When it comes to war movies, the vast majority of them cover the stories of soldiers; actual combatants who served on the front lines of combat, many of them losing their lives to the bombs and bullets. While it is important to remember the sacrifice of these brave individuals, there is another type of war hero that often flies under the radar in cinema. These people, known as war correspondents or war journalists, do not participate in the fighting but often find themselves amidst firefights as they report on the situation of the conflict right from the heart of it.
Many of these journalists have also lost their lives, even though they are technically civilians. As such, they don’t deserve to be forgotten either, which is why several films have taken it upon themselves to tell their stories, too, so that war journalists both real and fictional get the recognition that they deserve.These are the best war movies about journalism, which show how the news stories make it home in the first place.
10’The Hunting Party' (2007)
Conflict: Bosnian War (1992–1996)
Not to be confused with other movies or shows of the same name,The Hunting Partytakes place during the Bosnian War in the 90s, when the nation of Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence from the former country of Yugoslavia, leading to a bloody and drawn-out conflict that claimed thousands of lives. Themovie stars Richard Gereas a war reporter named Simon who is on another routine job in Bosnia and meets a Muslim woman taking shelter in the city. They end up sleeping together and she gets pregnant, but she is tragically murdered by military forces, causing Simon to vow revenge against the aggressors.
The film ultimately received mixed reviews from critics, but it was received better by audiences, who felt the movie was not just an effective thriller, but also a morbidly hilarious dark comedy, which it intentionally tries to be. Though it’s not a surprise to anyone that it didn’t win any Oscars,The Hunting Partyis still an easy-to-watch film about journalismduring wartime that, unfortunately, parallels a lot of real-life incidents during any armed conflict in the history of humanity.
The Hunting Party
9’Whiskey Tango Foxtrot' (2016)
Conflict: War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot’s title comes from the NATO phonetic alphabet, representing the letters “W-T-F.” It is a common code amongst military officials to express “What the f**k?” without actually using profanity. If the title weren’t enough of an indication, it becomes abundantly clear that this isn’t just a war movie, but also a comedy. In this film,Tina Feystars as a war correspondent sent to Afghanistan to investigate the ongoing conflict between the US military and paramilitary forces fighting for control of the country.
It’s a movie that tackled a pretty hot-button issue at the time of its release, as the war was still going on. Putting a comedic spin on it was a huge risk, but it actually kind of worked. There are plenty of other, better war comedy movies out there that are funnier, butWhiskey Tango Foxtrotdelivers, tickling the funny bones of many satisfied moviegoers.It’s not a movie that’s for everybody, but with the way it contrasts itself between warfare and awkward hilarity, it’s something that can be appreciated by many.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
8’Lee' (2023)
Conflict: World War II (1939–1945)
Leeis a biopic about one of the earliest and most influential war correspondents in the history of journalism,Lee Miller(Kate Winslet). Miller actually used to be a fashion model, but after the breakout of World War II, she opted to leave fashion behind and pursue a career in the photography and documentation of the deadliest conflict in human history. To this day, Miller’s work is still recognized as some of the finest photojournalism ever, and she is a pioneering figure in the industry.
Leeis not a perfect movie when it comes to portraying who she was or why she was important, and it does suffer in that it is a little bit generic. However, Kate Winslet’s performance as Miller practically saved the entire movie, turning it from average to good with her stellar portrayal of the important historical figure.Leeis a powerful film that shines a light on the role of women and civilians in World War II, which it definitely deserves points for, because not many movies have done that.
7’The Year of Living Dangerously' (1982)
Conflict: Transition to the New World Order (1965–1968)
The Year of Living DangerouslystarsMel Gibsonas Guy Hamilton, an Australian foreign correspondent who is sent to report on the various armed conflicts and rapid change occurring in Indonesia during the late 1960s.Based on a novel of the same namebyC. J. Koch, the movie depicts Hamilton’s journey through the political turmoil happening in Indonesia while trying to balance his budding relationship with a British embassy worker.
This sweeping romance really is about living dangerously, as Hamilton forgoes his assignments and navigates treacherous territory to see his new love interest, finding hope and affection in the most unexpected of places. ThoughThe Year of Living Dangerouslydid have a few minor hiccups here and there, for the most part,it is a surprisingly lighthearted film that happens to take place during a dark time in Indonesia’s history.
The Year of Living Dangerously
6’The Bedford Incident' (1965)
Conflict: Cold War (1947–1991)
The Bedford Incidentis amovie about the Cold Warthat was released during the Cold War, and tells the tale of a fictional incident involving the US and Russian Navies. The confrontation occurs when a Russian submarine is caught within NATO’s maritime borders, after which a strung out captain of a destroyer turns the submarine into his proverbial white whale, determined to see it destroyed one way or another, to the point where the crew begins to worry about his sanity.
Accompanying the crew on the ship is war journalist Ben Munceford (Sidney Poitier), who is now in way over his head (both literally and figuratively) in a potentially deadly situation that could cause a Third World War. Many critics felt the movie was tense and exciting, but dismissed its probability of ever occurring in the real world (even thougha similar incident did, in fact, occur in real life). In any case,reviews were fantastic, with particular attention being paid to the movie’s high-stakes suspense.
The Bedford Incident
5’A Private War' (2018)
Conflict: Syrian Civil War (2011–)
A Private Wartakes place during the peak of the Syrian Civil War, following the real-world photojournalistMarie Colvin, played byRosamund Pike. Colvin was known to be one of the most fearless and dedicated war correspondents ever, travelling to several different active war zones to hear the plight of the unheard and bring their stories home to the West. Colvin was so dedicated to her craft, in fact, that she actually lost an eye during an assignment in Sri Lanka.
Unfortunately, Colvin was tragically killed during her final assignment in Syria, butA Private Warwas a phenomenal way to honour her legacy and respect her numerous accomplishments throughout her 56 years of life. The movie wasnominated, but robbed of two Golden Globes, and was met with an endless amount of excellent reviews, many of which emphasized its somber tone and its respect for the fallen.
A Private War
4’Civil War' (2024)
Conflict: Second American Civil War (No exact dates given)
Civil Wartakes place during the Second American Civil War, a fictitious conflict that breaks out after an authoritarian president is elected and begins making abrupt and dangerous changes to the country. Multiple factions attempt to secede from the larger United States, leading to a conflict between various sides. During this more modern version of a civil war on American soil, two journalists devise the idea to make it to Washington, D.C. ahead of an advancing army to interview the president before the opposing faction can encircle the city.
Along with them, they take an experienced veteran and a young upstart, witnessing the horrors of war on their very own turf.Civil Warwas criticized by some because it is more of a drama with minimal action rather than a combat-filled movie, but for those who are fine with that, the film proved to be very exciting and one of the most unique andexpertly-crafted films of 2024,because one can never truly understand what war correspondents go throughuntil the war is portrayed as being close to home.
3’Reds' (1981)
Conflict: Russian Revolution (1917–1923)
Redsdetails the life and works ofJack Reed(Warren Beatty), an American journalist who marriesLouise Bryant(Diane Keaton),a fellow journalist enamored with their line of work and with each other, collectively deciding to set off to Russia and document the growing Bolshevik Revolution towards the end of World War I. Yes, this is another biopic about a very real writer, but it remains one of the better ones since it actually had a lot of source material in the form of Reed’s book,Ten Days That Shook the World.
Redsis criminally underrated, with very few people in the 21st Century acknowledging its existence, but it absolutely does not deserve such shabby treatment. Even though Beatty is an actor and is not actually Jack Reed, he perfectly embodies his clear passion for his work, which is able to transcend the screen and easily inspire audiences. It’s also avery intelligent movie, delivering crucial information about Russian history and helping the audience understand what leads to such drastic changesin a country, all framed through the lens of aromantic wartime drama.
2’Salvador' (1986)
Conflict: Salvadoran Civil War (1969–1992)
Salvadortakes place during the Salvadoran Civil War, a violent conflict that lasted for over two decades in the tiny Central American nation of El Salvador.James Woodsstars asRichard Boyle, a real-life photojournalist who actually co-wrote the movie, detailing his experiences and his role in the war. After years of being on the job and traveling to various war zones, Boyle begins to feel the effects of PTSD, descending into marital issues and substance abuse.
Salvadorreceived rave reviews from critics on account of the powerful emotions that Boyle wove into the script, describing everything he felt in a way that would resonate with audiences. The movie was nominated for two Oscars, one for James Woods as Best Actor, and one for the script, though it was unfortunately snubbed of both of these highly-coveted awards.Salvadorisn’t just a film, it’s an experience of the harrowing emptiness and trauma that war journalists face, even if they’re shooting with cameras rather than guns.
1’Under Fire' (1983)
Conflict: Nicaraguan Revolution (1961–1990)
LikeSalvador,Under Firealso takes place in Central America, this time in the nation of Nicaragua. This fictional story centers on a tense love triangle between three photojournalists who have arrived in the country to document the war in the final days of the tyrannical regime running the country. This love triangle proves to make things much more difficult for them, aside from the usual dangers and difficulties that their job usually entails.
However, the trio quickly learns that nothing in war can last, and that war can destroy relationships just as easily as it can destroy infrastructure and people.This political thriller filmisn’t just thought-provoking, but heartfelt, coming in as a rare experiment in the blending of anti-war flicks and exciting political tension.It has received nothing but near-perfect reviews from critics, many of whom seem to agree that this movie doesn’t just have a heart, but a good head on its shoulders too, which is what makes this the best war film about journalism ever made.
