Movies Like Courage Under Fire (1996)

Courage Under Fire is a 1996 drama, mystery, thriller, war film from Edward Zwick with a MovieMagicScore of 6.6/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Good Guys Wear Black and The Pentagon Wars.

Drama Mystery Thriller War

Good Guys Wear Black

1978

The former leader of a commando rescue attempt into Vietnam tries to discover why his squad members are being murdered, one-by-one, after the war is over.

5.1

MagicScore

The Pentagon Wars

1998

From the director of “Made In America” and “The Money Pit” comes a hilarious look at one of the most expensive blunders in military history. Over 17 years and almost as many billion dollars have gone into devising the BFV (Bradley Fighting Vehicle). There's only one problem. . . it doesn't work. (Spoiler alert: 25 years later ... it does work.)

6.9

MagicScore

Wag the Dog

1997

During the final weeks of a presidential race, the President is accused of sexual misconduct. To distract the public until the election, the President's adviser hires a Hollywood producer to help him stage a fake war.

6.9

MagicScore

Saving Private Ryan

1998

As U.S. troops storm the beaches of Normandy, three brothers lie dead on the battlefield, with a fourth trapped behind enemy lines. Ranger captain John Miller and seven men are tasked with penetrating German-held territory and bringing the boy home.

8.2

MagicScore

Tears of the Sun

2003

Navy SEAL Lieutenant A.K. Waters and his elite squadron of tactical specialists are forced to choose between their duty and their humanity, between following orders by ignoring the conflict that surrounds them, or finding the courage to follow their conscience and protect a group of innocent refugees. When the democratic government of Nigeria collapses and the country is taken over by a ruthless military dictator, Waters, a fiercely loyal and hardened veteran is dispatched on a routine mission to retrieve a Doctors Without Borders physician.

6.9

MagicScore

Iron Eagle III

1992

Chappy discovers a drug-smuggling scheme at his own air base. It turns out that the lives of some village people in Peru are at stake, and he decides to fly there with ancient airplanes and friends to free them.

4.1

MagicScore

Soldier

1998

Sergeant Todd is a veteran soldier for an elite group of the armed forces. After being defeated by a new breed of genetically engineered soldiers, he is dumped on a waste planet and left for dead. He soon interacts with a group of crash survivors who lead out a peaceful existence. The peace is broken as the new soldiers land on the planet to eliminate the colony, which Sergeant Todd must defend.

6.4

MagicScore

Dunkirk

2017

The story of the miraculous evacuation of Allied soldiers from Belgium, Britain, Canada and France, who were cut off and surrounded by the German army from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk between May 26th and June 4th 1940 during World War II.

7.5

MagicScore

The Great Raid

2005

As World War II rages, the elite Sixth Ranger Battalion is given a mission of heroic proportions: push 30 miles behind enemy lines and liberate over 500 American prisoners of war.

6.5

MagicScore

#10

Iron Eagle

1986

When Doug's father, an Air Force Pilot, is shot down by MiGs belonging to a radical Middle Eastern state, no one seems able to get him out. Doug finds Chappy, an Air Force Colonel who is intrigued by the idea of sending in two fighters piloted by himself and Doug to rescue Doug's father after bombing the MiG base.

5.6

MagicScore

#11

Zulu Dawn

1979

In 1879, the British suffer a great loss at the Battle of Isandlwana due to incompetent leadership.

6.0

MagicScore

#12

Patton

1970

"Patton" tells the tale of General George S. Patton, famous tank commander of World War II. The film begins with Patton's career in North Africa and progresses through the invasion of Germany and the fall of the Third Reich. Side plots also speak of Patton's numerous faults such his temper and habit towards insubordination.

7.5

MagicScore

#13

Westfront 1918

1930

A group of German infantrymen of the First World War live out their lives in the trenches of France. They find brief entertainment and relief in a village behind the lines, but primarily terror fills their lives as the attacks on and from the French army ebb and flow. One of the men, Karl, goes home on leave only to discover the degradation forced on his family by wartime poverty. He returns to the lines in time to face an enormous attack by French tanks.

6.6

MagicScore

#14

The Bridge

1959

A group of German boys are ordered to protect a small bridge in their home village during the waning months of the second world war. Truckloads of defeated, cynical Wehrmacht soldiers flee the approaching American troops, but the boys, full of enthusiasm for the "blood and honor" Nazi ideology, stay to defend the useless bridge. The film is based on a West German anti-war novel of the same name, written by Gregor Dorfmeister.

7.5

MagicScore

#15

Stranded

2010

Algeria, 1960. A section of French paratroopers are sent in search of a missing aircraft in the Algerian desert. The wreckage of the plane is quickly located, but there are no survivors, just a suitcase stamped “Top Secret”. Stormed by enemy soldiers, the troops find refuge in a strange abandoned citadel. Despite warnings from the place’s Guardian to leave at once, they wake up the Djinns, the evil spirits of the desert .

5.2

MagicScore

#16

Restrepo

2010

Directors Hetherington and Junger spend a year with the 2nd Battalion of the United States Army located in one of Afghanistan's most dangerous valleys. The documentary provides insight and empathy on how to win the battle through hard work, deadly gunfights and mutual friendships while the unit must push back the Taliban.

7.3

MagicScore

#17

Behind Enemy Lines

2001

While flying a routine reconnaissance mission over Bosnia, fighter pilot Lt. Chris Burnett photographs something he wasn't supposed to see and gets shot down behind enemy lines, where he must outrun an army led by a ruthless Serbian general. With time running out and a deadly tracker on his trail, Burnett's commanding officer, Admiral Reigart, decides to risk his career and launch a renegade rescue mission to save his life.

6.4

MagicScore

#18

Legionnaire

1998

Alain Lefevre is a boxer paid by a Marseille mobster to take a dive. When he wins the fight he attempts to flee to America with the mobster's girlfriend Katrina. This plan fails and he seeks escape by joining the foreign legion. As part of the legion he tangles with abusive lieutenant Steinkampf and bonds with legionnaires Luther, Mackintosh and Rosetti.

5.8

MagicScore

#19

The Marksman

2005

When Chechen rebels take over a Russian nuclear reactor, it’s up to a special ops marksman to rescue the hostages and prevent nuclear catastrophe.

5.4

MagicScore

#20

The Dirty Dozen

1967

12 American military prisoners in World War II are ordered to infiltrate a well-guarded enemy château and kill the Nazi officers vacationing there. The soldiers, most of whom are facing death sentences for a variety of violent crimes, agree to the mission and the possible commuting of their sentences.

7.6

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Courage Under Fire?

The top films similar to Courage Under Fire by MovieMagicScore are Good Guys Wear Black (5.1), The Pentagon Wars (6.9), Wag the Dog (6.9). Each shares drama/mystery/thriller/war themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Courage Under Fire worth watching?

Courage Under Fire holds a MovieMagicScore of 6.6/10 from 1,099 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is Courage Under Fire?

Courage Under Fire (1996) is a drama, mystery, thriller, war film directed by Edward Zwick, starring Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Lou Diamond Phillips.

Where can I find more recommendations like Courage Under Fire?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more drama recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Good Guys Wear Black Movies like The Pentagon Wars Movies like Wag the Dog Movies like Saving Private Ryan Movies like Tears of the Sun Movies like Iron Eagle III

About movies like Courage Under Fire

This ranked list pairs Courage Under Fire (1996), a drama and mystery and thriller and war film from Edward Zwick, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Denzel Washington take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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