Movies Like The Killing Fields (1984)

The Killing Fields is a 1984 drama, history, war film from Roland Joffé with a MovieMagicScore of 7.5/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Apocalypse Now and First They Killed My Father.

Drama History War

Apocalypse Now

1979

At the height of the Vietnam war, Captain Benjamin Willard is sent on a dangerous mission that, officially, "does not exist, nor will it ever exist." His goal is to locate - and eliminate - a mysterious Green Beret Colonel named Walter Kurtz, who has been leading his personal army on illegal guerrilla missions into enemy territory.

8.3

MagicScore

First They Killed My Father

2017

A 5-year-old girl embarks on a harrowing quest for survival amid the sudden rise and terrifying reign of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.

7.4

MagicScore

Funan

2019

Cambodia, once the ancient kingdom of Funan, April 17th, 1975. The entire country falls under the tyranny of Angkar, the communist party of the Khmer Rouge. The cities are abandoned, the population is thrown to the roads and forced to walk towards an uncertain future…

6.9

MagicScore

Salvador

1986

In 1980, an American journalist covering the Salvadoran Civil War becomes entangled with both the leftist guerrilla groups and the right-wing military dictatorship while trying to rescue his girlfriend and her children.

7.0

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

5 Days of War

2011

An American journalist and his cameraman are caught in the combat zone during the first Russian airstrikes against Georgia. Rescuing Tatia, a young Georgian schoolteacher separated from her family during the attack, the two reporters agree to help reunite her with her family in exchange for serving as their interpreter. As the three attempt to escape to safety, they witness--and document--the devastation from the full-scale crossfire and cold-blooded murder of innocent civilians.

5.6

MagicScore

Woman of the Hour

2024

An aspiring actress crosses paths with a prolific serial killer in '70s LA when they're cast on an episode of "The Dating Game."

6.4

MagicScore

S21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine

2003

Documentary of the S-21 genocide prison in Phnom Penh with interviews of prisoners and guards. On the search for reasons why this could have happened.

7.4

MagicScore

Civil War

2024

In the near future, a group of war journalists attempt to survive while reporting the truth as the United States stands on the brink of civil war.

6.8

MagicScore

#10

GoodFellas

1990

The true story of Henry Hill, a half-Irish, half-Sicilian Brooklyn kid who is adopted by neighbourhood gangsters at an early age and climbs the ranks of a Mafia family under the guidance of Jimmy Conway.

8.5

MagicScore

#11

Full Metal Jacket

1987

A pragmatic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects the U.S.-Vietnam War has on his fellow recruits from their brutal boot camp training to the bloody street fighting in Hue.

8.1

MagicScore

#12

Guernica

2016

The fates of Henry - an American correspondent - and Teresa, one of the Republic's censors during the Spanish Civil War.

5.8

MagicScore

#13

The Host

2013

A parasitic alien soul is injected into the body of Melanie Stryder. Instead of carrying out her race's mission of taking over the Earth, "Wanda" (as she comes to be called) forms a bond with her host and sets out to aid other free humans.

6.3

MagicScore

#14

Sight

2024

Ming Wang is an impoverished Chinese prodigy who flees Communist China to become a pioneering eye surgeon in America. When tasked with restoring the sight of an orphan in India, who was blinded by her stepmother, Wang must confront the trauma of living through the violent uprising in his youth, the Cultural Revolution.

6.1

MagicScore

#15

The Missing Picture

2013

Rithy Panh uses clay figures, archival footage, and his narration to recreate the atrocities Cambodia's Khmer Rouge committed between 1975 and 1979.

7.1

MagicScore

#16

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

1988

Successful surgeon Tomas leaves Prague for an operation, meets a young photographer named Tereza, and brings her back with him. Tereza is surprised to learn that Tomas is already having an affair with the bohemian Sabina, but when the Soviet invasion occurs, all three flee to Switzerland. Sabina begins an affair, Tom continues womanizing, and Tereza, disgusted, returns to Czechoslovakia. Realizing his mistake, Tomas decides to chase after her.

6.9

MagicScore

#17

Lawless

2012

In 1931, the Bondurant brothers of Franklin County, Virginia, run a multipurpose backwoods establishment that hides their true business — bootlegging. Middle brother Forrest is the brain of the operation; older Howard is the brawn, and younger Jack, the lookout. Though the local police have taken bribes and left the brothers alone, a violent war erupts when a sadistic lawman from Chicago arrives and tries to shut down the Bondurants operation.

7.1

MagicScore

#18

The Year of Living Dangerously

1982

A young Australian reporter tries to navigate the political turmoil of Indonesia during the rule of President Sukarno with the help of a diminutive photographer.

6.7

MagicScore

#19

The Zone of Interest

2023

The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.

7.0

MagicScore

#20

My Brother Is an Only Child

2007

Accio and Manrico are siblings from a working-class family in 1960s Italy: older Manrico is handsome, charismatic, and loved by all, while younger Accio is sulky, hot-headed, and treats life as a battleground — much to his parents' chagrin. After the former is drawn into left-wing politics, Accio joins the fascists out of spite, but his flimsy beliefs are put to test when he falls for Manrico's like-minded girlfriend.

6.7

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like The Killing Fields?

The top films similar to The Killing Fields by MovieMagicScore are Apocalypse Now (8.3), First They Killed My Father (7.4), Funan (6.9). Each shares drama/history/war themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is The Killing Fields worth watching?

The Killing Fields holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.5/10 from 784 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is The Killing Fields?

The Killing Fields (1984) is a drama, history, war film directed by Roland Joffé, starring Sam Waterston, Haing S. Ngor, John Malkovich.

Where can I find more recommendations like The Killing Fields?

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 Apocalypse Now Movies like First They Killed My Father Movies like Funan Movies like Salvador Movies like Tears of the Sun Movies like 5 Days of War

About movies like The Killing Fields

This ranked list pairs The Killing Fields (1984), a drama and history and war film from Roland Joffé, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Sam Waterston 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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