War films are some of the most appreciated films in the industry. From Apocalypse Now to Dunkirk, there is no shortage of war films available to the masses. While many films have been criticized for their lack of accuracy, like Pearl Harbor, it has become the goal of many filmmakers to try to recreate the true essence and brutality of war on the big screen. Whether it’s the brutality of the Vietnam War or the harsh realities faced by civilians in WWII, the war film genre covers everything. One topic that often goes neglected is the Cold War.
The Cold War was a period of tension after WWII between the United States and the Soviet Union. This period lasted from 1947 to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. It is called the Cold War because no large-scale fighting actually occurred between the opposing groups. The lack of action during the Cold War is part of why there is a lack of films that take place during the Cold War. That said, there are still plenty that show the realities of the fear of nuclear war constantly hanging over the heads of special agents and spies globally. These are the best movies about the Cold War, ranked.
Related: Best British War Films Set in the 20th Century

8 The Courier

The most recent film on this list is The Courier, the true story of Greville Wynne, a businessman who is unwittingly recruited to take part in the Cuban Missile Crisis. After forming an unlikely partnership with Soviet officer Oleg Penkovsky, the two work together to provide intelligence used to defuse the conflict and prevent nuclear war. The Courier was praised for its overall; ability to retell a true story without boring the audience, with special praise towards Benedict Cumberbatch and his performance.While the film was set to be released in 2020, the release was delayed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

7 The Spy Who Came in From the Cold

Based on the spy novel of the same name by John le Carré, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold follows the story of British MI6 agent Alec Leamas who is sent to East Germany, masquerading as a drunken defector to gain intel about an East German intelligence officer. When Leamas is thrown in jail, he finds himself caught up in a web of plots and counterplots. This classic spy film features a dynamite cast including Richard Burton and Claire Bloom. The film was a phenomenal success and won four BAFTA Awards for Best British Film, Best Actor, Best Cinematography, and Best Art Direction.

6 Bridge of Spies

U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers is captured by the Soviet Union after they shot down his plane. Being sentenced to 10 years in prison, he seeks the help of lawyer James Donovan to take on his case and help him get released. Donovan’s tactic is to gain Powers’ freedom through a prisoner exchange, giving the Russians a convicted spy in exchange for Powers. Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks, Bridge of Spies was a box-office smash and a critical success, receiving six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. The film was praised for its ability to bring old-school Hollywood back to life with the overall ambience of the film making it one of the best modern Cold War films of all time.

5 The Hunt For Red October

Based on the Tom Clancy novel of the same name, The Hunt for Red October follows Soviet submarine Captain Marko Ramius, who abandons his orders and heads for the east coast of the United States. Thanks to the advanced stealth technology of the Society Union, Ramius’ submarine “Red October” is almost undetectable until an American sub briefly detects the Russians’ presence. CIA agent Jack Ryan sets off on a journey to figure out Ramius’ motives, suspecting him to be planning an attack on the United States. Starring Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin, The Hunt for Red October was the first installation in the series of films with Jack Ryan as the protagonist. The film was subject to critical acclaim, earning the Academy Award for Best Sound Effects Editing.
Related: Exclusive: Gay Cold War Drama Firebird Met with Protesters at Moscow International Film Festival

4 Fail Safe

Starring Henry Fonda and Walter Mathau, Fail Safe is a classic Cold War film. U.S. bomber jets are equipped with fail-safe boxes that instruct pilots when and if to attack. When an attack order is administered due to a system malfunction, the President of the United States must fix the mistake before bombs drop on Moscow. The President succeeds in stopping the bombing, except for one determined pilot determined to complete his mission. Based on the novel of the same name by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler, Fail Safe was a box office flop at the time of its release, but was critically praised for its cinematic depiction of the Cold War. A remake of the film was made in 2000 as a televised play starring George Clooney and Richard Dreyfuss.

3 The Manchurian Candidate

Near the end of the Korean War, a platoon of U.S. soldiers is brainwashed by communists, and when the platoon is returned home, the soldiers find themselves suffering from strange nightmares. The platoon’s Captain Raymond Shaw discovers that he has become an unwitting assassin as a part of an international communist conspiracy. The Manchurian Candidate features Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, and Angela Lansbury as the main cast. The original film was released in October 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis, making the content particularly poignant. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards. In 1994, the United States National Film Registry recognized The Manchurian Candidate by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

2 Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Yet another film on this list to be based on a novel, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is one of the few films on this list to be made in the 21st century. Starring Gary Oldman and Colin Firth, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy follows an MI6 agent who has been dispatched to meet with a Hungarian General who knows the identity of a Soviet spy within the organization. When the General dies before he can reveal the information, Undersecretary Oliver Lacon calls on veteran Agent George Smiley to ferret out the mole. A favorite among many real-life intelligence agents, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was well-received with talk of a potential sequel circulating around with a script ready, but nothing confirmed.

1 Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb

A classic Stanley Kubrick film, Dr. Strangelove satirizes the Cold War situation by examining what could happen if the wrong person pushes the wrong button. When Air Force General Jack Ripper goes insane, he sends his bomber wing to destroy the U.S.S.R. thinking that communists are trying to pollute the bodily fluids of the American people. Dr. Strangelove has gained incredible critical acclaim, considered one of the greatest films of all time, nominated for four Academy Awards and selected for preservation in 1989. Thanks to the legacy Dr. Strangelove left behind, a potential sequel was discussed until the death of Stanley Kubrick, when any idea for a sequel was retired.

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