Movies About Cold War

From Francis Ford Coppola, starring Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Frederic Forrest
Rated R

Apocalypse Now is a Vietnam War drama directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The film follows US Army special forces Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) on a secret mission to assassinate Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando), a renegade US Army officer who has gone AWOL and set up his own militia in the heart of Cambodia. Along the way, Captain Willard encounters a variety of characters and situations, from a crazed U.S. Air Cavalry unit to a peaceful Vietnamese village destroyed by American bombs. In the end, Captain Willard reaches Colonel Kurtz, and must decide whether to put an end to his madness or be swayed by Kurtz's words of wisdom. Ultimately, Captain Willard chooses to put an end to Kurtz's reign of terror. The film is a searing indictment of the Vietnam War, and is one of the most powerful anti-war films ever made.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Keenan Wynn
Rated PG

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is a 1964 black comedy directed by Stanley Kubrick. The film tells a story of a paranoid U.S. military general who, in an attempt to prevent a nuclear war with the Soviets, orders a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union without authorization from the President. The President and his advisers must then find a way to stop the attack before it's too late. The film stars Peter Sellers in four roles, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, and Slim Pickens. It is a satirical look at the possibilities of nuclear war and its consequences, as well as an exploration of the psychology of those involved in the decision-making process. The film won the 1964 Academy Award for Best Picture and was nominated for four other Oscars.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Matthew Modine, R. Lee Ermey, Vincent D'Onofrio, Adam Baldwin
Rated R

Full Metal Jacket is a 1987 war film directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on the novel The Short-Timers by Gustav Hasford. It follows a group of U.S. Marines as they train for and engage in the Vietnam War. The film stars Matthew Modine as Private Joker, Adam Baldwin as Animal Mother, and Vincent D'Onofrio as Private Gomer Pyle. The film begins with a boot camp sequence depicting the brutal training of the Marine recruits, and culminates with the Marines' participation in the Battle of Huế during the Tet Offensive. Along the way, Joker experiences the psychological effects of warfare while trying to maintain his detached, ironic outlook on the conflict. The film is lauded for its realistic portrayal of the Vietnam War, and its exploration of the emotional and psychological toll taken on the Marines. It received critical acclaim upon its release and has been cited as one of Kubrick's greatest films.

From Alfred Hitchcock, starring Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Jessie Royce Landis
Rated Approved

North by Northwest is an iconic classic thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The story follows successful advertising executive Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) as he is mistaken for the wrong man and unwillingly thrust into a deadly game of espionage. With his life on the line, he must outwit a group of ruthless spies, travel across the country and confront a mysterious villain at the iconic Mount Rushmore. Along the way, he meets the beautiful Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint), who helps him stay one step ahead of his pursuers. With its stunning set pieces, witty dialogue and thrilling action sequences, North by Northwest is a masterpiece of suspense that remains as entertaining today as it was upon its original release.

From Carol Reed, starring Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Trevor Howard
Rated Approved

The Third Man is a 1949 British film noir directed by Carol Reed, starring Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, and Orson Welles. Set in post-World War II occupied Vienna, it follows the story of American writer Holly Martins as he arrives in the city searching for his best friend Harry Lime, who has been killed in a suspicious car accident. Martins begins to suspect that Lime's death was not an accident when he discovers that Lime was a black market trafficker involved in the counterfeiting of penicillin. He then embarks on a dangerous investigation to find the truth, running into a crossfire of criminals and uncovering a web of corruption and deceit. As he delves deeper, Martins finds himself ensnared in a deadly cat and mouse game with the mysterious "Third Man" – a criminal mastermind of unknown identity. The film is famous for its iconic zither score and its unique expressionistic cinematography, as well as its exploration of themes of morality, guilt, and redemption. With its suspenseful plot, memorable characters, and haunting visuals, The Third Man is widely considered to be one of the greatest films of all time.

From Brad Bird, starring Eli Marienthal, Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Aniston, Vin Diesel
Rated PG

The Iron Giant is a 1999 animated science fiction film directed by Brad Bird. The film follows a young boy named Hogarth Hughes, who discovers a giant metal robot from outer space that has crash-landed near his home in the small fictional town of Rockwell, Maine in 1958. With the help of a beatnik artist named Dean McCoppin and a sympathetic government agent named Kent Mansley, Hogarth attempts to hide the Iron Giant from the military and keep him from being destroyed. As Hogarth and the Giant form a bond, they must also protect the town from Mansley, who is determined to find and destroy the Giant at any cost. The Iron Giant is ultimately able to prove his heroism by sacrificing himself to protect Hogarth and the town. The film ends with Hogarth remembering the Giant fondly, while a statue of the Giant is constructed in town.

From Sidney Lumet, starring Henry Fonda, Walter Matthau, Fritz Weaver, Dan O'Herlihy
Rated Approved

Fail Safe is a 1964 thriller directed by Sidney Lumet. The film tells the story of a catastrophic nuclear accident that could potentially lead to the end of the world. The accident is initiated when an American bomber is mistakenly ordered to drop an atomic bomb on Moscow. The President of the United States and his advisors must find a way to stop the bomber before it reaches its target, or the consequences will be catastrophic. The story is seen largely through the eyes of the President, who is forced to make difficult decisions in order to save the world. The tension is heightened as the President and his advisors attempt to make contact with the bomber’s crew, but their efforts are thwarted by an unexpected turn of events. The film features an all-star cast, including Henry Fonda, Walter Matthau, and Larry Hagman. Ultimately, the President and his advisors find a way to avert nuclear disaster and save the world from a possible Armageddon.

From John Frankenheimer, starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh, Angela Lansbury
Rated PG-13

The Manchurian Candidate is a classic Cold War thriller from director John Frankenheimer. Set in the 1950s, the film follows the story of Major Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra), an American soldier who has just returned home from the Korean War. After having a strange and recurring nightmare involving a fellow soldier, Sergeant Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey), Marco begins to investigate and soon uncovers a conspiracy involving brainwashing and a political assassination plot. With the help of Shaw's former commanding officer, Marco is determined to unravel the mystery and stop the assassination before it can take place. The Manchurian Candidate is a suspenseful and exciting tale of paranoia, suspense, and political intrigue.

From John Frankenheimer, starring Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Fredric March, Ava Gardner
Rated Approved

Seven Days in May is a 1964 political thriller directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, and Fredric March. The film follows U.S. Army Major General James Mattoon Scott (Douglas) as he discovers that his superior, General James Caldwell (Lancaster), is planning a coup d’état against the President of the United States. It is revealed that Caldwell is a right-wing military leader who is plotting to overthrow the government and establish a fascist dictatorship. As Scott frantically attempts to stop the coup, he finds himself in a race against time as the clock ticks down to the planned coup in seven days. Forced to face dangerous obstacles and loyalties, Scott must fight to prevent the coup before it’s too late.

From Wolfgang Becker, starring Daniel Brühl, Katrin Sass, Chulpan Khamatova, Florian Lukas
Rated R

Good Bye Lenin! is a 2003 German comedy-drama film directed by Wolfgang Becker. The film tells the story of a young man, Alex Kerner, who must keep his mother from learning that life in East Germany had changed drastically by concealing the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the East German government. To keep his mother from learning the truth, Alex creates a make-believe world in which East Germany still exists, with him playing the role of head of the household. Through his fabricated world, Alex is able to protect his mother from a shock that could be too much for her weak heart to handle. The film was a critical and commercial success, and won numerous awards including the German Film Awards for Best Feature Film and Best Director.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Alan Alda, Amy Ryan
Rated PG-13

Bridge of Spies is a 2015 historical drama directed by Steven Spielberg. The film follows lawyer James Donovan (Tom Hanks) as he is enlisted by the CIA to negotiate a prisoner exchange between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Donovan is tasked with arranging the exchange of Soviet spy Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance) for American pilot Francis Gary Powers (Austin Stowell) who had been shot down while flying a U-2 spy plane. Through his negotiations, Donovan also manages to arrange the release of Frederic Pryor (Will Rogers), an American student wrongfully arrested in East Berlin. As Donovan attempts to carry out his mission, he is confronted with immense pressure and danger from both sides, as well as having to make difficult moral decisions.

From John McTiernan, starring Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, Scott Glenn, Sam Neill
Rated PG

Based on Tom Clancy's best-selling novel, "The Hunt for Red October" follows the story of a Soviet submarine captain, Marko Ramius (Sean Connery), who attempts to defect to the United States while in command of a new advanced nuclear submarine, the Red October. As Ramius attempts to leave the Soviet Union undetected, the CIA dispatches Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin) to work out the details of the submarine's mission and its potential threat to U.S. security. In a race against time, Ryan must decipher the clues and outwit Soviet agents aboard the Red October in order to save the United States from a nuclear disaster. Along the way, Ryan must confront his own inner demons as he is forced to make a difficult moral decision.

From Terence Young, starring Sean Connery, Robert Shaw, Lotte Lenya, Daniela Bianchi
Rated PG

From George Clooney, starring David Strathairn, George Clooney, Patricia Clarkson, Jeff Daniels
Rated PG

From Roger Donaldson, starring Kevin Costner, Bruce Greenwood, Shawn Driscoll, Drake Cook
Rated PG-13

From Tony Scott, starring Gene Hackman, Denzel Washington, Matt Craven, George Dzundza
Rated R

From Sidney J. Furie, starring Michael Caine, Nigel Green, Guy Doleman, Sue Lloyd
Rated Passed

From John Badham, starring Matthew Broderick, Ally Sheedy, John Wood, Dabney Coleman
Rated PG

From Stanley Kramer, starring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, Anthony Perkins
Rated Approved

From Tomas Alfredson, starring Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Mark Strong
Rated R

From Mike Nichols, starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams
Rated R

From John Schlesinger, starring Timothy Hutton, Sean Penn, Pat Hingle, Joyce Van Patten
Rated R

From David Leitch, starring Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John Goodman, Eddie Marsan
Rated R

From Robert De Niro, starring Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, Robert De Niro, Alec Baldwin
Rated R

From Kathryn Bigelow, starring Harrison Ford, Sam Spruell, Peter Stebbings, Christian Camargo
Rated PG-13