The Vietnam War is one of the most controversial wars in U.S. history. Many filmmakers have attempted to portray the complexities of the conflict faced by those who were enlisted to serve. Others, like the selection for tenth-best, take a comedic or dramatic route diverging from a traditional theatrical war film.

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Some of the best Vietnam War films don't include a lot of combat sequences, although the most prominently-known titles are brash and raw in their depictions of war violence, which reflect the films' attempts to create dissent from war-like activities. Here are the ten best Vietnam War-related films according to the aggregate scores of Metacritic. 

Some Kind Of Hero (68)

Richard Pryor Some Kind Of Hero

Stand-up comedy legend Richard Pryor starred in Some Kind of Hero in 1982. The comedy/drama centers around a Vietnam prisoner-of-war who returns to the states.

The former Army Corporal had his benefits suspended for signing a confession to war crimes, but, on the bright-side, he was briefly considered as a hero. Meanwhile, his daughter, wife, and the rest of the world have seemed to move on without him, so he turns to a life of crime.

Birdy (71)

Nicolas Cage Birdy

Birdy is an 80s drama that tells the peculiar story of two Vietnam War veterans: the horribly traumatized Birdy (Matthew Modine)—his character's real name is never revealed in the film—and his childhood friend Al (Nicolas Cage).

Birdy is so psychologically scarred from his service that he's cut himself out from society and imagines himself as a bird. Al visits Birdy in the mental hospital, and their bond strengthens as they struggle to assimilate back into regular life. The film is told in flashbacks and includes brief scenes of war combat, filmed in Modesto, CA.

Who'll Stop The Rain (73)

Nick Nolte Who'll Stop The Rain

The 1978 thriller/war film starring Nick Nolte, Tuesday Weld, and Michael Moriarty, telling the story of Vietnam War veteran Ray Hicks as he takes a job smuggling heroin out of desperation.

Hicks' co-conspirator John, a journalist, find themselves in deep trouble with drug dealers and the DEA, which eventually forces Hicks to unleash some of the combat skills he learned during the war. The film is meant for thrills and excitement without much of an introspective dimension, unlike many of its peers in the Vietnam war film arena.

Born On The Fourth Of July (75)

Tom Cruise speaking into a microphone in Born on the Fourth of July

Oliver Stone's Born on the Fourth of July is based on the true story of Ron Kovic, a patriot who enlisted in the armed forces with great vigor then became a handicapped war protestor. The film spans the soldier's entire life story and Cruise contributes an ambitious and emotionally dense performance as the lead.

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The anti-war film is a lengthy two-and-a-half-hour watch recollecting the heart-breaking realities faced by many Vietnam war veterans. In the eyes of critics, Stone's 1989 effort seems to lag slightly behind his preceding Vietnam War picture, Platoon.

Casualties Of War (75)

Cast Of Casualties Of War

Starring a tandem of superstars, Michael J. Fox and Sean Penn, this 1989 war/drama tells the dark, unvarnished story of a commanding officer abusing his power for personal pleasure. Pvt. Max Eriksson won't stand for the atrocious demands, and his defiance to the chain-of-command causes turmoil amongst the rest of the troops.

Critics lauded Casualties of War at the time of its release. The film was inspired by a 1968 New Yorker article written by Daniel Lang.

Full Metal Jacket (76)

Boot Camp in Full Metal Jacket

Full Metal Jacket is Stanely Kubrick's revision of the Vietnam War, told with eery realism as well as a dimension of haunting surrealism. Many fans may argue that the 1987 war/action holds a candle to the very best of war cinema, but critics don't seem to agree.

The film follows Private Davis (Modine) as he traverses through the Marine corps academy and the booming demands of his gung-ho drill Seargent (R. Lee Ermey). Davis is later sent to Vietnam, more specifically to the Battle of Huế, a major military engagement in the Tết Offensive.

Da 5 Bloods (82)

Da 5 Bloods Cast

Spike Lee's 2020 Netflix film Da 5 Bloods was released this summer to seemingly universal acclaim, with some critics saying it's the legendary director's best work of his career. The war/drama tells the story of four African American Vietnam War vets who return to the country seeking the remains of their squad leader (Chadwick Boseman) and a hidden gold fortune.

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A.O. Scott from The NY Times thought Delory Lindo's performance as Paul was most commendable, standing as a major high-point in the film. Other cast-members such as Jonathan Majors and Clarke Peters also contribute excellent performances.   

The Deer Hunter (86)

Robert De Niro Deer Hunter

The Deer Hunter is a 1978 war/drama directed by Michael Cimino, starring Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and Maryl Streep. It centers around the story of three lifelong friends who enroll in the Vietnam War looking for honor but are quickly deterred by destruction and despair. The three-hour film takes a fairly full-scope view of the Vietnam War and the men who fought in it, making for a moving work of cinematic art.

Platoon (92)

Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen, and Tom Berenger in Platoon.

Oliver Stone's best directorial project has to be Platoon from 1986, currently available on Netflix. The films stars William Dafoe, Tom Berenger, and Charile Sheen as they fight against the guerilla warfare tactics of the Viet Cong.

Sheen narrates the film, which is largely inspired by Stone's own experiences in the Vietnam War. Tension grows amongst the web of soldiers as they struggle to both identify their enemy and understand their purpose for being there. Critics were fairly stunned by Stone's first piece in a trilogy of films based on the Vietnam War, including Born on the Fourth of July and Heaven & Earth, in that order.

Apocalypse Now (94)

Martin Sheen standing in a ravaged forest in Apocalypse Now

Apocalypse Now and its various versions including Apocalypse Now Redux (2001) and Apocalypse Now Final Cut (2019) stand out above the rest in terms of Vietnam War-related cinema. Francis Ford Coppola's Heart of Darkness-inspired psychological epic is a hauntingly brilliant picture consisting of iconic scenes like Willard's (Martin Sheen) mental breakdown in the opening sequence, or Kurtz' (Marlon Brando) shadowy, ominous appearances in the latter part of the film.

Critics were head-over-heels for the film at the time of its release. Unfortunately, Coppola's masterpiece was snubbed at the 1980 Academy Awards, losing Best Picture to Kramer vs. Kramer, a legal drama.

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