Top 10 Films That Captured the Essence of the Vietnam War

On April 30, 2025, we will mark the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the conclusion of the Vietnam War. To honor this occasion, Military Times is featuring narratives related to the Vietnam War.

The Vietnam War Cast a long shadow over one of the most productive eras of American cinema, prompting directors who followed during the past fifty years to grapple with its complex heritage.

These 10 movies, compiled to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon Spanning from unforgettable anti-war masterpieces to depictions of Vietnamese resilience, these works encapsulate the profound and ongoing impacts of the war’s traumas.

"The Big Shave" (1967)

The conflict had been raging for over ten years and still had about eight years left until its end when a 25-year-old entered the scene. Martin Scorsese made this six-minute short In this scene, a man just shaves himself in front of a sink and a mirror. Despite encountering several nicks and cuts, he persists without stopping until his face becomes a horrifyingly bloody spectacle—a tidy yet ghastly allegory for Vietnam.

"The Young Girl from Hanoi" (1974)

In Hải Ninh's notable film from Vietnam, a young girl named Lan Hương scours the devastated landscapes of Hanoi searching for her family. Despite being crafted as wartime propaganda—beginning with an introduction honoring those who resisted the U.S. imperialist B-52 bombings—it also conveys profound human emotion. The narrative unfolds during the December 1972 bombing campaigns over Hanoi, presenting "The Little Girl of Hanoi," which was created amidst the chaos and conflict of war itself.

"Hearts and Minds" (1974)

When released, Peter Davis' groundbreaking documentary sparked considerable controversy, yet over time, it has been recognized for its insightful clarity. The film juxtaposes newsreel footage and domestic interviews against the grim realities faced in Vietnam, offering a sharp critique of the disconnect between U.S. policies and the actual conditions experienced by the Vietnamese populace. The movie’s title originates from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s statement about winning the conflict based on “the hearts and minds of the people who actually live” within the region as he intensified military efforts.

"The Deer Hunter" (1979)

This could be considered the quintessential American film about the Vietnam War. No other movie so majestically or poignantly captures the nation’s transition from idealism to disenchantment as effectively as Michael Cimino's heart-wrenching saga of working-class buddies (played by Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and John Savage), who hail from a Pennsylvania steel community and get conscripted into warfare. The closing sequence where they join voices for “God Bless America,” following irreversible alterations in their existence, retains its striking emotional impact.

"Apocalypse Now" (1979)

Francis Ford Coppola bet all he had on his magnum opus – and almost lost it all. "Apocalypse Now," which transposes Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" to the Vietnam War, is an epic of madness that teeters on the brink of hallucination. Shot in the Philippines and more faithful to Conrad than to Vietnam, "Apocalypse Now" doesn't so much illuminate the chaos and moral confusion of the war as elevate it to grandiose nightmare.

"Platoon" (1986)

In the 1980s, Hollywood produced numerous movies set during the Vietnam era, such as "First Blood," "Hamburger Hill," "Good Morning Vietnam," "Casualties of War," and "Born on the Fourth of July." Standing out amongst these is the Academy Award winner for Best Picture, "Platoon." Oliver Stone Written from his personal experiences as an infantryman during the Vietnam War, Stone's movie is highly praised for its authenticity and stands out as one of the most powerfully graphic and immersive portrayals of the conflict.

"Full Metal Jacket" (1987)

Stanley Kubrick ought to be recognized more frequently as the ultimate filmmaker against war. His scathing World War I movie "Paths of Glory," along with the satirical masterpiece "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Stopped Worrying and Embraced the Bomb," stand out individually as exceptional works. The film "Full Metal Jacket" further extends these explorations of dehumanization into an even harsher realm. It alternates between the intense oppression under R. Lee Ermey’s drill sergeant during basic training and the visceral combat scenes set within an urban landscape. the 1968 Tet Offensive , 'Full Metal Jacket' blends aspects from both extremes of warfare.

"Little Dieter Needs to Fly" (1997)

The way ex-soldiers coped with their experiences in Vietnam has been explored in numerous excellent movies, ranging from Hal Ashby's " Coming Home" (1978) to Spike Lee's "Da 5 Bloods" In 2020, Werner Herzog presented this non-fiction masterpiece where he highlights the incredible tale of German-American aviator Dieter Dengler. The movie, which was revisited and recreated by Herzog in 2007 under the title "Rescue Dawn," features Dengler sharing—and occasionally dramatizing—his ordeal after getting shot down over Laos, enduring capture and torture before making an escape into the dense forest.

"The Fog of War" (2003)

Shortly after the new millennium began, ex-U.S. Defense Secretary and principal figure behind the Vietnam War, Robert S. McNamara, participated in several interview sessions conducted by filmmaker Errol Morris. This culminated in a haunting examination of the mindset that precipitated what many consider one of America’s most significant blunders. Instead of offering a straightforward admission of guilt, this work delves into a complex and unsettling contemplation about how ideologies driven by reason can contribute to mass fatalities—without prompting even an apology from those involved. Among McNamara’s key insights, the foremost lesson stands as “put yourself in your adversary’s shoes.”

"The Post" (2017)

Steven Spielberg “'s compelling movie brings to life the Washington Post’s 1971 decision to publish” the Pentagon Papers , a compilation of categorized files detailing America’s two-decade-long engagement in Southeast Asia. Although government analyst Daniel Ellsberg (who was also involved in “Hearts and Minds”) might be seen as the protagonist of this narrative, “The Post” instead centers on Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham (played by Meryl Streep) and explores the media's crucial role during times of war within the framework of the Fourth Estate.