This has been quite a difficult list to make because there are so many brilliant battle scenes around. Despite that, I have managed to cull the list down to the 10 best. If you think I have left a great scene off the list – be sure to add it to the comments (preferably with a link to YouTube so everyone can watch). From good to great, here are the top 10 battle scenes in movies.
10. Gladiator Battle in Germania
Classical chaos in the thrilling Germania opening battle, as the Romans pitch a mudfight against hairy, scary forest-dwelling barbarians. Russell Crowe single-handedly revived epic sword-and-sandal films; thousands of movie extras cheered, then were digitally replaced.
9. Ran Attack on Hidetora’s Castle
This scene is probably the greatest scene filmed by Japanese filmmaker, Akira Kurosawa. Ran was Kurosawa’s last great epic. With a budget of $12 million, it was the most expensive Japanese film ever produced. The film was hailed for its powerful images and use of color – costume designer Emi Wada won an Academy Award for Costume Design for her work on Ran. The distinctive Gustav Mahler-inspired film score, written by Toru Takemitsu, plays in isolation with ambient sound muted (most notably during the battle at the third castle).
8. Tora! Tora! Tora! Attack on Pearl Harbour
There are two good films about Pearl Harbor. If “From Here to Eternity” dealt brilliantly with the human drama of the event, “Tora! Tora! Tora!” captures the sheer audacity of the Japanese aerial raid on the naval base. Massively expensive for its time (it cost an estimated $25 million) and featuring three directors, one American and two Japanese, this is truly filmmaking on an epic scale.
7. Braveheart Battle of Stirling
“They may take our lives, but they will never take our FREEDOM!” Woaded-up Mel Gibson plays Scottish rebel William Wallace and tries nobly to overthrow the beastly English. His victory at the Battle of Stirling is scarcely a model of historical accuracy, but tremendous fun nonetheless and, if there were one, Gibson’s rousing taunts would have won him the Oscar for best battlefield banter.
6. The Two Towers Helm’s Deep
The battle of Helms Deep begins, and the Elves manage to hold the Uruk-hai at the wall, but it is blown up and many are killed during the ensuing attack through the breach. The Uruk-hai also manage to break the Gate despite Aragorn and Gimli’s best efforts, and they fall back to the Keep.
5. Henry V The Battle of Agincourt
Before the Battle of Agincourt, victory looks uncertain, and the young king’s heroic character is shown by his decision to wander around the English camp at night, in disguise, so as to comfort his soldiers and find out what they really think of him. Before the battle begins, Henry rallies his troops with his famous speech: “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile [...]“.
4. A Bridge Too Far Parachute Drop
Thousands of doomed Allied troops are dispatched behind enemy lines in an awe-inspiring parachute drop, followed by the climactic tank and infantry battle over the bridge at Arnhem. Richard Attenborough’s cast is stellar (including Anthony Hopkins, Laurence Olivier, Sean Connery, Dirk Bogarde, Ryan O’Neal and Robert Redford) and his pre-CGI achievement staggering.
3. Glory The Storming of Fort Wagner
Glory is a 1989 Academy Award-winning drama based on the history of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment during the American Civil War. The Battle of Fort Wagner, Morris Island, was the Union attack on July 18, 1863, led by the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first major American military units made up of black soldiers. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw led the 54th Regiment on foot while they charged and was killed in the assault.
2. 300 The Battle of Thermopylae
In the Battle of Thermopylae of 480 BC, an alliance of Greek city-states fought the invading Persian Empire at the pass of Thermopylae in central Greece. Vastly outnumbered, the Greeks held back the Persians for three days in one of history’s most famous last stands. A small force led by King Leonidas of Sparta blocked the only road through which the massive army of Xerxes I of Persia (Xerxes the Great) could pass.
1. Saving Private Ryan Omaha Beach Landing
The graphic depiction of the Omaha beach D-Day landing shocked audiences and even induced flashbacks in Normandy veterans. The shaky, hand held cameras, the desaturated color and the unflinching portrayal of the near-suicidal assault all add up to a sickening sense of realism that remains unmatched in war films.
Notable Omissions: Battle of Rourke’s Drift from Zulu, Enemy at the Gates
I agree that the opening scene in enemy at the gates was amazing! Deserves a spot on this list.
While the film was not particuarly exciting; for sheer scale I think that Sergei Bondarchuk’s 1970′s film ‘Waterloo’ contains one of the most impressive battle scenes ever put to film.
The battle of Waterloo is played out on a massive scale, with several thousand actual soldiers (no CGI effects back then) dressed in Napoleonic era costumes, fighting it out for nearly 2 hours. It’d be impossible to make a film on this scale today.
The most realistic depiction of ancient warfare on film is the Battle of Gaugamela from Oliver Stone’s Alexander. The film was a huge flop, although the costumes, weapons and tactics were rather accurate.
I was also impressed with the Siege of Jerusalem from Kingdom of Heaven, even though I thought the film was dull and uninspired.
While I love the village scene in Apocalypse Now, I can understand why it’s left off. It’s not a true battle. Maybe in a Top Ten invasion scenes it would work.
My favorite battle scene on the list would have to be Helm’s Deep. I absolutely love that battle. Palanor Fields is also a terrific battle scene from Lord of the Rings, but not the best. I also really like Henry V.
300 must be the first…..
come on this is history…….
300 vs hundred thousend is unimaginable man….
There are, indeed, some great battle scenes on this list. But what about the following film battles?
1. Custer’s Last Stand in They Died With Their Boots On
2. Pickett’s Charge in Gettysburg
3. The final assault on the Alamo in The Last Command
Agree with the obvious Saving Ryan, Longest day, Bridge too Far, Band of Brothers and Lord of the Rings entries.
For clearly conveying small unit actions and tactics;
Kelly’s Heroes-ambushing the German convoy and taking out the Gold garrison-the Original T-34 aka: Tiger here 30 yrs before Ryan.
Zulu-great recreation of Victorian British tactics.
Platoon-Dafoe taking on the Vietnamse squad.
Band of Brothers-the 101st being ambushed in the Dutch village and having to make a fighting withdrawl.
For sheer scope and cinematography-Last of the Mohicians when the British Column was ambushed in the meadow.
The opening from “Gangs of New York” is a classic. Next to “Gladiator” and “Saving Private Ryan”, it’s one of the three best opening battles ever.
Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee!
All great picks however the most epic awe inspiring battle scene is from Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. The final fight at Minas Tirith in its entirety is just so glorious. The part when the riders of Rohan finally appear, and the ensuing speech from Theodeon gives me goose bumps. There are also some good battle scenes in the movie the 13th warrior, LOTR:FOTR, The Last Samurai, and some especially great scenes from We Were Soldiers.
I think the war scene in Children of Men is simply amazing. The camera work is incredible, and it seems nothing is over-played, as in many such scenes.
The charge of the riders of the Rohan at Helms Deep and the battle for Gondor (or whatever) were pretty awesome in terms of fantasy fighting, especially as horses careened through the ranks of orcs, etc.
Maybe this didn’t work the first time so I’ll try again…
I said I thought Children of Men had an awesome sequence, incredibly worked on on camera. I don’t how many have seen it, but it is definitely worth watching again.
Also, I have to agree with everyone about the Riders of the Rohan at Helms Deep and arriving to rescue Gondor, the charge that ripped through the ranks of orcs was incredible.
Has anyone mentioned Band of Brothers? That has to contain many battle scenes that should be ranked here.
The opening sequence of Enemy At the Gates is incredible. And there are a number of Chinese films that have great battle sequences, such as The Warlords with Jet Li.
Movie: The Light Horsemen (1987)
In 1917 the British and ANZAC forces in what is now Israel were runnning out of water. While the British and New Zealanders had tried to take the town for months, a last ditch attempt was devised using the Australian Light Horse.
Expecting the Australians to advance within a mile, dismount and attack on foot, as they normally did, the Australians mounted the last succesful Cavalry charge in the history of modern warfare – In three hours they achieved what the British Army had been attempting for three months.
ZULU was ten times better then the Two Towers siege. Peter Jackson himself admits he was inspired by it when filming.
Edward Zwick also filmed an amazing battle scene in the mediocre but entertaining “The Last Samurai”
CINEMATASTIC!
I agree with most on this list but see other comments below that suggest two glaring omissions. Firstly: Sergei Bondarchuk’s ‘Waterloo’ (1970) which included some fifteen thousand Soviet foot soldiers as extras and two thousand cavalrymen, some of which were cossack horsemen. Secondly: Guy Hamilton’s ‘Battle of Britain’ (1969)- an aerial epic involving hundreds of World War Two aircraft. Neither film relied on pixel trickery as with many others in this list.
Here are two great re-enactments from ‘Waterloo’:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vlcuvrM1po
and the original trailer from ‘Battle of Britain’:
Got to be Buzz Lightyear versus Zurg:Toy Story 2
Hands down!
Or maybe the House of the blue leaves from Kill Bill?
There is a scene from the movie Battleground where the paratroopers at Bastogne are down to their last few rounds and have fixed bayonets. At that moment the sun appears and the stacked aircraft get at the armour in the open. Tied to it is one mans call to the sky “Its Shinin” has always been one scene that I always remember.
Yes to private Ryan as number one.
i love that the two towers is on here but why not return of the king??!! that battlescene at Minas Tirith is the best battlescene ever!
I wouldn’t pick any of the big battles in the Lord of the Rings movies. Peter Jackson can get a bit too fanciful: look at his cavalry charges, and compare them to historical accounts. But the battle between the Rohirrim and Orcs on the edge of Fangorn is superb. I think he has a scale problem.
“Waterloo” and “The Battle of Britain” would certainly be in a Top 20.
“Band of Brothers” isn’t a movie, but definitely full of good stuff. On the other hand, is it really as notable as “Saving Private Ryan”?
The original “All Quiet on the Western Front” comes to mind: are qe too inclined to focus on the recent, and fresh in our minds, and forget the classics?
In reply to Dave Bell,
I agree.. “look at his cavalry charges, and compare them to historical accounts”.
It’s like Peter Jackson’s portrait of J.R.R. Tolkien’s battle scenes are too fanciful…meaning..
1. not based on fact
2. made in a curious or imaginative way: fanciful architecture
3. guided by unrestrained imagination: fanciful tales of fairy folk
If only Peter had stuck to the historical accounts (of mystical epic battles), they might have been more convincing.
Patrask @ 6: My first thought was, “I bet he doesn’t include the infantry vs. tank scene in Stalingrad.” So thanks for adding that.
i think this is a great list with just a few exceptions. I think that the battle of stirling should be in front of 300 mainly because Braveheart and that battle has become somewhat of a classic, i think it is just a little early to rank 300 so high. also i know that you are probably trying to keep the list a little more diverse but the lord of the rings has so many great battle to choose from and i think that it is without a doubt to consider them some of the most mind blowing battle scenes in cinema history. i think lord of the rings at least deserves two of their battle on this list.
A battle scenes list without the rhythmic machine gun sequence of the French attack on the German line in the 1932 version of “ALL QUITE ON THE WESTERN FRONT” is surely incomplete.
Zulu. You feel like you’re an eyewitness observer just as in the opening scene of Private Ryan. Also the background noise in the opening scene of Gladiator is the marching cadence called out by the Zulu’s as they charge the british. Black Hawk Down is intense from beginning to end and I like that the good guys show heroism in spite of a command mistake.
i love how in japan $12 is the highest budget movie and its a master piece. But silly hollywood directors can spend $200 million on a movie and it still turns out like crap
(on comment 89)
lol my bad not $12, i meant to say $12 million
why the hell isnt the mano a mano match between hector and achilles not in that list???
Palanor Fields? great list though
Great list, I just watched the video for this list.
Thats how i found out about Listverse, but i can’t help but noticing that this Top 10 battle scenes video isn’t on the site, but his other works are, why is that?
Return of the king’s Battle of Pelenor Fields talk about massive thats should be number 1
Saving Private Ryan- The beach scene was incredibly horrifying. Watching those few minutes of action was mind-blowing without question! I can’t imagine the horror of the soldiers that were actually there experiencing it all.
It makes your feelings of war escalate into true evil and the deadly human condition!
It’s good that you put The Assault on Fort Wagner on the list. The emotion you get of seeing those men charging bravely into their destiny is overwhelming.
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN HANDS DOWN. 300 WAS EPIC TOO.
You guys are forgetting something here… The Battle of Boridino as shown in the 1968 Russian production of War and Peace (Voyna I Mir) is the most spectacular and fantastic battle scene in the history of film. If I recall, some 120,000 Red Army soldiers put on Napoleonic era uniforms to be extras in these scenes. This was before CGI… all of the people, explosions, and action is REAL. Look on You Tube. Do not get it confused with the American version with Fonda. No other battle scene can hold a candle to this one. Watch it and see for yourself.
Where is star wars?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yes, i agree with the list
what about the lord of the rings return of the king battle that one was well awesome. i would have ***** with that battle if it was a woman.
ROTK was definitely a winner.
Oh come on, man, what about Last Samurai? Two great battles. Outstanding swordplay.
agree with #16
Mel Gibson really got out his Scottish voice but on other movies he tries not to let out his Scottish accent.
Rothbard 49 voluntary decisions of free individuals. ,
how could you put 300 hundred on there?! thats got too be the most homo erotic film ever made, if you want too sit there atnd watch 300 guys in there pants jumping around in some fight scenes with quite bad gore go ahead, the whole film is just bad, the acting, the fighting and way too much CGI too, just an aweful film.
Hey
What about LOTR Return of the king, when gandalf comes with the army on sunrise, tht was awesome!!
some good scenes in Troy
also in kingdom of heaven too
but return of the king has to be there
cheers
you want battle watch the last five minutes of the last Rambo movie.
It makes Saving Private Ryan look like Sesame Street.
powerful
What? No Oldboy?
The movie “Mongol” has an awesome battle scene near the end.
Here it is.
oh my god. zulu, he left out zulu.
hindi film LOC Kargil is worth a dekko
How come no one ever mentions the 1933 King Kong movie in these lists? Kong vs. the T-Rex is awesome. A monkey boxing, wrestling, and using Judo? C’mon! Kong vs. the village, Kong vs. New York. Can’t be beat for entertainment.
i think you should have included we were soldiers on the list or black hawk down, two of my favorite war films ever! Just gets you goin wen the war scenes get goin
great list thou have to say helms deep is a keeper 
LOL! The Battle Scene in Glory was so funny! That's how you can see how dumb Americans were in their civil war! HAHAHAHAHAH
disapointing…there should absolutley be a LOTR: The Return of the King clip…my favorite battle scene of all time
Whoever made this list was incredibly wrong, because they forgot the the greatest of all, the one that won the best picture for the oscars, the battle of gondor in Lord of the Rings, someone needs to revise the list.
The Vikings
Alexander Nevsky
All Quiet On the Western Front
Zulu Dawn
Paths of Glory