War is brutal, but presenting its story on screen is a cinematic challenge as well. How do you capture the exact scope and intensity of political conflict and armed battles within the confines of a conventional two-hour runtime? Well, for some filmmakers, the only way to do justice to the expansive, world-altering nature of war is to allow the story to unfold at a rather slow and grand pace.
The result? Some of the longest war movies in the history of cinema. The directors of these movies chose to leave behind brevity and instead plunge fully into the vast experience of those who lived through and defined our collective histories. Without time hindering them, these movies are able to convey the exact turmoil and the passage of days, weeks, or even years on the battlefield.
The movies in this list are nothing but a detailed visual account of a war. While some take a documentary approach and use archival footage, others stay on the frontlines, crafting an entire war from start to finish. No matter the style, each movie is definitive of the era it was made in. so, without much ado, let’s take a look at these painstakingly-long but truly glorious understandings of war and their lasting effects on history.
10 Doctor Zhivago (1965) – 200 minutes
Based on the 1957 novel of the same name written by Boris Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago depicts an epic historical romance set during the tumultuous political aftermath of the Russian Revolution of 1917. We follow Yuri Zhivago, a physician and poet who falls for a young woman named Lara despite being married to another woman. As the rebelling factions clash with the counter revolutionary forces, Zhivago and Lara find their love tested by Zhivago remains faithful to his wife.
Epic in Scope, Intimate in Detail
Director David Lean is known for telling takes that are ripe with personal moments. But with Doctor Zhivago, he tries to portray a passionate love affair amidst the kind of conflicts that are tearing their country apart. The sweeping scenes of battle and mass upheaval add depth to the historical revolution. Leads Julie Christie and Omar Sharif deliver performances that linger through silences and small gestures. At nearly three and a half hours long, Doctor Zhivago remains one of cinema's most breathtaking war movies of all time. Stream on Tubi
9 Exodus (1960) – 208 minutes
Exodus is adapted from the best-selling novel written by Leon Uris. It tells the gripping story of thousands of Jews — many of them Holocaust survivors – being held by the British at an internment camp. A decorated former captain in the Jewish Brigade in the British Army and Haganah agent named Ari Ben Canaan takes it upon himself to arrange a secret transportations to get the Jews out of Europe and into what would become Palestine.
Grand and Gritty In Equal Measure
While the length of Exodus may seem monumental, it is nothing compared to the decades-spanning true story it tells. Directed by Otto Preminger, the movie is a true spectacle of a production; its score of Jewish pioneers fighting to build a homeland for themselves amidst human turmoil is quite legendary. Big-name stars like Paul Newman, Eva Marie Saint, Ralph Richardson, Peter Lawford, and more play characters both noble and complex, propelling the cinematic masterpiece into an unforgettable one. Stream on Fubo TV
8 Lawrence of Arabia (1962) – 227 minutes
This one takes you to the Deserts of the Middle East during WWI. At the center of it is T.E. Lawrence, a British officer who had grown accustomed to and experienced with the region’s Arab culture. When he is set to aid the Arab tribes in revolt against the Turks and serve as a liaison between the Arabs and the British, Lawrence undergoes an immersive journey, one that includes him embarking on a daring camel journey across the harsh desert.
A Daring Journey Captured with Care
Even if Lawrence of Arabia is not technically the longest war movie out there, it is definitely the grandest, most adventurous historical war epic. With photography so stunning and scope so jaw-dropping, it mesmerizes new audiences even today. Director David Lean sets it at nearly four hours, allowing the natural majesty of the to overwhelm the audience, while the intricate sound design and Peter O'Toole’s captivating performances appear just as timeless. The film won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. Rent on Apple TV
7 Gone with the Wind (1939) – 233 minutes
Directed by Victor Fleming, Gone with the Wind is one of the earliest war movies to ever win an Academy Award for Best Picture. It’s set against the Civil War and the Reconstruction era, and it follows a strong-willed Scarlett O'Hara, who finds herself smitten by Ashley Wilkes, a Southern man who is about to marry his cousin, Melanie. But Scarlett’s advances are turned down by Ashley. The movie documents the civil unrest, economic depression, and personal struggles marked by the war.
Immerses Viewers into Pre-War Georgia
Criticized early for its conventional portrayal of certain factions of society, Gone with the Wind eventually became a global phenomenon, marked by critics as the “single most beloved entertainment ever produced.” Fleming is at his absolute best when it comes to staging lavish sets and using special effects realistic enough to transport viewers to pre-war Georgia and experience the tragedy of the period through the eyes of Scarlett, the ultimate survivor and a woman with great endurance, played by Vivien Leigh. Stream on Max