Cold War movies are no stranger to Hollywood.
The time period between the end of World War 2 and the Fall of the Soviet Union has seen countless films and TV shows featuring the daring high-stakes espionage the USA and USSR were up to. Some of these movies were colossal hits, others not so much. The movies during this time nearly wrote themselves, with Hollywood just filling in the blanks where needed, adding a car chase here and a submarine battle there.
So what are some of the best Cold War movies of all time? Join Navy Crow as we get active-duty sailors’ inputs on the greatest Cold War movies of all time!
Red Dawn (1984)
WOLVERINES!
No movie really captured the feel of the Cold War in the early 80’s like Red Dawn. Featuring a cast of actors and actresses including Patrick Swayze and Charlie Sheen, this movie has inspired movies, video games, and books well into the 2000’s. Just skip the cheesy remake from 2012. I mean really skip it.
The Hunt for Red October
If you were ever in the Navy, you’ve seen this movie. If you were a submariner, you saw it a million times. Featuring Sean Connery as the grizzled veteran sub captain Marko Ramius, this one was not to be missed. It was an incredibly solid thriller reminiscent of Tom Clancy’s source material, and one of the most beloved Cold War movies of all time.
From Russia with Love
One of the best Bond movies of all time featuring arguably the most iconic Bond of all time. Looking through Sean Connery’s filmography is like reading a primer on Cold War movies in general. This movie has gone down in history as being one of the better Bond films, and as far as myself and my Navy film experts are concerned, one of the best Cold War movies out there.
Manchurian Candidate
How can anyone not love a movie featuring Frank Sinatra as the leading man? This movie was an instant classic in 1962, and it still holds up, having inspired a pretty solid remake in 2004 starring Denzel Washington. While either one is worth a watch, do yourself a huge favor and check out Frank Sinatra’s performance
Dr. Strangelove
If you ever read a list of best movies of the Cold War and this movie isn’t at the top, the person writing that blog is not your friend. Fortunately, I am, and if you haven’t watched this movie, WATCH THIS MOVIE. I cannot make this any more clear. WATCH. THIS. MOVIE. It’s an incredible flick that satirized at the still-sensitive (at the time) subject of the “Red Menace” and McCarthyism. It’s one of the most brilliant films of the era, and if I haven’t made it clear enough, you need to watch it.
Dr. Strangelove also has one of the highest ratings possible on Rotten Tomatoes with a stellar 99%. If you don’t trust us, trust them, because y’know, they do this kinda thing often.
Did you serve during the Cold War? If so, represent your pride in being one of the millions who voluntarily went downrange against one of the biggest threats this nation has ever faced. The Soviets were well-trained, well-equipped, and outnumbered us by a hefty margin. Navy Crow is celebrating the insane brass balls that took to face down Akula and Foxtrot-class submarines with the Cold War Veteran Coin!
Check it out by clicking HERE or on the image below!
