War! What Is It Good For? Apparently, Extremely Compelling Films…

24. Dunkirk

Image Source: Dan MacMedan-USA TODAY NETWORK

This virtuoso reenactment of the 1940 evacuation of 400,000 British and Allied soldiers stranded on the beach is the highest-grossing WWII film ever made. Christopher Nolan sticks largely to the formula that’s established him as the early 21st century’s most bankable auteur. He immerses the audience in the action by placing them close to the subjective points-of-view of his characters’ experiences on land, sea, and air. Shot with 65mm and IMAX cameras, it’s a straightforward sensory overload.