Summary
- The heroism of D-Day veterans is immortalized in various films, from thrillers to rom-coms, offering something for every movie lover.
- Over the years, Hollywood has produced iconic D-Day movies, highlighting the multi-pronged assault of the Normandy invasion from different angles.
- From documentaries to romantic comedies, each film provides a unique perspective on the historic event, capturing the emotions of soldiers involved.
The best D-Day movies chronicle the world-changing moment of World War II in various ways. It has been 80 years since the D-Day invasions changed the course of World War II and the events of that day changed the world forever. Such an iconic moment in history meant that Hollywood would get inspired to produce several films that reference D-Day to pay homage to it. It’s fascinating to see just how many films about the subject were made, and how effective they were. Whether they’re for history experts or complete novices, there’s something for everyone in these movies.
There have been countless movies about World War II but many of those focusing on Operation Overlord stand out. The heroism of the D-Day vets would live on in the hearts and minds of generations for all time, and that meant immortalizing it on film. Some of the best D-Day movies are fictional adventure films, while others try to stay as close to authentic as possible. WWII buffs in particular will find a lot to love about these films, all of which offer a different perspective on D-Day.
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18 The Great Escaper (2023)
Michael Caine Plays A Veteran Looking Back On D-Day
Along with possibly being Michael Caine’s final movie now that he has reportedly retired, The Great Escaper is an uplifting true story that is all about soldiers looking back on their experiences on D-Day. The movie is based on the true story of Bernard Jordan, a 90-year-old veteran who broke out of his nursing home in England in order to attend the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion in France.
The movie has a lighter touch at times with Caine bringing his trademark charm and humor to this story of an older adventurer. However, the movie also explores the impact the war had on people like Bernard, with flashbacks depicting his experiences in the war. that still haunt him decades later. There is also an interesting scene in which Bernard shares a drink in the bar with German soldiers who are also still dealing with wartime trauma.
17 Overlord (2018)
Soldiers Investigate A Nazi Lab On D-Day
As serious of a subject matter as the D-Day invasions were, there have been a number of movies that have been willing to use it as a backdrop for a different kind of genre story. While there are a number of rom-coms that feature D-Day prominently in the plot, Overlord is a thrilling and underrated sci-fi horror movie with the invasions at the center. Wyatt Russell and Jovan Adepo lead the cast in the story of a group of soldiers dropped into Europe during D-Day on a special mission to locate a Nazi lab.
The movie becomes a twisted horror movie as the soldiers discover that the Nazi experiments have involved raising the dead to form a super-soldier army. This aspect of the story is terrific with some really great genre moments and gory set pieces. However, the early D-Day sequence with the chaos of the paratroopers dropping into Europe is also outstanding.
16 Churchill (2017)
A Look At Winston Churchill’s Tormented Mind In The Lead Up To D-Day
While Gary Oldman’s Oscar-winning turn in The Darkest Hour helps make it likely the most popular biopic of Winston Churchill, the 2017 movie Churchill is one that deals more directly with the D-Day invasions. The movie stars Brian Cox in the lead role as it follows the Prime Minister during the lead-up to the invasions as he struggles with his reservations over the plans. With so many lives on the line, Churchill battles with military leaders over the right course of action.
Cox’s performance as Logan Roy in Succession is proof enough that he can handle the infamously big personality of Churchill, bringing gravitas to the role. However, Cox also brings more vulnerability than the character is usually depicted with as the movie shows his uncertainty and lack of confidence in some of the most pressing decisions.
15 The True Glory (1945)
A Documentary About The Victory Of WWII
Wartime propaganda existed on both sights of the WWII conflict with the military using the power of filmmaking to raise support and public morale amid the troubling times. While these films have problematic reputations, with some of them pushing deliberate and clear lies, some of them remain fascinating and in-depth depictions of the war as it was happening, such as the documentary The True Glory.
This movie is actually a look at the war after it had been one as a celebration of the military and the soldiers who fought, with the rousing tagline of “The story of your victory…told by the guys who won it!” The movie details the American participation in WWII, from the Normandy invasions right to the fall of the German army. The footage captured for the movie is astounding decades later and the movie earned a Best Documentary Feature Oscar.
14 D-Day The Sixth Of June (1956)
A Wartime Romance Hours Before D-Day Begins
Romantic dramas taking place during wartime got their start with movies like this one. Robert Taylor, Richard Todd, and Dana Wynter star in a story about an American and British soldier who each share memories of their romance with the lovely Valerie Russell. The movie often feels like it is attempting to be the iconic wartime romance Casablanca, with a love triangle and flashbacks. While it certainly falls short of that, it is a solid Hollywood romance.
To his credit, Richard Todd was an actual D-Day vet; a member of the 7th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment who actually made contact with Major Howard at the Orne Bridge. It’s an impressive casting choice, even if the actual battle in question occurs in the final minutes of the film. Those looking for an action movie will be disappointed but it is an interesting look at the build-up to the invasion from the perspective of brave soldiers.
13 Storming Juno (2010)
A Look At The Canadian Forces’ Invasion Told By Real-Life Soldiers
Most D-Day movies and content focus largely on the conflict that took place on Omaha Beach, but military buffs know the event was a multi-pronged assault. The second-most famous beach was Juno, which this docudrama film attempted to showcase, with solid results. The film switches focus from American forces to the Canadian soldiers who stormed that particular beach. It tells the story from the perspective of several soldiers involved in the paratroop brigade, tank crew, and front-line infantry, offering different glimpses into what unfolded on that fateful day.
The reenactments of the battles are lower budget than some of the other depictions seen in D-Day movies and the size of the production does feel very apparent at times. However, the big selling point of the movie is hearing directly from those who experienced the actual battle.
12 Breakthrough (1950)
Following A Platoon From Training Into Battle
WWII movies of the ’50s have a particular feel and aesthetic, considering they were written, directed, and performed by people who actually lived to see them. Often, these movies feature quirky details that reflect their genuine experience, adding to their innate charm. Breakthrough is a great example of this and follows the story of a WWII platoon that trains for D-Day, then gets dropped in the middle of the action before fighting its way into Germany.
The production utilizes video footage taken from U.S., British and German forces to weave a narrative around the visuals. While the characters do not feel layered and interesting enough to bring the movie to life on a story level, the authentic production values add to the impact of the experience. On top of that, the film was also a surprising box office success.
11 A Matter Of Resistance (1966)
A French Rom-Com With A D-Day Backdrop
A Matter of Resistance is a French romantic comedy set around the Normandy invasion which might seem like a strange melding of genre and subject matter. A young Catherine Deneuve plays Marie, a country girl who is the young bride of an older farmer. She catches the eye of a German commander, who bivouacs his troops nearby. She also catches the eye of a French resistance fighter who is trying to spy on the Germans to help prepare for the Allied invasion.
She distracts him from his mission, and over the course of the film, all the men make fools of themselves trying to win her affection. The slapstick humor and romantic tension are the main draws of this film, with D-Day providing a significant backdrop. It is interesting to see a wartime movie like this played to a more lighthearted tone at this point in Hollywood history.
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10 Ike: Countdown To D-Day (2004)
Tom Selleck Plays The Military Leader Behind The Invasion
Though he is best known for TV roles in Magnum P.I. and Blue Bloods,actor Tom Selleck‘s most underrated performance came in Ike: Countdown to D-Day. Selleck shaved off more than just the mustache for his portrayal of General. Dwight D. Eisenhower, one of the most brilliant strategists ever to have graced the United States military. The film starts 90 days prior to Operation Overlord and builds up to the inevitable conflict.
Selleck masterfully plays Eisenhower as a man trying to affect the single most important invasion in history, while dodging the politics of his peers like General Patton. The movie effectively shows how, through a mixture of superb diplomacy and strategy, he manages to accomplish the impossible. Like Churchill, it is a look behind the scenes at the planning of this pivotal moment in history with another commanding performance to carry the story.
9 Overlord (1975)
Many of the best D-Day movies appeared in the immediate post-WWII era and reflected the attitudes toward war developed during that conflict. However, Overlord is a post-Vietnam D-Day movie and thus takes a look at the moment through a very different lens. Instead of focusing on the heroism of the Normandy invasion, this movie looks at the war as an instrument of fate that carelessly churns through naïve young soldiers drawn inexorably toward an inglorious end.
It’s also an engaging film shot in glorious black and white and does a better job than most when it comes to blending new and archival footage. Instead of being distracting, this only elevates the narrative elements of the movie and gives a constant reminder of the reality of the story. The result is a visceral WWII film that fits in well with the nihilism of the very difficult 1970s.
8 36 Hours (1964)
James Garner Plays A Soldier Captured Before D-Day
Intelligence in WWII is infamous for some of the elaborate schemes devised by both sides to deceive the other. In this movie, German intelligence tries to get plans for the Allied invasion through an elaborate ruse, where they convince an American officer that the war is over. The movie stars James Garner who plays the captured soldier who is subjected to this psychological battle with the fate of the war hanging in the balance.
While it is an elaborate premise, it is also a brilliant one with the audience more aware of the threats at hand than the protagonist. It’s also a taut thriller, as the subtle deceptions deployed by the Germans make it all too easy to let details slip, creating a sense of tension. Garner gives a tremendous performance as the very vulnerable hero who is trying to make sense of the circumstances he finds himself in.
7 The Desert Fox: The Story Of Rommel (1951)
A Look At The Notorious German Commander
Erwin Rommel has long held a position of respect among the Allies. In contrast to political generals, Rommel is seen as a German general rather than just another Nazi and this movie did a lot to help establish the perception of Rommel in the United States. James Mason portrays Rommel as a complex and conflicted character, which isn’t far from the truth. D-Day plays a small, yet crucial role in the movie.
When Hitler prevents Rommel from preparing for the Normandy invasion, he decides to join a plot to assassinate the Führer. When his role is discovered, he is given the chance to commit suicide in order to save face and save his family. It’s a rare and effective take on the other side, which allows this film to distinguish itself from its peers. It is a look at a compelling figure of the war that many people might not know much about.
6 The Americanization Of Emily (1964)
A Comedy About An Easy-Going Soldier Thrown Into Danger
James Garner, a real-life war hero, joined another movie about the events of D-Day in The Americanization of Emily. Garner played Charlie, the adjutant to a rear admiral in this 1964 WWII film. His main job is to make sure the admiral and his fellow officers have all the luxuries they could want, including “companionship.” When his commander loses his wife, he decides to order Charlie to be among the first ashore on D-Day so he can document the first sailor killed on the beach.
Emily (Julie Andrews) is a widow who has already lost her husband to the war and falls in love with Charlie, while facing the prospect of losing him, as well. It’s as compelling an account of the absurdity of war as Catch-22 managed to be, with a little romance sprinkled in to give the movie its timeless charm.
5 The Big Red One (1980)
The Chronicle Of A Group Of Soldier’s Harrowing Time At War
Lee Marvin’s best movies contained a number of excellent war movies with the over-the-top and thrilling adventure The Dirty Dozen being his most famous. However, this is another step into the genre that should not be missed. The Big Red One is almost like an updated and expanded version of Breakthrough, as it traces five men from their first campaigns in North Africa through Italy, D-Day, and, finally into Germany. The film engages with WWII with greater complexity than most of its peers.
From soldiers struggling with the requirement to kill enemies to the difficulty of comprehending what happened in the Holocaust, this is a film that combines dramatic action with hard-hitting philosophical questions. It also bears the distinction of containing one of Mark Hamill’s most iconic roles outside of Star Wars playing one of the grizzled soldiers under Marvin’s command.
4 The Longest Day (1962)
Allied And German Perspectives On D-Day
This is one film that focuses exclusively on D-Day as a central theme, making for a massive scale and epic war movie. With a runtime of almost 3 hours, it’s no slouch and tries to tell the story from multiple perspectives, including numerous Allied and German soldiers on opposite sides of the conflict. The cast is huge and full of the biggest names of the time, including John Wayne, Sean Connery, Robert Mitchum, Henry Fonda, and Roddy McDowell.
In trying to give a broad and extensive view of the war, the movie was directed by three filmmakers collaborating on the final project. Ken Annakin directed the British and French scenes, Andrew Marton directed the American scenes, and Bernhard Wicki directed the German scenes. The risky approach pays off with a surprisingly coherent story. Even if the human drama sometimes gets lost in the sheer scale of the movie, it still encapsulates the events of D-Day in superb fashion.
3 Where Eagles Dare (1968)
An Allied Mission To Protect The Secrets Of D-Day
The 60s and 70s saw an influx of war adventure movies that embraced the rollicking thrills of battle with large ensemble casts. While the likes of The Great Escape and Kelly’s Heroes come to mind, Where Eagles Dare, based on the novel by Alistair MacLean, is one of the best. Long before Clint Eastwood became one of Hollywood’s best directors, he played Lt. Schaffer, an American Ranger thrown into a British operation to rescue General George Carnaby from the S.S., before he can divulge the secret plans regarding D-Day.
However, not everything is at it seems. It soon becomes obvious that there’s another objective separate from the official one. The film scored well with critics and audiences alike thanks to solid performances by the star-studded cast of Where Eagles Dare including Eastwood, Richard Burton, Mary Ure, and Patrick Wymark. The movie’s biggest strength is its plot twist, which is surprisingly effective and too good to spoil.
2 Patton (1970)
A Look At The Career Of The Famous American General
In the exploration of one of the most iconic military figures in American history, Patton focuses on more than just the Normandy invasion yet it stands out as an essential moment. In many ways, this movie does the best job of tying together the entire European campaign, particularly because of the focus on General George S. Patton. Actor George C. Scott plays the iconic figure with such endearing earnestness that it’s hard not to sympathize with his actions.
D-Day occupies a position of honor in this film, but like other battles, the emphasis is not so much on the fighting, as it is on the meaning. Why does Patton fight, and how does he examine the cost of every single action he takes? Those are the tough questions the film tries to answer. Scott won Best Actor for his unforgettable performance in the lead role.
1 Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Features The Iconic Opening D-Day Sequence
Saving Private Ryan boasts the most realistic and authentic depiction of D-Day ever committed to film, and it isn’t close. Using the full arsenal of his experience with special effects and action sequences, Steven Spielberg gave audiences a ground-level perspective on the D-Day landings, before using it as a jumping-off point for its main plot. It remains one of the biggest and most intense WWII battles in movie history.
The sheer brutality of the D-Day landing sequence is a powerful and harrowing experience, but one that has been lauded as a truthful representation of the horrors that went on that day, as opposed to Hollywood’s typical glamorization of war. All this helped to make Saving Private Ryan the best war movie ever made in the eyes of many people while earning praise from soldiers who were really there.
Honorable Mention: Band Of Brothers
While not a movie, Band of Brothers is an essential WWII dramatization while also featuring some of the most effective storytelling related to D-Day. The acclaimed miniseries follows the real-life soldiers of Easy Company throughout their war efforts in the European campaign. It is the first two episodes that deal directly with D-Day as it follows the soldiers as they prepare for the paratrooper jump at boot camp followed by their actual jump into German-occupied territory.
Seeing the training is a fascinating exploration of what these soldiers went through to prepare for the war while helping the audience get to know these characters before they are thrown into the chaos of war. Chaos is indeed what they encounter during the jump but it is not depicted as this flawless mission. Soldiers are scattered across the land, platoons are separated and entire planes are shot down, killing countless soldiers before they even step onto European soil. That is just the beginning of the intense and realistic depiction of the war Band of Brothers delivers.