The Most Powerful War Movie Opening Scenes Ever Filmed

Few genres open as powerfully as war films. Saving Private Ryan (1998, TMDB 8.2) set the standard with its unflinching D-Day landing sequence — a scene so intense it redefined cinematic realism.

But it's not alone. From 1917's single-take trenches to Dunkirk's ticking-clock evacuation, the best war movie openings don't just start the story — they drop you straight into hell.

As U.S. troops storm the beaches of Normandy, three brothers lie dead on the battlefield, with a fourth trapped behind enemy lines. Ranger captain John Miller and seven men are tasked with penetrating German-held territory and bringing the boy home.