War movies have a unique way of captivating audiences with their portrayal of bravery, strategy, and the human spirit’s resilience. While fictional tales can be exciting, there’s something particularly gripping about war films based on true stories. Here’s a list of the 15 best war movies inspired by actual events that will transport you to the front lines alongside heroes who really lived through these historic battles.

1. Saving Private Ryan (1998): Directed by Steven Spielberg, this iconic film follows U.S. soldiers on a mission to rescue a paratrooper in Nazi-occupied France.

2. Schindler’s List (1993): Another Spielberg masterpiece that tells the story of Oskar Schindler and his efforts to save Jewish refugees during the Holocaust by employing them in his factories.

3. Hacksaw Ridge (2016): The true story of Desmond Doss, an American pacifist combat medic who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service during the Battle of Okinawa.

4. The Imitation Game (2014): Benedict Cumberbatch shines as Alan Turing, the mathematical genius who helped crack the Enigma code during World War II.

5. Braveheart (1995): Mel Gibson directs and stars in this epic tale of William Wallace, a Scottish rebel who leads an uprising against the English king Edward I.

6. Black Hawk Down (2001): Ridley Scott’s intense depiction of the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, where elite U.S. forces faced off against Somali militants.

7. The Pianist (2002): Roman Polanski’s powerful film based on Władysław Szpilman’s autobiography, chronicling his survival in Nazi-occupied Warsaw.

8. Full Metal Jacket (1987): Stanley Kubrick’s raw look at the Vietnam War and marine training through the eyes of Private Joker.

9. Dunkirk (2017): Christopher Nolan’s immersive World War II movie featuring the harrowing evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk, France, in 1940.

10. Lone Survivor (2013): The harrowing account of SEAL Team 10’s ill-fated mission in Afghanistan in 2005 and one man’s incredible survival story.

11. A Bridge Too Far (1977): An all-star cast recreates Operation Market Garden, one of World War II’s most ambitious Allied operations that aimed to end the war quickly but failed tragically.

12. Patton (1970): George C. Scott delivers an Oscar-winning performance as General George S. Patton in this biopic covering his colorful and controversial career during WWII.

13. Platoon (1986): Oliver Stone, a Vietnam vet himself, directs this gritty movie about a young soldier’s experience during the Vietnam War.

14. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006): Clint Eastwood provides a rare Japanese perspective on WWII with this powerful film about the Battle of Iwo Jima, told from the Japanese soldiers’ point of view.

15. The Great Escape (1963): This classic WWII adventure film follows Allied prisoners plotting an elaborate escape from a German POW camp.

These films serve not just as entertainment but also as stark reminders of history’s tumultuous chapters and humanity’s capacity for both destruction and tremendous courage.