Are you looking for movies that capture the chaos and complexity of the Iraq War? This article is on the best Iraq war movies.
The contentious Iraq invasion inspired various documentaries and Iraq films based on genuine tales.
While some of these movies about Iraq advocated against the conflict, others only aimed to tell the tales of participating individuals, notably the soldiers fighting on the front lines.
The best stories from the government’s and the front lines’ perspectives on the Iraq War are included on this list of the best movies on the conflict.
The Iraq War (2003-2011) saw U.S. forces invade and occupy the country, with various battles fought in cities across Iraq.
The horror experienced by soldiers and civilians alike has been depicted in various films, from documentaries to Hollywood blockbusters.
The Iraq War changed many lives, including those of soldiers who served in the conflict and civilians whose homes were destroyed or affected by the war’s violence.
To understand this long, complex war, filmmakers have produced several movies that address its causes and consequences, American military mistakes, and civilian resistance with extraordinary results.
Since then, several films have tackled various elements connected to the Iraq War.
To help make sense of this conflict through cinema, here’s a list of some of our picks for the best Iraq war movies currently streaming online.
1. The Hurt Locker (2008)
- Starring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Guy Pearce
- Rating: 7.5
The Hurt Locker is one of the best Iraq war movies. This Award-winning Academy film follows an elite U.S. Army bomb squad in Iraq as they struggle to survive amidst the chaos of war.
A Sergeant just posted to an army bomb squad runs afoul of his squad mates because of his unconventional approach to work during the Iraq War.
2. American Sniper (2014)
- Starring: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Jake McDorman
- Rating: 7.2
The memoirs of U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, who served four deployments in Iraq and rose to become one of the deadliest snipers in American history, serve as the basis for this biographical war thriller.
The film follows his journey from a young man to a decorated war hero, as well as his struggles with PTSD after returning home from the war. It is one of the best Iraq war movies.
Numerous lives are saved thanks to his razor-sharp accuracy, which makes him a top target for rebels.
Kyle endures four tours of service in Iraq despite the extreme danger and struggles to be a good husband and father to his family at home.
When he does, he discovers that the battle has followed him home.
3. Three Kings (1999)
- Starring: George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube
- Rating: 7.1
Next on our list of best Iraq war movies is Three Kings. This action-comedy follows a group of U.S. soldiers who plan to steal gold from Saddam Hussein’s forces during the Gulf War in 1991.
The movie is a thrilling and often humorous look at the chaos of war and its consequences on those involved.
Before the second conflict began, the movie Three Kings was about the first Gulf War. It functions as a curious time capsule in this sense.
Mark Wahlberg and George Clooney are American soldiers trying to steal stolen Kuwaiti treasure behind enemy lines in the goofy, imaginative, and fun David O. Russell picture.
Clooney and Wahlberg fight with Iraq’s Republican Guard, which leads to mayhem.
4. Uncovered: The War on Iraq (2003)
- Starring: Robert Greenwald, Richard Perle, Paul Wolfowitz
- Rating: 7.0
This documentary examines the Bush administration’s case for war in Iraq and reveals how the government manipulated evidence to justify the invasion.
It features interviews with former CIA agents, weapons inspectors, and other experts who explain why they believe the war was unjustified.
Uncovered: The War on Iraq painstakingly details how the Bush administration created the case for war by falsifying facts and misrepresenting the threat posed by WMDs.
The movie also focuses on how the media was complicit in these deceptions, lending credibility to the administration’s allegations.
A crucial film to anyone who wants to know how the war started and sold to the American public.
5. Control Room (2004)
- Starring: Samir Khader, Hassan Ibrahim, Josh Rushing
- Rating: 7.0
This is one of the best Iraq war movies. This documentary examines the Iraq War’s media coverage and how both sides perceived it.
It follows the staff of Al Jazeera’s Baghdad bureau as they struggle to report on the war while facing criticism from the U.S. military and their government.
The Iraq War was fought primarily in the media and among the public’s perceptions. CNN and Fox News influenced how the conflict was perceived in the United States.
Additionally, Americans think we have access to all accessible information and a free press.
Control Room dispels that notion by following the Arab news network Al Jazeera as it covers the beginning of the Iraq War from their perspective.
By the documentary’s conclusion, viewers understand that, like the Middle Eastern audiences who watch Al Jazeera, they have only heard one side of the tale.
6. Why We Fight (2005)
- Starring: Dwight D. Eisenhower, John McCain, Richard Perle
- Rating: 7.3
This documentary examines the history of American military interventions and asks why the United States has been involved in so many wars since World War II.
It looks at the motivations behind these conflicts, from economic interests to political ideologies. The more intellectual counterpart to Iraq for Sale: War Profiteers is Why We Fight.
Why We Fight muses on the nature of the military-industrial complex and what it is about our country’s psychology that makes conflicts like Iraq inevitable and ultimately profitable.
In contrast, that film delves further into the specifics of the real firms that misled the country. An excellent movie that is well worth your time.
7. Iraq for Sale: War Profiteers (2006)
- Starring: Robert Greenwald, John McCain, Richard Perle
- Rating: 7.2
Next on our list of best Iraq war movies is Iraq for sale: war profiteers. This documentary looks at the role of private military contractors in the Iraq War and how they profited from it.
It also examines how these companies could get away with charging exorbitant prices for their services and how they avoided accountability for their actions.
A documentary titled Iraq for Sale: Conflict Profiteers examines the significant financial gains of the Iraq war.
Furthermore, businesses that mostly used unethical methods to cheat the American government and the taxpayers made significant sums of money.
A frustrating yet ultimately significant movie. (This movie is one in a series that skillfully explains the Iraq War.)
8. Jarhead (2005)
- Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Jamie Foxx
- Rating: 7.2
This movie follows a Marine sniper during the first Gulf War as he struggles to deal with the horrors of war and his identity.
It is a powerful exploration of the psychological effects of combat and how it can shape a person’s life.
Jarhead is an intense, gritty, and often humorous look at the Iraq War from the perspective of a Marine sniper.
Additionally, it follows his journey from basic training to deployment in Iraq and how he deals with the horrors of war. It is one of the best Iraq war movies.
The movie is an unflinching look at the psychological effects of combat on soldiers and their families—a must-see for anyone interested in understanding the realities of war.
9. Sand Castle (2017)
- Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Logan Marshall-Green, Henry Cavill
- Rating: 6.3
This movie follows a group of American soldiers in Iraq attempting to repair a broken water system in a small village.
It is an intimate look at the human cost of war and how it affects those caught up in it.
Sand Castle is a powerful drama that follows a group of American soldiers in Iraq attempting to repair a broken water system in a small village.
Furthermore, it is an intimate look at the human cost of war and how it affects those caught up in it.
The movie is a poignant reminder of soldiers’ sacrifices for their country and how war can change their lives forever.
10. Stop Loss (2008)
- Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Abbie Cornish, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
- Rating: 6.3
This movie follows a group of soldiers forced to return to Iraq after their tour of duty has ended. It also explores the psychological effects of war and how it can shape a person’s life.
Furthermore, Stop Loss is an intense drama that follows a group of soldiers forced to return to Iraq after their tour of duty has ended.
It explores the psychological effects of war and how it can shape a person’s life. The movie is a powerful reminder of soldiers’ sacrifices for their country and how war can change their lives forever.
11. Standard Operating Procedure (2008)
- Starring: Errol Morris
- Rating: 7.3
The standard operating procedure is one of the best Iraq war movies. This documentary examines the Abu Ghraib prison scandal and how it came to light.
It also examines the role of the U.S. military in the scandal and how those in charge handled it.
Standard Operating Procedure is an important documentary examining the Abu Ghraib prison scandal and how it came to light.
Lastly, it examines the role of the U.S. military in the scandal and how those in charge handled it.
The movie is an unflinching look at the horrors of war and how it can affect those caught up in it.
12. The War Tapes (2006)
- Starring: Zack Bazzi, Duncan Domey, Ben Flanders, and Mike Moriarty.
- Rating: 7.4
This documentary follows a group of soldiers in Iraq as they record their experiences during the war.
It is an intimate look at the realities of war and how it affects those caught up in it.
Furthermore, the War Tapes is an important documentary that follows a group of soldiers in Iraq as they record their experiences during the war.
The movie is a powerful reminder of soldiers’ sacrifices for their country and how war can change their lives forever.
13. In the Valley of Elah (2007)
- Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, and Susan Sarandon
- Rating: 7.2
The last on our list of best Iraq war movies are In the Valley of Elah. This movie follows a father as he investigates the mysterious death of his son, who had recently returned from Iraq.
Additionally, it is an intense drama that examines the psychological effects of war and how it can shape a person’s life.
In the Valley of Elah is an intense drama that follows a father as he investigates the mysterious death of his son, who had recently returned from Iraq.
Furthermore, it is an unflinching look at the horrors of war and how it can affect those caught up in it.
The movie is a powerful reminder of soldiers’ sacrifices for their country and how war can change their lives forever.
The Iraq War has been the subject of many powerful films that explore the psychological effects of war and how it can shape a person’s life.
Finally, from documentaries like Standard Operating Procedure and The War Tapes to dramas like Stop Loss, these movies are a powerful reminder of soldiers’ sacrifices for their country and how war can change their lives forever.
