The lives of the 2.7 million individuals who served in Vietnam were permanently changed. The realities of the war also changed cinema. The war’s harsh realities also left an undeniable mark on cinema. Rather than presenting the conflict in simple terms, Hollywood filmmakers dove into the nuanced complexities of what happened overseas. Presented below are just a few films that most accurately show the challenges soldiers encountered during their service in the Vietnam War.
Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
In the 1987 film Good Morning, Vietnam, Robin Williams portrays Adrian Cronauer, a US Air Force sergeant who worked as a disc jockey for the American Forces Network (AFN) during the Vietnam War. Although the movie draws inspiration from Cronauer’s real-life experiences, it brings in fictional events that did not happen. However, this fictionalization does not take away from the film’s impact.
Throughout Good Morning, Vietnam, Cronauer frequently challenges his superiors while offering humor and entertainment to his fellow soldiers. The movie also highlights the perils faced by individuals not directly engaged in combat during the Vietnam War era. Despite never being deployed, Cronauer witnesses a building being destroyed by a bomb and experiences a landmine explosion while traveling in a Jeep.
The Deer Hunter (1978)
The Deer Hunter (1978) follows the story of three Pittsburgh-area soldiers, portrayed by Robert De Niro, John Savage and Christopher Walken, who’ve just returned home from Vietnam. While serving overseas, the trio were held at a prisoner of war (POW) camp, and the film shows flashbacks of the torture they experienced while imprisoned.
The Deer Hunter is among the list of movies that show what many servicemen experienced upon return home from serving in the Vietnam War. Many consider it to be the first film to actual take this route with its storyline, giving viewers a firsthand look at how post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) impacts soldiers’ lives.
Forrest Gump (1994)
The 1994 film Forrest Gump touches on nearly every important historical moment that occurred between the 1950s and ’80s. Therefore, it’s no surprise the team behind the movie wanted to tackle the Vietnam War.
During his time in the US Army, Forrest Gump, played by Tom Hanks, becomes best friends with fellow soldier, Bubba. Sadly, Bubba is killed during a firefight in the field, and his friend’s runs through Vietnamese fields to rescue his comrades showcase how chaotic such conflicts can become. Gump’s nativity also gives viewers a glimpse into just how many young men either enlisted or were drafted into service, not knowing what they’d be up against.
Coming Home (1978)
Coming Home (1978) is a movie that deals with the trauma felt by soldiers who were injured while fighting during the Vietnam War. In the film, Jon Voight portrays Luke Martin, a US Marine who returns home paralyzed. He subsequently falls in love with Jane Fonda‘s Sally Hyde, a married aide at a VA Hospital.
A number of the servicemen who fought in Vietnam came home with permanent injuries, and many more suffered from PTSD that went untreated. Coming Home treats these issues with care and nuance.
Platoon (1986)
Platoon (1986), nominated for eight Oscars at the 59th Academy Awards, is considered to be one of the most realistic Vietnam War movies ever released. Writer and director Oliver Stone served a tour in Vietnam in 1967 with 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Regiment. He was stationed near the Cambodian border, and received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for his service.
Platoon portrays the dangers American troops frequently faced while serving in Vietnam. In addition to facing off against the Viet Cong, there was also the possibility that those living in villages would attack soldiers with either guns or grenades.
The Post (2017)
One of the more recently-released movies on this list, 2017’s The Post highlights how the American press covered the fighting during the Vietnam War. This star-studded film features such A-list actors as Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep and Bob Odenkirk.
The Post was directed by Steven Spielberg, who’s spent decades shining a light on America’s most important topics. The film focuses on when The Washington Post published the Pentagon Papers, which helped elaborate on US actions in Vietnam.
Da 5 Bloods (2020)
Da 5 Bloods (2020), directed by the legendary Spike Lee, highlights how differently White and African-American troops were treated during the Vietnam War. Generally, Black soldiers were treated as second-class citizens both at home and abroad during the conflict. A prime example of this was Robert McNamara’s Project 100,000, which disproportionately targeted African-Americans and those living below the poverty line.
In the film, African-American veterans return to Vietnam decades after their service, in search of their commanding officer and buried treasure. The movie earned both Academy Award and Screen Actors Guild nominations.
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Apocalypse Now (1979) wasn’t necessarily a believable movie, but it does take place during the Vietnam War. The epic war film was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and features Martin Sheen’s Capt. Benjamin L. Willard, who’s tasked with hunting down Marlon Brando‘s Col. Walter Kurtz.
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While the movie’s storyline may not have been all that realistic, Apocalypse Now captures the constant sense of danger soldiers serving in Vietnam had to deal with. It was also incredibly successful, earning eight nominations at the 52nd Academy Awards and going on to win the Oscars for Best Cinematography and Best Sound.
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