Films like Hacksaw Ridge
15 picks with a similar feel
What defines Hacksaw Ridge, going by its Boxlist taste profile: Realistic and heavy: an emotional war film, gritty rather than glossy. Best if you like depth over escapism. Its strongest markers on Boxlist are themes of self-destruction, underdogs and resilience and survival, plus tags such as pacifism, u.s. military and war hero.
Here are 15 films with a similar feel, ranked by how closely they match that profile. Treat them as picks to try, not a definitive list.
Based on Hacksaw Ridge (2016).
- 1
The Last Samurai (2003)
Film7.5
Why it's like Hacksaw Ridge: Also grounded and weighty, with themes of self-destruction and resilience and survival. Common ground: japan, alcoholic, soldier.
- 2
Schindler's List (1993)
Film8.6
Why it's like Hacksaw Ridge: Also grounded and weighty, with themes of underdogs and resilience and survival. Common ground: world war ii, biography.
- 3
Lone Survivor (2013)
Film7.4
Why it's like Hacksaw Ridge: Also grounded and weighty, with themes of underdogs and resilience and survival. Common ground: biography.
- 4
The Thin Red Line (1998)
Film7.5
Why it's like Hacksaw Ridge: Also grounded and weighty, with themes of underdogs and resilience and survival. Common ground: soldier, world war ii.
- 5
Mank (2020)
Film6.9Lighter option
Why it's like Hacksaw Ridge: Also grounded and emotional, with themes of self-destruction. Common ground: alcoholic, biography.
- 6
Unbroken (2014)
Film7.5
Why it's like Hacksaw Ridge: Also grounded and weighty, with themes of underdogs and resilience and survival. Common ground: japan, world war ii, biography.
- 7
The King (2019)
Film7.2
Why it's like Hacksaw Ridge: Also grounded and weighty, with themes of resilience and survival. Common ground: biography.
- 8
Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
Film6.9Faster-paced
Why it's like Hacksaw Ridge: Also grounded and weighty, with themes of resilience and survival. Common ground: japan, world war ii.
- 9
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Film8.2
Why it's like Hacksaw Ridge: Also grounded and weighty, with themes of resilience and survival. Common ground: soldier, world war ii.
- 10
Paths of Glory (1957)
Film8.3
Why it's like Hacksaw Ridge: Also grounded and weighty, with themes of resilience and survival. Common ground: soldier.
- 11
Fury (2014)
Film7.5Easier to follow
Why it's like Hacksaw Ridge: Also weighty and grounded, with themes of underdogs and resilience and survival. Common ground: world war ii.
- 12
Downfall (2004)
Film7.8
Why it's like Hacksaw Ridge: Also grounded and weighty, with themes of underdogs and resilience and survival. Common ground: world war ii.
- 13
Das Boot (1981)
Film8.1
Why it's like Hacksaw Ridge: Also grounded and weighty, with themes of underdogs and resilience and survival. Common ground: world war ii.
- 14
The Pianist (2002)
Film8.4
Why it's like Hacksaw Ridge: Also grounded and weighty, with themes of underdogs and resilience and survival. Common ground: world war ii, biography.
- 15
Defiance (2008)
Film6.9
Why it's like Hacksaw Ridge: Also weighty and grounded, with themes of resilience and survival. Common ground: world war ii.
Boxlist compares Hacksaw Ridge with every film in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 6.7 or more from at least 1,000 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point. Ratings are TMDB audience scores out of 10.
Which of these suit you?
Take the taste test and every pick shows how well it matches you.
Take the taste testQuestions
- What should I watch if I like Hacksaw Ridge?
- Picks with a similar feel include The Last Samurai, Schindler's List, Lone Survivor and The Thin Red Line. Each shares part of Hacksaw Ridge's taste profile, themes or tags; the full list has 15 films.
- How are these films like Hacksaw Ridge chosen?
- Boxlist compares Hacksaw Ridge with every film in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 6.7 or more from at least 1,000 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point.
- Is there a lighter film like Hacksaw Ridge?
- Mank has a similar feel but scores lighter on Boxlist's weightiness scale.