The beginning of the year has us excited about what the next 365 days will bring, particularly when it comes to entertainment. We always look forward to seeing how Hollywood will depict the events of the past with its latest releases, and the following is a list of our most anticipated war movies of 2024.
One Life (January 2024)
Kicking off our list of the most anticipated war movies of 2024 is One Life. Starring Anthony Hopkins as Nicholas Winton, the “British Oskar Schindler,” the feature premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2023.
Directed by James Hawes, One Life centers around Winton’s World War II-era efforts to save hundreds of Jewish children from German-occupied Czechoslovakia. A stockbroker prior to the outbreak of the conflict, he managed to rescue 669 individuals via what’s now known as the “Czech Kindertransport.” His efforts went largely unrecognized for decades, and it wasn’t until a taping of the BBC series That’s Life! (1973-94) that the wider world was informed of his bravery.
One Life premiered in British theaters on January 5, 2024.
War Blade (January 2024)
Also set during the Second World War, War Blade is among the lesser-known releases on our list of the most anticipated war movies of 2024.
Produced by Picture Perfect, the feature follows Special Operations Executive (SOE) agent Robert Banks, tasked with rescuing members of the French Resistance from a secret German bunker. To complete his mission, the agent teams up with a German nurse and other individuals who are not only out-manned, but out-gunned as well.
War Blade hit theaters on January 15, 2024.
Masters of the Air (January-March 2024)
While not a movie, Masters of the Air is easily our most anticipated war release of 2024. From the creators of Band of Brothers (2001) and The Pacific (2010), Apple TV+ initially teased that the miniseries would be released in 2023 – obviously, that never happened. Well, we finally have a concrete date, with the first episode debuting on January 26, with a new one premiering every Friday after until March 15.
Masters of the Air is based on the book by Donald L. Miller and follows the Eighth Air Force as it conducts missions over Europe during WWII. Known as the “Mighty Eighth,” the aviators who made up the group conducted 440,000 sorties during the conflict, which saw 697,000 tons of bombs dropped from the sky.
Masters of the Air features a star-studded cast, including Austin Butler, best known for portraying Elvis Presley in 2022’s Elvis, and Barry Keoghan, who played George Mills in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk (2017).
The Zone of Interest (February 2024)
It appears that, this year, we’ll see a lot of WWII-era films released, as The Zone of Interest is also set during the conflict. Starring Christien Friedel and Sandra Hüller, this most anticipated movie release of 2024 centers around Rudolf Höss, the SS officer who served as the commandant of Auschwitz during the war.
Being released by A24, The Zone of Interest has been described as one of the most haunting films of the year, largely due to the role Höss played in the implementation of the Final Solution. He was the one to introduce Zyklon B to the gas chambers and was the one tasked with erecting a new camp next to Auschwitz, the one that became known as Birkenau. His actions during the war are believed to have contributed to the deaths of over one million individuals.
Following a limited screening in American theaters in December 2023, The Zone of Interest will premiere in Poland in February.
Fortunes of War (February 2024)
Slated to hit video on demand (VOD) on February 13, 2024, Fortunes of War, by director Bill Thomas, is next on our list of our most anticipated war movies of the year.
Jam-packed with action, this WWII-era release centers around a group of British Commandos after they’ve become cut off from their comrades during a raid on German-held areas in Normandy. What follows are the actions they must take to make it back to friendly lines against overwhelming odds.
Fortunes of War stars James Oliver Whatley, Asan N’ Jie, Sophie Craig and Daniel Thrace.
Shamrock Spitfire (March 2024)
The Supermarine Spitfire is arguably one of the most famous aircraft of the Second World War, becoming the star of the show of the Battle of Britain. That’s why it’s unsurprising wartime movies keep being made about it, with the latest being The Shamrock Spitfire (2024).
The film tells the true story of Brendan “Paddy” Finucane, an Irish air ace who served with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during WWII. Starring Shane O’Regan as the famous combat pilot, The Shamrock Spitfire follows his rise through the RAF and the several aerial victories he secures over his service – 28, in total.
The Shamrock Spitfire will be released on DVD in the UK on March 11, 2024.
Escape From Germany (April 2024)
The next release on our list of the most anticipated war movies of 2024 is Escape From Germany.
Directed by T.C. Christensen and based on the book Mine Angels Round About: Mormon Missionary Evacuation From Western Germany, 1939, it follows a group of American missionaries – 85, to be exact – who were serving at a German church just before the outbreak of WWII and documents their escape from the ever-growing oppressive regime.
Escape From Germany will debut in theaters on April 11, 2024.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (April 2024)
Next on our list of the most anticipated war movies of 2024 is The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. If you’ve been a reader of War History Online for a while, you’ll know we’re huge fans of Guy Ritchie, so you can bet we’re excited for this WWII-era movie to hit theaters!
Starring Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson and Alex Pettyfer, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare tells the story of the origins of the Special Operations Executive. Founded by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, the secretive organization had one of the most dangerous jobs of the Second World War: conducting reconnaissance, sabotage and espionage across Europe, often at great risk to their lives.
The announcement was made on January 10, 2024, that The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is slated for release on April 19, with Lionsgate confirming the news to Deadline.
Gladiator II (November 2024)
If we weren’t writing this list of our most anticipated war movies of 2024 in chronological order, Gladiator II would have been inserted directly below Masters of the Air. To say we’re looking forward to the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s 2000 ancient Roman epic would be a severe understatement, as we’re chomping at the bit to watch it!
Taking place 25 years after the first movie, Gladiator II will center around Lucius Verius II, the son of Lucilla and Lucius Verus. Paul Mescal will portray the character, with Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal also signing on to appear in the release. While Barry Keoghan was originally signed on to the project, he unfortunately had to drop out over scheduling conflicts.
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Gladiator II is currently scheduled for release on November 22, 2024. However, we wouldn’t be surprised to see that date pushed back, given the delays caused by the strikes that took place in Hollywood over the summer.