Top Ten WWII Movies for 4th of July, Patriotic Celebrations & Military Events

For 4th of July, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, Flag Day and other patriotic celebrations, what do you do after you go to the parade, eat bar-b-cue and watermelon, and watch the fireworks? You watch a good patriotic movie, of course!

Movies for Patriotic Holidays

While there are many great patriotic movies to enjoy for the 4th of July, other patriotic holidays, and military events, there are so many good World War II movies to choose from, a top ten list of WW2 movies seemed in order for the July 4 holiday as well as other patriotic celebrations. Dedicated to my father who served in the Army during the Second World War, here is my Top Ten List of World War II Movies for the 4th of July, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, Flag Day, other patriotic holidays and military events.

Top Ten List of World War II Movies for 4th of July

1. Pearl Harbor (2001)

Boasting an all-star cast of respected Hollywood icons including Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, Alec Baldwin, Jon Voight, Kate Beckinsale, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Dan Aykroyd, Colm Feore, Mako, Tom Sizemore, Jaime King and Jennifer Garner, "Pearl Harbor" was produced and directed by the team of Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay. The movie is a "reimagining" of the infamous Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor during the Second World War and the following Doolittle Raid. "Pearl Harbor" did not fare well with critics, which is code for "audiences LOVED it." 183 minutes.

2. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Set during the invasion of Normandy in World War II, "Saving Private Ryan" stars Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Vin Diesel, Giovanni Ribisi, Adam Goldberg, Jeremy Davies and Matt Damon. The story follows a team of rangers as the search for paratrooper Private First Class James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon), who is the last surviving brother of four servicemen. Directed by Steven Spielberg Saving Private Ryan is full of action and quiet heroism. 169 minutes.

3. Miracle at St. Anna (2008)

Directed by Spike Lee, "Miracle at St. Anna" released in theaters on September 26, 2008, and deals with the courage and faith of four African American "buffalo soldiers" trapped behind enemy lines during World War II. Starring Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso and Omar Benson Miller, "Miracle at St. Anna" is 160 minutes long.

4. Defiance (2008)

Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell played the heroic Bielski brothers in "Defiance." "Defiance" is based on a true story of a Jewish farming family living in Poland that become freedom fighters when their parents are killed by Nazis. "Defiance" has a little bit of everything: struggle against nature, action, family, love story. It is one of the shorter WWII films at "only" 137 minutes.

5. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008)

"The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" stars Asa Butterfield, Jack Scanlon, David Thewlis, Vera Farmiga and Rupert Friend and is the tragic story s the tragic story of the son of a Nazi officer who is promoted to direct the operations at a concentration camp during the Second World War. Bruno, and another 8-year-old boy he secretly meets through a fence, soon experience the horror of a World War II extermination camp. Only 93 minutes long, "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" is not suitable for children and delivers an emotional jolt like few other movies.

6. The Brylcreem Boys (1998)

The Brylcreem Boys is a romantic/comedy/drama set in an internment camp for both Axis and Allied forces in Ireland during World War II. Billy Campbell and Angus Macfadyen star as a Canadian pilot and a German who fall in love with an Irish woman played by Jean Butler. Gabriel Byrne plays the internment camp commander in the film. There is not the usual battle action in this movie, which is slower paced but still entertaining. 124 minutes.

7. Valkyrie (2008)

The movie "Valkyrie" released in theaters in North America on December 25, 2008 and is based upon the true story of Colonel Claus Von Stauffenberg, the Nazi officer who was a leader in the conspiracy to assassinate Adolf Hitler in July 1944 during World War II. The war movie stars Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Eddie Izzard, Terence Stamp and Tom Wilkinson. Although "Valkyrie" did well at the box office, I found the film a bit tedious at times, but nevertheless worth watching once. 124 minutes long.

8. The King's Speech (2010)

"The King's Speech" is a 2010 British historical drama starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter. King George VI of Great Britain must not only take over the British monarchy after his brother abdicates, but the stutterer must also make a radio broadcast on the day that Britain goes to war with Germany at the beginning of World War II. A box office smash success, "The King's Speech" is the story of King George VI and his speech therapist. 119 minutes

9. Australia (2008)

Starring Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, and David Wenham, "Australia" is an epic historical love story between an Australian soldier and a British aristocrat during the Japanese attack on Australia during World War II. 165 minutes.

10. Patton (1970)

My father served in WWII and was an admirer of General Patton's military career, so when "Patton" first aired on TV when I was a kid, we all had to watch it. For years after, if "Patton" came on TV, I switched the channel. Recently I watched the movie "Patton" for the first time as an adult, and while the World War 2 film does get bogged down every time Patton's forces got bogged down, I discovered "Patton" has many fine points that made me appreciate my father's World War II service even more. 170 minutes.

Also see: The 6 Best World War II Movies to Watch

Related Movie Reviews:

• The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
• Miracle at St. Anna
• Valkyrie
• Defiance