John Wayne is a Hollywood icon with a presence so dominating, he outlined two completely different American movie genres: Westerns and battle movies. Whereas Hollywood’s golden age might have produced higher actors, few approached the charisma or display presence of Wayne, who was the embodiment of America and masculinity on film and tv screens for almost half a century.
Born Marion Robert Morrison in Iowa in 1907, Wayne broke into movies in 1926, enjoying an uncredited soccer participant in Brown of Harvard. He spent greater than a decade in dozens of B-movies, principally Westerns, till director John Ford made Wayne a star in 1939 with the lead function within the traditional western Stagecoach. In 1976, precisely 50 years after his film debut, Wayne starred in his final movie, The Shootist, and died in 1979 of problems from most cancers.
Of the greater than 150 movies Wayne made in his profession, simply over a dozen of them are non-western battle movies. But, he stays a battle film icon, as a result of most of these movies had been field workplace hits and traditional motion pictures that also stand out greater than 40 years after his demise. Let’s check out the 15 finest battle movies from The Duke, with many accessible to stream on-line or buy on bodily discs.
Up to date February 28, 2025: This assortment of John Wayne’s finest battle motion pictures has been up to date with further data, together with the place to search out every movie featured on streaming.
15
The Wings of Eagles (1957)
Directed by John Ford and co-written by Frank Fenton and William Wister Haines, The Wings of Eagles is a battle movie that retells the lifetime of Frank “Spig” Wead, with John Wayne donning the lead function. The late Frank Wead was an ardent U.S. Navy pilot who admired his work a lot that he did not quit even after getting paralyzed on account of an accident. As a substitute, he discovered a brand new means to precise his love for aviation by way of screenwriting. After gaining a promotion in naval aviation by way of pen and display, he realized that the necessity for the larger good takes priority over private happiness.
An Genuine Portrayal of Frank Wead
The Wings of Eagles might seem to be one other traditional from the mixture of John Ford and John Wayne, two pioneers of Western and battle genres, however it’s far more than that. Even when John Ford had not taken up this biographical battle movie, Frank Wead, the persona behind the story, would nonetheless go down in historical past as one of the vital passionate writers of military-oriented tales. In some methods, the story is each tragic and transferring, and with Wayne’s genuine portrayal of Wead’s life, it stays considered one of his finest battle movies up to now. Purchase or Hire The Wings of Eagles on Apple TV.
The Wings of Eagles
- Launch Date
-
February 22, 1957
- Runtime
-
110 Minutes
- Director
-
John Ford
14
The Alamo (1960)
The Alamo, produced and directed by John Wayne, is a timeless traditional that touches on each Western and battle themes, depicting the lopsided battle for Texas freedom in 1836. Wayne stars as Davy Crockett, the legendary frontiersman, as he arrives with a bunch of Tennessean troopers to strengthen the titular fort. Richard Boone and Frankie Avalon co-star as Basic Sam Houston and Smitty, respectively.
A Gargantuan Epic
This fourteen-year-in-the-making twelve-million-dollar epic is outwardly liked for a lot of causes, however the presence of John Wayne all the time takes priority because it was closely self-indulgent with limitless scenes of The Duke’s trademark parts, like getting drunk along with his buddies and punching one another for enjoyable. Nonetheless, the movie picks up the tempo within the second half with continuous battles between the resistance and the tyrannical military. The ensuing carnage and sacrifices made by the fighters for a greater future are flawlessly depicted within the movie, making it a must-see. Stream The Alamo on Hoopla.
The Alamo
- Launch Date
-
October 23, 1960
- Runtime
-
167 minutes
Solid
-
-
Richard Widmark
Jim Bowie
-
Laurence Harvey
Col. William Travis
-
13
Reunion in France (1942)
Reunion in France is an exception to this checklist, as John Wayne will not be the principle focus of the story however positively performs a big function in driving the story ahead. Within the film, Joan Crawford performs Michele, a shocking and rich lady who doesn’t imagine that Germany would occupy France underneath Hitler’s reign till her trip will get ruined when she comes to appreciate that her husband, Robert (Philip Dorn), is working with the Nazis. Enter Pat Talbot (John Wayne), an American pilot who’s helped by Michele in hiding from each the Nazis and her suspicious husband.
Wayne Carries Issues Ahead
The essential setup of the film signifies that it’s a battle movie on the core, however it additionally emphasizes romance to offer a method to take pleasure in it in each varieties. Nonetheless, the film is surprisingly stuffed with plot twists and turns, with some nice performances from the principle forged, who maintain the story transferring ahead with out pause. Joan Crawford particularly is a notable spotlight, regardless of some feeling that the movie’s script wasn’t as spectacular because it might’ve been. Purchase or Hire Reunion in France on Prime Video.
Reunion in France
- Launch Date
-
December 25, 1942
- Runtime
-
104 minutes
- Director
-
Jules Dassin
- Writers
-
Marc Connelly, Marvin Borowsky
- Producers
-
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Solid
-
Joan Crawford
Michele de la Becque
-
-
Philip Dorn
Robert Cortot
-
12
How the West Was Gained (1962)
This epic Western movie, How the West Was Gained, is ready towards the backdrop of battles and historic occasions, depicting the sprawling saga of a household with beautiful visuals and eventualities throughout. The movie, set within the 1800s, covers the westward enlargement of the Prescott household and the way these migrants had been entangled within the impending Civil Warfare for generations. The movie’s scope demanded a complete of three administrators and 4 cinematographers, with Henry Hathaway, John Ford, and George Marshall all chipping in for the movie’s 5 sprawling chapters.
A As soon as-in-a-Lifetime Solid
Whereas some discover the film to be considered one of Ford’s distinctive works based mostly on the drama of the Western setting, others imagine it was a movie put along with the intention of assembling a once-in-a-lifetime forged with massive names like John Wayne, James Stewart, Henry Fonda, Caroll Baker, and Gregory Peck. Though the movie was not fully Wayne-focused, he had such a powerful presence regardless of it that includes quite a few gifted actors. On the Academy Awards, it might go on to earn a complete of eight nominations along with three wins, together with Greatest Authentic Screenplay, Greatest Sound, and Greatest Movie Enhancing. Purchase or Hire How the West Was Gained on Apple TV.
How the West Was Gained
- Launch Date
-
November 1, 1962
- Runtime
-
164 Minutes
- Director
-
John Ford, Henry Hathaway, George Marshall, Richard Thorpe
11
Darkish Command (1940)
One 12 months after Stagecoach, which was among the best Westerns that set issues in movement for John Wayne’s profession, Wayne went on to star in his first “A” movie at Republic, which was carried by a powerful forged that included Walter Pidgeon, Claire Trevor, and Roy Rogers. Darkish Command, set within the pre-Civil Warfare interval, depicts the battle between Northerners and Southerners who had been making an attempt to settle in Kansas. It primarily revolves round a Texas cowboy named Bob Seton (Wayne), who inadvertently will get into battle with Will Cantrell (Pidgeon), a neighborhood schoolteacher with lofty ambitions. When Bob wins each Will’s dream job as Marshall and the Southern banker’s daughter, Miss Mary McCloud (Trevor), Will decides to use the facility of lawlessness to attain his objectives, even when it means ravaging the whole settlements by sparking a battle between them.
Half Warfare, Half Western
Darkish Command is a component Western, half Civil Warfare, however it’s undeniably considered one of John Wayne’s finest movies, which steered him on the suitable course in his profession. The movie’s foundation in actual occasions provides it an attention-grabbing historic context, and its total high quality would internet the movie two Academy Award nominations for Greatest Authentic Rating and Greatest Manufacturing Design. Darkish Command would additionally mark the second movie produced by each director Raoul Walsh and Wayne after the 2 initially collaborated on The Huge Path, which gave Wayne his breakthrough lead function. Stream Darkish Command on Pluto TV.
Darkish Command
- Launch Date
-
April 15, 1940
- Runtime
-
94 minutes
- Director
-
Raoul Walsh
-
Claire Trevor
Miss Mary McCloud
-
-
Walter Pidgeon
William ‘Will’ Cantrell
-
Roy Rogers
Fletcher ‘Fletch’ McCloud
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10
The Inexperienced Berets (1968)
A very fascinating entry in Wayne’s total filmography, The Inexperienced Berets is a 1968 battle movie set firmly throughout the then-ongoing Vietnam Warfare. Wayne stars as Mike Kirby, a Colonel in america Military Particular Forces who is distributed to help the South Vietnamese with the help of two specialised groups. As they try and fend off North Vietnamese forces at considered one of their camps, they’re going to additionally should formulate a plan to seize a distinguished North Vietnamese common. David Janssen and Jim Hutton play George Beckworth and Sergeant Peterson, respectively.
A Extremely Controversial Warfare Movie
One among Wayne’s most controversial movies, The Inexperienced Berets was The Duke’s try and single-handedly change public opinion in regards to the Vietnam Warfare. Sadly, Wayne took the identical narrative strategy to Vietnam as he did along with his World Warfare II movies, and that did not fly in an America the place public opinion had already soured on the battle, following the Tet Offensive and information of battle atrocities. Wayne, who co-directed the movie, took a heavy-handed patriotic strategy to the story, however critics ravaged the movie for his try and take the ethical excessive floor.
Looking back, The Inexperienced Berets might have been judged too harshly, as it’s a strong Vietnam Warfare movie. Whereas it glossed over the harsher realities and misdeeds of American troopers (to not point out the ineptitude in Washington), it rightly centered on Viet Cong atrocities towards civilians and the hassle to cease Russian and Chinese language Communist enlargement into Southeast Asia. Which means the movie preaches far an excessive amount of in regards to the want for American intervention, however the precise battle scenes make the movie worthwhile. Contemplating it was made within the midst of the battle, we will forgive the unrealistic fight methods and the truth that the Georgia forests (the place it was filmed) did not resemble Vietnam in any respect. Purchase or Hire The Inexperienced Berets on Prime Video.
The Inexperienced Berets
- Launch Date
-
June 19, 1968
- Runtime
-
142 Minutes
- Writers
-
James Lee Barrett, Robin Moore
9
Operation Pacific (1951)
Operation Pacific, by The Wolf Man director George Waggner, finds John Wayne enjoying the lieutenant commander of an American submarine when tragedy strikes the crew. Racked with guilt, Wayne should pull it collectively when confronted with a harmful mission towards the Japanese. Patricia Neal co-stars as Mary Stuart, with Ward Bond and Philip Carey showing within the supporting forged.
Corny, However Compelling
The movie is probably not probably the most lifelike submarine film ever, however it’s entertaining, as Wayne and his good good friend Ward Bond (who performs the sub captain) have nice chemistry. The 2 made 23 movies collectively, together with The Searchers and The Quiet Man, and they’re joined by Patricia Neal as Wayne’s love curiosity within the movie. Critics did not take care of the movie, however it’s a corny crowd-pleaser that is nonetheless price a watch. The rating by Max Steiner (Casablanca, The Searchers) stays as glorious as all the time too. Purchase or Hire Operation Pacific on Apple TV.
Operation Pacific
- Launch Date
-
January 27, 1951
- Runtime
-
111 minutes
- Writers
-
George Waggner
- Producers
-
Louis F. Edelman
Solid
-
-
Patricia Neal
Mary Stuart
-
Ward Bond
John “Pop” Perry
-
8
Flying Leathernecks (1951)
Wayne and frequent co-star Robert Ryan (The Soiled Dozen) play Marine aviators in Flying Leathernecks, and their dynamic provides the movie an attention-grabbing angle. Wayne performs Main Daniel Kirby, who’s making an attempt to whip his squadron pilots into form as they put together for battle within the Pacific. Ryan performs Capt. Carl Griffin, Kirby’s softhearted second-in-command, who performs good cop to Kirby’s unhealthy cop. Their conflict of personalities has penalties, and the pilots be taught the actual price of going into battle unprepared.
Wayne and Ryan Collectively Once more
The movie is considered one of two John Wayne movies produced by Howard Hughes’ manufacturing firm, with the opposite being Jet Pilot, highlighting Hughes’ fascination with aviation. Within the age of Prime Gun: Maverick, the cockpit pictures (clearly filmed on a stage) do not maintain up nicely, however they’re combined in with quick cuts of actual fighter aircraft footage, so the scenes play with first rate depth. The movie actually takes off within the second half, when the pilots make their option to the battle of Guadalcanal. Purchase or Hire Flying Leathernecks on Apple TV.
Flying Leathernecks
- Launch Date
-
August 28, 1951
- Runtime
-
102 minutes
- Director
-
Nicholas Ray
- Writers
-
Beirne Lay Jr., Edmund Grainger
-
-
Robert Ryan
Capt. Carl ‘Griff’ Griffin
-
Don Taylor
Lt. Vern ‘Cowboy’ Blithe
-
7
Again to Bataan (1945)
Again to Bataan is a unbelievable, if nontraditional, World Warfare II movie, with Wayne enjoying a military colonel organizing a guerrilla resistance within the Philippines after the Japanese invade. Wayne pairs up with the legendary Anthony Quinn, who performs a Filipino native who helps to rally the locals towards the Japanese. Lawrence Tierney (Reservoir Canine) seems in a supporting function, and the movie is a favourite amongst World Warfare II movie followers.
Manufacturing Modified Throughout the Warfare
Curiously, the film was filmed close to the tip of the battle, and Basic Douglas MacArthur famously took again the Philippines whereas manufacturing was nonetheless going, resulting in modifications within the movie’s story, making its launch in Might 1945 fairly well timed. The movie’s depictions of the Japanese (and even the Filipinos) might not have aged nicely, in order that needs to be taken into context when watching. It is a problem that plagued many movies of the period, and it has led to criticism of Wayne’s legacy in recent times. Purchase or Hire Again to Bataan on Prime Video.
Again to Bataan
- Launch Date
-
Might 30, 1945
- Runtime
-
95 minutes
- Director
-
Edward Dmytryk
-
Beulah Bondi
Bertha Barnes
-
-
Anthony Quinn
Captain Andres Bonifacio
-
Fely Franquelli
Dalisay Delgado
6
Flying Tigers (1942)
Flying Tigers was Wayne’s first World Warfare II movie, and it is a fantastic one. Wayne had technically appeared in a few movies set throughout the battle (most notably John Ford’s The Lengthy Voyage Dwelling in 1940), however this was his first fight movie. Wayne performs the chief of a squadron of volunteer fighter pilots defending China from Japan, with John Carroll and Anna Lee co-starring as Woody and Brooke Elliott, respectively.
A Dazzling Dogfighter Movie
The movie boasts some nice dogfight sequences, due to glorious mannequin work and fast-paced modifying. The movie earned three Oscar nominations for Greatest Visible Results, Greatest Authentic Rating, and Greatest Sound. Curiously, the movie’s standing as a propaganda piece is traditionally vital as nicely, because it was launched solely a short while after america formally entered World Warfare II as a combatant. It might go on to change into Republic’s first-ever movie to interrupt the $1 million mark on the field workplace. Stream Flying Tigers on Kanopy.
Flying Tigers
- Launch Date
-
October 8, 1942
- Runtime
-
102 minutes
- Director
-
David Miller
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The affiliation between Wayne, his achievements by way of the movie business, and his controversial, prejudices views, as seen by way of his movies.
5
The Longest Day (1962)
Co-directed by Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton, and Bernhard Wicki, The Longest Day is an epic battle drama that encompasses the D-Day landings in Normandy in 1944. That includes an ensemble forged comprised of nearly two dozen stars, in addition to precise contributors in D-Day from each the Allied and Axis powers as consultants, it makes an attempt to recapture the occasions of D-Day a full 36 years earlier than Saving Personal Ryan. John Wayne’s function is that of Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Vandervoort, with the function virtually going to Charlton Heston at one level.
A Large Ensemble
Various movie buffs do not contemplate The Longest Day a John Wayne movie, as they name his function a glorified cameo. It is a legitimate argument, because the movie is an ensemble piece that includes over two dozen high-profile stars, together with Henry Fonda, Richard Burton, Robert Mitchum, Sean Connery, Purple Buttons, Robert Ryan, Roddy McDowall, and Peter Lawford. His display time is proscribed, though it is without doubt one of the bigger roles within the movie.
His presence within the movie, nevertheless, is pivotal, evidenced by his separate itemizing within the movie’s credit (as “and John Wayne”). Though The Longest Day romanticizes battle at instances, the movie is great total, with good consideration to historic element. All of the actors get an opportunity to shine, with Burton particularly getting some nice scenes. The movie was nominated for 5 Academy Awards, together with Greatest Image. It received two, for Greatest Cinematography and Greatest Particular Results. Purchase or Hire The Longest Day on Prime Video.
The Longest Day
- Launch Date
-
October 4, 1962
- Runtime
-
178 minutes
- Director
-
Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton, Bernhard Wicki, Darryl F. Zanuck
4
In Hurt’s Method (1965)
Oscar-nominated director Otto Preminger (Laura, Anatomy of a Homicide) took on the Pearl Harbor assault in 1965’s In Hurt’s Method. The movie is simply as a lot a cleaning soap opera as it’s a battle film, an strategy very similar to Michael Bay’s for Pearl Harbor in 2001. Wayne stars as Captain Rockwell Torrey, who will get an opportunity at revenge after his ship is attacked at Pearl Harbor.
Spectacular Battles and Romantic Subplots
The assault on Pearl Harbor, within the movie’s first act, is a formidable battle sequence with power and urgency, though some unconvincing mannequin work holds again a few of the sea battles. The second act is heavy with melodrama, with everybody from Wayne to co-stars Kirk Douglas and Tom Tyron getting romantic subplots. The third act, nevertheless, options an entertaining naval battle to shut the movie. Due to this, In Hurt’s Method was nominated for an Oscar for Greatest Cinematography. Stream In Hurt’s Method on Kanopy.
In Hurt’s Method
- Launch Date
-
April 6, 1965
- Runtime
-
165 minutes
- Director
-
Otto Preminger
-
-
Kirk Douglas
Commander Paul Eddington, Jr.
-
Patricia Neal
Lt. Maggie Hayes
-
3
The Preventing Seabees (1944)
The Preventing Seabees dramatizes the real-life creation of militarized development crews throughout World Warfare II. Wayne performs a civilian civil engineer working within the Pacific theater, whose males (who can not carry weapons) endure a number of assaults by Japanese troopers. He pushes for the creation of development battalions (CBs), and the movie chronicles the early efforts of the Seabees (as they got here to be recognized), a aspect of the battle hardly ever depicted on movie.
Shining a Highlight on a Uncommon Topic
The movie depicts the cruel realities of battle, which was uncommon for the time, and Wayne is kind of good in a job that requires extra character improvement than the common battle movie. The movie’s rating, composed by Walter Scharf (Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Manufacturing unit), even earned an Oscar nomination. You should definitely maintain an eye fixed out for William Frawley, finest generally known as Fred Mertz in I Love Lucy, as Wayne’s sidekick. Purchase or Hire The FIghting Seabees on Prime Video.
The Preventing Seabees
- Launch Date
-
January 27, 1944
- Runtime
-
100 Minutes
- Director
-
Edward Ludwig
2
They Have been Expendable (1945)
They Have been Expendable is a John Ford-directed movie usually forgotten amongst his different collaborations with Wayne, notably as a result of their westerns are so iconic. This movie, considered one of John Ford’s best movies with Wayne, provides no shallow flag-waving to create a false sense of patriotism. It is a solemn movie, one through which Wayne is definitely billed second to the unbelievable Robert Montgomery, enjoying the captain of a PT boat within the Pacific.
John Wayne At His Most Emotional
The patriotic emotions listed here are borne of a way of obligation from the characters, notably from Montgomery himself, who was an precise PT boat commander prior to creating the movie. They Have been Expendable additionally options one of the vital emotional scenes Wayne ever filmed. Throughout a makeshift funeral after a number of characters are killed in battle, Wayne, on the verge of tears, delivers a line of poetry favored by one of many fallen characters. It is an incredible efficiency from an actor usually recognized for his stoicism in movie. Stream They Have been Expendable on Max.
They Have been Expendable
- Launch Date
-
December 31, 1945
- Runtime
-
135 Minutes
- Director
-
John Ford, Robert Montgomery
- Writers
-
William L. White, Frank Wead, Norman Corwin, George Froeschel, Jan Lustig
1
Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)
Largely thought-about one of many best World Warfare II movies ever made, Sands of Iwo Jima finds Wayne enjoying a tough-as-nails Marine sergeant who is tough on the lads underneath his command. He is haunted by the recollections of previous battles, and he is decided to get his males prepared for battle, even when they hate him for his coaching strategies.
An All-Time Basic Army Movie
Sands of Iwo Jima is a unbelievable but reverent tribute to the lads who fought at Iwo Jima, with the ultimate scene having a very highly effective impact. It makes the movie a favourite not simply amongst Wayne followers, however followers of army movies normally. Clint Eastwood might have made the definitive cinematic exploration of the battle in his two Iwo Jima movies, however Sands, as a mirrored image of the time, is a worthy movie as nicely. Wayne earned his first Greatest Actor nomination for the movie in 1950 (he did not win), beginning an odd pattern through which he earned an appearing nomination almost each ten years. He was nominated once more in 1961 for The Alamo, and once more in 1970 for True Grit, the function that lastly received him an Oscar. Stream Sands of Iwo Jima on Kanopy.
Sands of Iwo Jima
- Launch Date
-
March 1, 1950
- Runtime
-
100 Minutes
- Director
-
Allan Dwan
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John Wayne has change into a traditional title throughout the western style along with his heroic characters, however which of his finest motion pictures are probably the most rewatchable?