The 25 most patriotic films of all time for Fourth of July

If you only watch one patriotic action film starring Harrison Ford this November 11, make it 1997’s “Air Force One.” Sure, “Clear and Present Danger” and “Patriot Games” are seen as higher quality films to some folks, but in “Air Force One” we get to see the President of the United States personally knock off five bad guys – one with his bare hands. Yes, the film is violent and totally unrealistic, but it sends a clear message that America doesn’t mess around. Plus, we’re kind of hoping for a Harrison Ford/Glenn Close ticket on the presidential ballot in 2020.

Directed by the red-blooded Clint Eastwood, “American Sniper” is a true-life, modern-day soldier’s tale starring Bradley Cooper as the late Navy SEAL marksman Chris Kyle. Or maybe “supersoldier” is a more accurate term, as Kyle compiled some 255 kills during his time in Iraq. However, this 2014 film is more than just a war movie. Instead, it shows how many patriotic citizens feel it is their duty to enlist in the armed forces, defend their country when called upon (four times, in Kyle’s case), and continue helping their fellow soldiers even after returning.

Do you ever wonder how other countries survive without having the plethora of superheroes with which America is armed? We’ve got Superman, Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Wonder Woman, all of whom could earn a spot on this list thanks to their dedication and service of American citizens. But let’s be real, Steve Rogers' alter-ego has the word “America” right in his name and wears red, white, and blue –so how could we not pick “Captain America: The First Avenger”? Not only that, but the film holds a solid 80-percent freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, thanks to some fantastic storytelling, non-stop action, and strong performances by Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones and Hugo Weaving.

Americans and Canadians alike should feel patriotic after watching Ben Affleck’s 2012 historical drama “Argo,” which tells the true story of the rescue of six U.S. diplomats from Iran on Jan. 27, 1980. In a joint effort by the Canadian government and CIA (although the former’s role is downplayed in the film), numerous people put their lives on the line to save six strangers in an elaborate ruse that was so ridiculous it was often comical – making “Argo” both a patriotic film and something of a feel-good flick.

Clint Eastwood’s 2006 film “Flags of Our Fathers” tells the true story of the six soldiers who were involved in the flag raising at Iwo Jima – one of the deadliest and costliest battles of World War II. Based on the 2000 book of the same name by James Bradley and Ron Powers, “Flags of Our Fathers” is an inspiring tale of tragedy, bravery, and the resilience of the courageous men both during and after the war.

No film encapsulates life in America between the 1940s and 1980s better than “Forrest Gump.” Based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom, the 1994 film touches on early rock’n’roll, segregation, the Vietnam War, the 1970s/80s drug culture, and everything and everyone in between. Robert Zemeckis’ movie is almost universally beloved by movie buffs and critics alike, which likely explains how it won six Academy Awards and seven Golden Globes, as well as how it beat “Pulp Fiction” and “The Shawshank Redemption” for the Best Picture Oscar.

When it comes to the Civil War, there are at least two distinct narratives to cover. While the next slide will cover the Union portion, 1993’s “Gettysburg” covers the Southern side. Not only did most consider the film a respectful and patriotic look at the Confederacy, but it had an awful lot of support. In addition to respected actors like Tom Berenger, Jeff Daniels and Martin Sheen signing on for the lead roles, “Gettysburg” also had the blessing of the National Park Service, who, for the first time ever, allowed the movie industry to film scenes on the Gettysburg Battlefield. Thousands of Civil War reenactors also fulfilled their patriotic duty by showing up to play soldiers in the film.

Based on the actual letters of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, Peter Burchard’s 1965 novel “One Gallant Rush,” and Lincoln Kirstein's “Lay This Laurel” photo collection, “Glory” tells the story of one of the first all-black Union Army regiments in the the Civil War. The 1989 film that stars Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman and Cary Elwes was the first major motion picture to depict black soldiers fighting for their freedom, as well as the freedom enjoyed by every future generation of Americans. “Glory” won three Academy Awards, including a Best Supporting Actor honor for Washington.

When alien invaders and their enormous ships attack Earth, it’s the Americans that come to the rescue in “Independence Day,” a 1996 sci-fi action film with all the violence, explosions, and snarky dialogue that you’d expect from a Michael Bay film. Except (surprise!) “Independence Day” wasn’t directed by Bay. In fact, it wasn’t even directed by an American. Roland Emmerich – who was born and raised in Germany and lived there for most of his life – was at the helm for this patriotic piece of cinema, which stars Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman. As far out and unrealistic as the plot is, tell us you don’t get chills when President Whitmore (Pullman) delivers his famous speech that ends with the phrase: “Today, we celebrate our Independence Day!” 

Americans love us some sports movies, especially when it’s an underdog tale like the 2004 docudrama “Miracle,” which tells the true story of coach Herb Brooks (played by Kurt Russell) and the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team’s unlikely victory over the heavily favored Soviet Union. This wasn’t just about one of the biggest upsets in sports history, it was a victory for America at a time when they were locked into a decades-long Cold War against their opponents on the ice and needed the symbolic win.

The best patriotic movies aren’t all about violence and warfare; take “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” for example. Instead of the battle being fought between armies with weapons, it’s fought between one honest U.S. Senator and a corrupt political system. In America, it is widely believed that the little guy can still make a difference, and Jimmy Stewart illustrated that beautifully in this 1939 film, especially during his passionate 24-hour filibuster.

If the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil over the past two decades have proven anything, it’s that Americans – both soldiers and civilians – have an uncanny ability to come together following times of tragedy. A fantastic illustration of this is 2016’s “Patriots Day,” which depicts the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the response by the FBI, local law enforcement, and the good people of the State of Massachusetts. 

General George S. Patton was a complicated and sometimes controversial man, but there’s no doubt that his actions and leadership in World War I and World War II were heroic, and they were immortalized in the 1970 film “Patton” starring George C. Scott in the titular role. Not only is this epic biographical war drama patriotic, but it’s also a critically acclaimed film that earned seven Academy Awards (including Best Picture) and was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

Unlike most of the war films in this list, “Red Dawn” doesn’t focus on the leaders, the military officers, or the soldiers; instead, it centers on how everyday patriots (in this case: high school students) would handle a Russian/Cuban/Nicaraguan invasion in their hometown. With a cast that includes ‘80s movie mainstays Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey, Lea Thompson, and C. Thomas Howell, “Red Dawn” was basically like World War III mashed up with “The Breakfast Club.”

Like “Miracle,” 1985’s “Rocky IV” was a sports metaphor for the ongoing Cold War struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union. In the film, Rocky isn’t matched up against fellow Americans Apollo Creed or Clubber Lang, but the towering and terrifying figure of Ivan Drago. Although Rocky takes his worst beating yet in the bout, he manages to knock Drago out, win the fight, and avenge the death of his friend and former foe. To this day, “Rocky IV” is still ranked as one of the most successful sports films of all time.

The scene where the remaining soldiers in Sgt. Stryker’s squad witness the iconic flag raising at Iwo Jima has made American audiences feel patriotic for nearly 70 years – especially as the Marines’ Hymn starts to play in the background. Keep in mind, the film was released just four years after the events depicted in it, and it included three of the marines who were actually involved in the raising of the flag.  

Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan” is often referred to as one of the greatest war films ever made, but it’s about a lot more than just fighting. The 1998 drama is about brotherhood and the lengths soldiers will go to follow orders, especially when it involves rescuing one of their own. Plus, who can argue with an all-star cast that includes Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, Paul Giamatti, Ted Danson, Bryan Cranston, Dennis Farina, Vin Diesel, Giovanni Ribisi, Adam Goldberg, Barry Pepper, and Nathan Fillion?

With all the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War II, and Vietnam movies in this list, we had to include at least one that mainly focused on World War I, and what better film is there than 1941’s “Sergeant York.” The war flick stars the great Gary Cooper in the titular role of Sergeant Alvin C. York, a real-life soldier who earned the Medal of Honor after he lead an attack on a German machine gun nest, took 35 firearms, killed at least 25 enemy combatants, and captured another 132 men. Before becoming a soldier, York was just another hillbilly from Tennessee, which proves that in America anyone with the right attitude, dedication, and heart can become a national hero.

Based on Cornelius Ryan's book of the same name, “The Longest Day” chronicles the most important events of what is likely the most important date of World War II: the D-Day landings in Normandy on June 6, 1944. Watching the American troops fight to turn the tide of the war in their favor usually results in feelings of patriotism, which is helped by the all-star cast of American acting legends like John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, Eddie Albert, and Rod Steiger.

Come on, the film is called “The Patriot,” so of course it had to be included in this list. Featuring strong performances by Mel Gibson and the late Heath Ledger, this 2000 war movie centers on a father and son that get swept up into the American Revolutionary War, with Gibson’s Benjamin Martin being a composite character based on actual patriots Andrew Pickens, Francis Marion, Daniel Morgan, and Thomas Sumter. Surprisingly, “The Patriot” is yet another film that was helmed by German-born director Roland Emmerich (of “Independence Day”).

As United States Air Force General and former test pilot Chuck Yeager said in the 1983 film “The Right Stuff”: “It takes a special kind of man to volunteer for a suicide mission, especially one that's on TV.” That accurately sums up the true lives of the Mercury Seven, the brave men who volunteered to blast off at a time when space travel was dangerous, unproven, and involved a whole lot of trial and error. Despite countless issues, setbacks, and tragedies, their collective goal of heroism in the name of their country remained unwavered, and that’s the true definition of patriotism.

Sure, the American classic “Top Gun” is primarily a romantic film, but if you enjoy the film and don’t feel some sort of patriotic pride after watching U.S. Navy fighter jets fly around for the better part of 110 minutes, then we guess you just really like Tom Cruise.

Although director Oliver Stone is often accused of making films that are decidedly un-American (“Platoon,” “Born on the Fourth of July,” any of his presidential films, etc.), 2006’s “World Trade Center” is about as patriotic as it gets. Instead of focusing on the terrorists, the tragedies, and the conspiracies of 9/11, Stone’s film instead centers on the brave rescue teams comprised of police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and military personnel. Most of the characters in the film use the actual names and actual stories of those involved with the rescue efforts and others who tragically sacrificed their lives that day. 

As we previously states, Patriotic movies don’t always need to involve war or dangerous missions, which is further evidenced by 1942’s “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” This biographical musical explores the life of entertainer, playwright, and composer George M. Cohan, who was nicknamed “The Man Who Owned Broadway.” In addition to penning more than three-dozen Broadway musicals, Cohan was also the creative mind behind the American standards “Over There,” “The Yankee Doodle Boy,” and “You’re a Grand Ol’ Flag,” making him one of the most important figures in American music history. James Cagney played Cohan in the big-screen adaptation of his life, and earned an Academy Award for his performance.

When the American military makes a promise, they almost always come through. Case in point: Osama bin Laden attacked the U.S. in 2001, the U.S. President and military promised to hunt him down, and although it took nearly a decade, they kept their word. “Zero Dark Thirty,” directed by Kathryn Bigelow of “The Hurt Locker,” tells exactly what happened in those 10 years leading up to and including the final mission to eliminate the terrorist mastermind. Although almost every moviegoer knows how the film ends, they nevertheless feel a sense of excitement and suspense in its final scenes, and a surge of patriotism after it’s all over.