its fear factor, as well as put the audience into Clare's shoes and feel the same things she does . It is brutal and gory, but it's got some great narratives about war and about racism as a direct result of colonialism, the remnants of which can still be felt today. The Nightingale Not available 8 'Dunkirk' (2017) Conflict: world war ii (1939-1945). In the early stages of World War II, France surrendered to Nazi Germany, causing many Allied British soldiers to become stranded on France's northern coast, just across the pond from the land they call home. They have no choice but to wait for rescue as the Third Reich slowly creeps up behind them, pinning them between the German Armed Forces and the sea with no way out. Christopher Nolan 's Dunkirk portrays this losing battle through the eyes of the British, as the walls slowly begin to close in around them. The reason this one can be so psychological is due to its soundtrack and filming techniques. The score consists of lots of ticking sound effects, emphasizing how time is getting shorter and shorter, perfectly reflecting the sense of urgency and desperation felt by the British evacuees. The film plays into the natural anxiety of being a rat in a trap, essentially, and thrusts viewers into the boots of the British troops as the net becomes smaller around them. It's an excellent film, but those prone to anxiety may only wish to view it once , as it can be very intense. 7 'All Quiet on the Western Front' (2022) Conflict: world war i (1914-1918). There have been a couple of different iterations of Erich Maria Remarque 's classic novel All Quiet on the Western Front , but Netflix's 2022 version is one that portrays the trauma and ruination of its main character better than the others. Young Paul Bäumer ( Felix Kammerer ) is a German schoolboy of only 17 who is fooled by propaganda into joining the war effort with some of his best friends. What he finds is not fortune and glory, but a hellish onslaught of death which never lets up, even for a second. Paul witnesses the deaths of his fellow comrades, which would have an effect on anyone. He goes from being a scared, but hopeful young man, to a rough, jaded individual with no real dreams or aspirations for the future, and it is written all over his face. The movie not only examines the impact of viewing death on such a large scale, but also the impact of killing, as Paul is forced to grapple with the morality of taking another's life during times of war. Full of guilt, sadness, and downright apathy, All Quiet on the Western Front is extremely bleak , and reveals a darker part of the human mind that no one should ever see. All Quiet on the Western Front 6 'waltz with bashir' (2008), conflict: 1982 lebanon war (1982). Waltz with Bashir is an animated war docudrama that is written, directed, and produced by Ari Folman , who also stars in the film's main role as himself. The story recounts Folman's experience fighting in the 1982 Lebanon War, becoming disillusioned with the war effort as he witnesses the atrocities firsthand. Years later, Folman at last decides to visit a therapist and talk about his experiences, as he keeps receiving flashbacks and nightmares about the events he witnessed that still distress him. Waltz with Bashir is criminally underrated, and actually received an Oscar nomination for the Best Foreign Language Film, though it sadly didn't win. Using a unique colour pallette and based on a true story, Waltz with Bashir takes a long hard look at the mental health of soldiers, which can persist throughout their entire lives without treatment. It is a biting reminder that even if one quits the military or the war ends, their individual war is never, ever over. Waltz with Bashir 5 'full metal jacket' (1987), conflict: vietnam war (1955-1975). Stanley Kubrick 's Full Metal Jacket is a movie that takes place during the Vietnam War, but is primarily about boot camp and the training process new American recruits go through in ordet to be deemed fit for service. The primary purpose of the training has always been to break these brave individuals down and build them up again until they are essentially a killing machine. This is a difficult process, not only physically due to the intense and rigorous physical training, but mentally, too. The American recruits are subject to all kinds of abuse at the hands of their drill sergeant, causing some of them to turn on each other, or worse, to completely snap. Full Metal Jacket shows how being a soldier is never easy, if not because of the intense combat and trauma they witness, but also due to their training , which is intentionally hard and taxing, and can break anyone under the right circumstances. Full Metal Jacket 4 'the painted bird' (2019). The Painted Bird takes place on the Eastern Front of World War II, and was filmed using the Interslavic Language, so that it wouldn't need to identify with any one particular Slavic nation, and so that it would be more widely accessible. The monochrome film centres on the experiences of young ones during wartime, as well as the horrific violence and abuse they are subject to as a direct result of the fighting. The Painted Bird opted to show things that no other film would dare show, and is made all the better for it Though the movie received some walkouts when it premiered due to its gruesome subject matter, it remains an emotionally moving and underrated masterpiece, dipping slightly into the psychological horror genre with how distressingly real it is. The Painted Bird opted to show things that no other film would dare show, and is made all the better for it. As a result, its main characters are deeply affected by the terrifying things they witness, and are completely changed by the evils present in the world. Dark and disturbing, The Painted Bird broke every rule in the book and still came out on top. 3 'Come and See' (1985) Come and See hails from the former Soviet nation of Belarus , and takes place on the Eastern Front of World War II. A young man joins the partisans, and is subject to the horrors of war, which play out in front of him with shocking accuracy. Come and See is known for putting the audience right into the middle of the world's deadliest conflict, portraying the conflict on a level of realism that no other film has portrayed. According to some veterans, the movie is neither over nor under-exaggerated--it is spot on with its graphic violence and visceral imagery. With some of the most frighteningly realistic images ever committed to film, the young man at the movie's centre begins to feel the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which is only natural considering the horrors he is witnessing. Taking a critical look at the profound impact war can have on a person, Come and See is not only rule-breaking in its depictions of violence, but in its depictions of a broken man in a broken world. Come And See (1985) 2 'apocalypse now' (1979). Apocalypse Now is based on an 1899 novella by Joseph Conrad called Heart of Darkness , though the film changes the setting entirely while keeping the plot more or less the same. In the film, a team of American soldiers aboard a patrol boat in Vietnam is sent upriver to locate a US Army colonel who has gone AWOL, and has formed a cult, which worships him as a sort of deity. Francis Ford Coppola directs and doesn't disappoint, as he portrays the plight of soldiers during the Vietnam War. The jungles Southeast Asia can be a difficult environment, especially considering the enemy combatants know their territory well and can be hiding anywhere at any given moment. As the boat travels, the crew aboard slowly begin to lose their grip on reality, and begin spiralling down into insanity as the horrors they witness increase more and more. Comimg as one of the greatest war films of all time , Apocalypse Now is also a frightening example of what the psyche can do to a person after witnessing repeated trauma. Apocalypse Now 1 'jacob's ladder' (1990). The most psychological war movie is without a doubt, Jacob's Ladder . This war-horror movie is a bit surreal, but also pretty frightening. It stars Tim Robbins as Jacob Singer, a traumatized man who has just returned from a nightmarish deployment to the jungles of Vietnam. When he returns, nothing is as it should be. He begins witnessing strange creatures, and his sense of reality goes straight off the deep end as he is left scared, confused, and alone trying to figure out what's going on. The movie is quite complex due to its psychological themes, and probably warrants a rewatch or two due to its weaving narrative. For a while, it is never quite clear whether Jacob is really witnessing these things or if it's just a side effect of PTSD. Jacob's Ladder dives deep into the human brain, exploring the darkest, most secluded corners of it in which all logic and reason is thrown out the window and actuality itself becomes distorted. It is brilliant, yet underrated, and definitely serves as the most psychological war movie on account of its content. Jacob's Ladder WATCH ON AMAZON PRIME KEEP READING: The Best War Movies of the 21st Century So Far Jacob's Ladder Android Police 7 best movies and tv shows to watch this weekend on apple tv+, hulu, netflix, peacock, and more. Your changes have been saved Email is sent Email has already been sent Please verify your email address. You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics. Welcome to our new series dedicated to the top picks for your streaming enjoyment. We'll feature new movies and seasons from the top streaming services each week. Start this weekend off with the beautiful work of Uglies, the YA-oriented world where cosmetic surgery is mandatory, yet it comes with hidden costs. For a little light-hearted fan service, check out LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy to see the What If that finally confirms what we all knew: Jar Jar was the villain all along. Once you're ready for something more serious, venture into the spy thriller adventure of The Old Man as it takes off to Afghanistan to save Chase's adopted daughter. Reality is also on deck this week with two great documentary series. Take an exclusive look into the height of the fashion world with In Vogue: The 90s, or turn to the seedier side of fashion (and cocaine smuggling) with the life story of AJ Pratt in The Tailor of Sin City. If you're feeling the call of action, turn to either A24's chilling big-budget blockbuster Civil War, or turn off your B.S. meter and just enjoy the future cult classic Boy Kills World. Netflix — Movie — September 13 In a futuristic society, all citizens are required to have cosmetic surgery on their 16th birthday to turn them into “Pretties” so they can live out presumably perfect lives. Things take a turn for Tally when she realizes the changes aren’t just skin deep, and she’s tasked with a mission to infiltrate the Smokes, a group that refuses to go through with the transformations. Netflix is adapting Scott Westerfield’s 2005 bestselling YA novel to the screen, following in the footsteps of the Hunger Games and Divergent series, but with a little more social commentary. Joey King heads up the cast, joined by Chase Stokes, Brianne Tju, Laverne Cox, and others. 6 LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy Disney+ — mini-series — september 13. It was only a matter of time before Star Wars got the alternative dimension "What If" treatment, but who would have expected it to come alongside a new LEGO adaptation? An excellent cast of voice actors — including Mark Hamill returning as Luke Skywalker — take up the story of Sig and Dev Greebling, two actual nerf herders that discover a powerful artifact that reshapes the Star Wars universe. Now they have to set things right, but they'll face challenges from villains like Darth Jar Jar while also dealing with their own brotherly feud. The series is spread out across four relatively short 20 minutes, and Disney+ is releasing all of them at once, so you can watch it like a movie or split up viewing sessions however you like. 5 The Old Man Hulu (and fx) — season 2 — september 12. After a 2-year hiatus, Dan Chase (Jeff Bridges) and Harold Harper (John Lithgow) return for the second season of FX's gritty thriller The Old Man. Shifting styles and tone a bit from the first season, former CIA and FBI agents Chase and Harper travel to Afghanistan to recover Chase's adopted daughter when she's kidnapped by her biological father. Tensions mount as she learns about her family and how she ended up in Chase's care. New episodes air Thursday nights on FX, then appear on Hulu the following day. Of course, if you're new to The Old Man, or you need a refresh on the intricate storyline, catch up on the first season with Hulu. 4 In Vogue: The 90s Hulu — documentary mini-series — september 13. The fashion industry exploded in the 90s to become a core part of our culture, and Vogue magazine dominated the discussion thanks to its striking over-the-top cover photos and thorough access to insiders. This 6-episode documentary explores the stories and reveals some secrets of the editors, models, and fashion designers that took center stage. Three episodes launch today (Sept 13) on Hulu, and the remaining three are scheduled for next week (Sept 20). The documentary begins with a focus on the magazine and editors, but later episodes broaden out to the fashion industry throughout the 90s. 3 The Tailor of Sin City Amc+ — docu-series — september 12. This is the real-life story of AJ Pratt, a small-town tailor that builds an empire of fashion, international smuggling, and cocaine. It all begins when he gains the favor of the local Kansas City mob, which leads him to Las Vegas and all the celebrities and politicians he can handle. The story goes up a notch once AJ attracts the attention of Pablo Escobar and begins facilitating drug deals and smuggling operations. AJ's story unfolds across four episodes in this AMC+ docu-series, starting on September 12. A new episode drops each week through October 2. 2 Boy Kills World Hulu — movie — september 13. Action movie fans, it's your time. Boy Kills World is coming to Hulu with the story of "Boy" as he launches an insanely bloody romp to seek revenge against Hilda Van Der Koy (Famke Janssen) for murdering his family and leaving him deaf and mute — oh, I should point out, his inner dialog is voiced by Archer himself, H. Jon Benjamin... Epic. This one may be destined to be a cult classic thanks to its absurd video game-style fight scenes, more blood than a Saw movie, and a story just a little too crazy to have been greenlit by any serious filmmaker... [Checks notes] Well, it is produced by Sam Raimi (Evil Dead). 1 Civil War Max — movie — september 13. One of the most attention-grabbing films of the year is now on Max. Hailed as the terrifying outcome of political polarization, Civil War follows photojournalist Lee (Kirsten Dunst) and her colleagues on a trip into the heart of an occupied Washington D.C. in hopes of scoring an interview with the president of the opposition (Nick Offerman). While the hype committed to something even bigger than A24's most ambitious movie to date could deliver, it still holds a clear-headed perspective on what it would look like in the final days of a second US civil war. Director Alex Garland doesn't shy away from scenes of battle and fire fights, nor casualties and cold-blooded murder. Civil War blends a character story with its calculated portrayal of the many ways people can react when faced with this kind of dark scenario. Streaming media Chris Selley: Canada banishes a film with the nerve to portray Russians as human I think we should stand behind Ukraine, too. But if it’s at the cost of a core value, freedom of speech, then what the hell is the point? You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account. Article content If  Anastasia Trofimova’s film Russians at War  is a piece of Kremlin-approved propaganda, as its legions of detractors allege, then whoever approved it should stay well clear of any high windows. The Russian-Canadian’s documentary was recently disowned under pressure from Ukrainian groups  by  co-funder TV Ontario (after it initially defended it)  and then cancelled over security concerns Thursday by the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), also after initially defending it. I have watched it. It’s a portrait of sad, drunk, chain-smoking, confused, ill-equipped conscripts and volunteers surviving on a mixture of adrenaline, boredom, fear, vodka and misinformation about Ukraine — notably, in at least one case, that they are essentially fighting the second coming of the Third Reich. Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post and 15 news sites with one account. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. Don't have an account? Create Account Most of the soldiers and medics we meet in the documentary are far more cynical about the war, however, and in various ways. One shakes his head as he peruses a pro-government newspaper distributed to the front lines, bitterly dismissing it as “propaganda.” “After watching TV, I volunteered, let’s say as a patriot, … for six months. Now I’m already in my seventh month here,” he tells Trofimova. “They say the only way back to Russia is feet first (i.e., in a body bag),” he says. “If I’d known that, I wouldn’t have come. Because I too had life plans.” “The war machine dragged many to the front, exploiting their sense of patriotism, friendship and compassion.” Trofimova narrates in one of the film’s final scenes, surveying a Russian military cemetery. “In the end,” she concludes, “here lie the ordinary guys on whose bones big politics is made.” Not exactly Triumph of the Will, is it? But of course, as is always the case, the people who managed to get this film cancelled almost certainly haven’t seen it. Why would they? They’ve already decided it’s disgusting. The most affecting parts of the documentary are little moments, rather than any overarching narrative. This newsletter tackles hot topics with boldness, verve and wit. (Subscriber-exclusive edition on Fridays) There was an error, please provide a valid email address. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Platformed will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Soldiers carrying supplies to the front lines in those purple plastic shopping bags that suddenly appear when you cross the former Iron Curtain. A drone operator nearly blown to pieces by a grenade incorrectly attached to it by a colleague. (“My partner’s a dickhead,” he comments to a friend after the incident, having escaped with only minor facial injuries.) As is always the case, the people who managed to get this film cancelled almost certainly haven’t seen it A pro-Russian woman staggering through the wreckage of her home, surrounded by bomb craters, waxing nostalgic about the good old days of the Soviet Union and weeping when asked why she doesn’t leave. “To where?” she beseeches Trofimova. Everyone who has anywhere to go and the means to go there has already gone, she explains. A debate between soldiers, some of Soviet vintage and some much younger, over why they’re willing to put their necks on the line. “If you say money, I’ll kill you,” a self-styled patriot warns a comrade. “It’s money,” comrade shoots back. I’d probably give it 3.5 stars out of 5, were I reviewing it, It’s difficult to follow at times; some maps would have been helpful. And Trofimova’s narration is so sparse, I think the film might have been better off without it. But at this point, the quality of the documentary isn’t the most important point. The most important point is that government and government-funded entities — Ontario’s public broadcaster, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), TIFF, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and other MPs — successfully conspired to keep people from seeing the film and judging for themselves. In  one of the craziest press releases I’ve seen in recent times , the UCC not only accused TIFF of “providing a platform for whitewashing … genocide”; it also suggested the film might violate the Criminal Code’s prohibition against advocating genocide. Only a purebred lunatic could suggest such a thing, having seen the film. But why would anyone at the UCC see the film? It advocates genocide! “I share those concerns,” Freeland, who is of Ukrainian descent, told reporters, which is also crazy. “It’s not right for Canadian public money to be supporting the screening and production of a film like this.” No, what’s inappropriate is recipients of public money cancelling projects under pressure from politicians and special-interest groups “We did it!” Toronto MP Yvan Baker crowed on social media. “(TIFF) will no longer be screening (the) film Russians at War. Thank you to all who worked to make this happen.” “The film is incosistent (sic) with Canadian values and has no place in Canada.” No, what’s inconsistent with Canadian values is that bloody statement. All Russians at War really does is put some human faces on the Russian side of Vladimir Putin’s disastrous meat-grinder war against Ukraine. And that seems to be what upsets some people the most — the idea of “humanizing” Russian soldiers, some of whom have unquestionably done terrible things in Ukraine. I don’t really know what to say to that other than that they are indeed human beings, and there’s absolutely nothing to be gained by pretending otherwise. Should we pretend they’re lizards? Aliens? War is hell, has always been hell, will always be hell. I’m 100 per cent on Ukraine’s side in this war, and I think Canada should stand foursquare behind it. But if it’s at the cost of one of our core values, freedom of speech, then what the hell is the point? National Post [email protected] Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what’s really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers. Sign up here . 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You can manage your saved articles in your account and clicking the X located at the bottom right of the article. The 9 best things to watch this weekend, from Alex Garland's dystopian nightmare 'Civil War' to the final season of 'My Brilliant Friend' Shows like "Sister Wives," "The Old Man," "Tulsa King," and "My Brilliant Friend" return this week. New series like "How to Die Alone" also debuted. Theatrically released movies, including "Civil War" and "In a Violent Nature," are now streaming. There are plenty of new and returning TV shows to sink your teeth into this weekend. On the reality side, the long-running TLC hit "Sister Wives" about a fracturing polygamist family returns for its 19th season. For scripted series, "The Old Man" (starring Jeff Bridges) and "Tulsa King" (starring Sylvester Stallone) are both back for their second seasons, while HBO's "My Brilliant Friend" premiered its fourth and final season. Some buzzy movies released in theaters earlier this year are now available to watch at home. That includes Alex Garland's "Civil War" and the experimental arthouse horror film "In a Violent Nature." Here's a complete rundown of all the best movies, shows, and documentaries to stream this weekend, broken down by what kind of entertainment you're looking for. Looking for YA? Watch "Uglies." Millennials of a certain age will already recognize this story. Based on the first book in author Scott Westerfeld's YA series, the sci-fi drama takes place in a dystopian future where every teen receives government-provided plastic surgery on their 16th birthday to transform them into society's expected standard of beauty. Joey King stars as the main character, Tally, who ends up pushing back against the system. Chase Stokes ("Outer Banks") costars as her hot friend. Streaming on: Netflix "Civil War" is now streaming. Speaking of dystopian, Alex Garland's divisive 2024 film "Civil War," starring Kirsten Dunst as a hardened war photographer, conjured up some big feelings when it was released in theaters earlier this year. It was a big departure for Garland, who'd previously been known for sci-fi stories like "Annihilation" and "Ex Machina." "Civil War," on the other hand, feels all too realistic. Streaming on: Max Reality fans can tune into a new season of "Sister Wives." Kody Brown is technically no longer a practicing polygamist, now that three of his four wives have left him. But the family's drama continues to unfold on a new season of the long-running TLC series. The upcoming episodes focus on Meri and Janelle also leaving Kody, as Christine embarks on a new relationship with her now-husband, David Woolley . Horror lovers should watch "In a Violent Nature." Written and directed by Chris Nash, this slasher movie was one of the most buzzed-about indie horror releases of the year, largely because of its style. Nash was inspired by the films of Gus Van Sant and compared the style of his movie to a nature documentary — no music, and long, slow, often static shots. Of course, there are still plenty of gruesome deaths courtesy of the resurrected masked killer, including at least two particularly memorable ones. Streaming on: Shudder "My Brilliant Friend" is back for a new season. The HBO drama, based on Elena Ferrante's bestselling novels , follows the complicated, decades-spanning relationship between childhood friends Elena Greco and Raffaella "Lila" Cerullo. Its fourth and final season premiered this week. So is "The Old Man." Jeff Bridges returns as Dan Chase, an ex-CIA operative who's forced to confront his past. Streaming on: Hulu "Tulsa King" returns for a new season too. The Paramount series from "Yellowstone" co-creator Taylor Sheridan stars Sylvester Stallone as The General, a New York mafioso rebuilding his circle after serving a lengthy prison sentence. Streaming on: Paramount+ For a new scripted comedy, check out "How to Die Alone." Natasha Rothwell , best known for "The White Lotus" and Issa Rae's "Insecure," stars in this new Hulu comedy that she also created. Her character Melissa is a dissatisfied but stagnant employee at New York City's JFK airport who's propelled to take a journey of self-discovery. The Emmys are also this weekend. If you're thinking, "Didn't I just watch the Emmys not too long ago?" the answer is yes, you did. The 2023 edition of the awards show was postponed until January due to the Hollywood strikes. So if it feels like less than a year ago, that's because it was. But this year's show is back on course, airing in September as it normally does. The Academy will be honoring the best TV that aired between June 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024 — so all of the (probably many) "The Bear" wins will actually be for last year's season two, not the latest season that aired this past June. Streaming on: Hulu Live TV Disclosure: Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Business Insider's parent company, Axel Springer, is a Netflix board member. Main content 135 COMMENTS 10 Incredible Battle Speeches From War Movies That We Cannot Forget The best pre-battle speeches in war movies are impactful due to the weight of the context, and the speeches can live long in the memory of viewers. War movies often feature calm moments before their epic battles when military leaders have the chance to deliver unforgettable speeches. These moments show the true nature of a leader, and the ... Top 10 Best Movie Battle Speeches KILGORE. Someday this war's gonna end. 3. Spartacus (1960) This movie has two great battle speeches intercut as the preface to the battle between the Roman Legions and a rebellion of slaves led by the gladiator slave, Spartacus. In the film directed by Stanley Kubrick, Kirk Douglas plays Spartacus: SPARTACUS. 16 times movie speeches got us seriously pumped Just state the damned obvious. With an F-bomb. 15. Street Fighter. Speechifier: Colonel Guile (Jean-Claude Van Damme) Pumped-up quote: "I'm not going home. I'm gonna get on my boat, and I'm going ... The 10 Best Battle Speeches in Movies, Ranked The movie then ends with another decent war speech from Dilios (David Wenham), who invokes the memory of the fallen Spartans. "The enemy outnumber us a paltry 3 to 1," he quips. "The enemy ... 32 Most Inspiring Speeches In Film History Avengers: Endgame (Captain America) In a room full of superheroes, leave it to Captain America to make the hype speech. In Avengers: Endgame, that's exactly when Cap (Chris Evans) psyches the ... 10 Greatest Ever of Battle Movie Speeches Here are our pick of the Top Ten Eve of Battle Speeches in movies: 10. Independence Day (Bill Pullman) OK, the movie may be sentimental twaddle, but this address to his people in the face of the alien invasion is the stand out moment. Bill Pullman having been a pretty ineffectual President through the movie suddenly raises his game to deliver ... 7 of the most inspirational pre-battle speeches in cinema Ragnar Lothbrok — 'Vikings'. There's a disconnect between Hollywood and actual warfare. Normally, before a gigantic battle or fight, a leader won't stand in front of their warfighters and give a rousing speech. The fight is just moments away — there's no time to wax eloquent. In History's Vikings, they get it right. 7 of the best military movie battle speeches, ranked These are a few of the best battle speeches to ever hit the screen. Related: 7 of the most overused lines in war movies 7. Zulu. Directed by Cy Endfield, this classic film follows a group of outnumbered Welsh infantrymen as they defend a hospital and supply dump for 12 long hours from a massive force of Zulu warriors. Top 10 Battle Speeches in Movies Top 10 Greatest Battle SpeechesSubscribe: http://goo.gl/Q2kKrDCan one man's words give rise to an army? In these cases, the answer is a resounding yes. In ... The 30 Best Movie Inspirational Speeches Animal House. Not every inspirational speech is about trying to inspire his cohorts to kill people or batter them up and down the length of a football field. Some aspire to a higher goal. Some ... The 7 Best Military Movie Battle Speeches 6. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Directed by Peter Jackson, the third installment of this juggernaut trilogy dominated the Hollywood box offices for weeks on end and, hopefully, taught a lesson to a few military leaders on how to deliver speeches to their troops. Video unavailable. Watch on YouTube. 10 of the Most Amazing Monologues in War Movies From Braveheart's "Freedom" speech to the opening marine scene in Full Metal Jacket, here are 10 of the most amazing monologues in war movies. William Wallace Braveheart Speech. Patton ... 16 excerpts from the greatest military speeches ever given Here are 16 excerpts from the best orations given to key audiences during history's crucial pivot points: 1. PERICLES appealing for war against the Spartans, 432BCE. Bust of Pericles bearing the inscription "Pericles, son of Xanthippus, Athenian". Marble, Roman copy after a Greek original from ca. 430 BC. Wikimedia Commons. Best Movie Speeches We, at the Cinemaholic, made a list of top movie speeches ever that will inspire you. Be ready to get motivated! 15. Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End (2007) - "Hoist The Colours" ... Read More: Best Nuclear War Movies of All Time. 5. Independence Day (1996) - "Today, we celebrate our independence day" ... The 30 Greatest War Films Of All Time, Ranked 26. Black Hawk Down. Sony Pictures. Ridley Scott's depiction of the 1993 American military operation in Mogadishu is one of the most violent war films ever made, but the brutality is justified ... Movie Speech from 300 300. Dilios' Battle Call at Plataea. Audio mp3 delivered by David Wenham. Dilios: Long I pondered my King's cryptic talk of victory. Time has proven him wise. For from free Greek to free Greek, the word was spread that bold Leonidas and his 300, so far from home, laid down their lives -- not just for Sparta, but for all Greece, and the promise ... 10 Best Military Movies, Ranked One of the greatest historical epics of all time, Lawrence of Arabia takes place during World War I. Peter O'Toole plays T.E. Lawrence, a British Army lieutenant who gathers a number of Arab ... BEST BATTLE CRIES AND SPEECHES BEFORE WAR IN MOVIES (part 1) Here's a small collection of battle cries and motivational speeches from famous movie scenes before armies jumping into war.Copyright Disclaimer Under Sectio... Best Movie Monologues Jaws • The Indianapolis Speech Scene. The Indianapolis Speech monologue in one of Spielberg's best films Jaws is considered one of the most iconic movie monologues of all time. In the scene, Quint, played brilliantly by Robert Shaw, tells the story of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the horrific events that followed. 100 Best War Movies of All Time The Big Red One (1980)90%. #50. Critics Consensus: The reconstruction of Samuel Fuller's epic account of his days in North Africa in World War II elevates the film into the pantheon of great war movies. Synopsis: Having previously fought in World War I, an unnamed sergeant (Lee Marvin) now leads soldiers of the U.S. 10 Most Psychological War Movies, Ranked Waltz with Bashir is an animated war docudrama that is written, directed, and produced by Ari Folman, who also stars in the film's main role as himself.The story recounts Folman's experience ... What to Watch This Weekend: Best movies and TV (September 13) Civil War is finally available on Max, and Boy Kills World is landing on Hulu . Android Police. ... 7 best movies and TV shows to watch this weekend on Apple TV+, Hulu, Netflix, Peacock, and more. Canada banishes a film that dares to portray Russians as human: Selley Article content. If Anastasia Trofimova's film Russians at War is a piece of Kremlin-approved propaganda, as its legions of detractors allege, then whoever approved it should stay well clear of ... Best Shows, Movies Streaming September 13 Weekend on Netflix, Max, Hulu The 9 best things to watch this weekend, from Alex Garland's dystopian nightmare 'Civil War' to the final season of 'My Brilliant Friend' Caralynn Matassa 2024-09-13T20:48:05Z Maxine Peake Movie 'Words Of War' Gets US Deal; Sean Penn Joins Anna Politkovskaya Movie 'Words Of War', Starring Maxine Peake, Ciaran Hinds & Jason Isaacs, Gets U.S. Deal Out Of TIFF Market; Sean Penn Aboard As Exec Producer By Andreas Wiseman Andreas Wiseman assignment business plan case study course work essay report research paper speech term paper thesis