The Vietnam War remains one of the most complex and discussed conflicts in modern history, making it a powerful subject for film. These movies and documentaries provide valuable insights into the war’s human, political, and cultural dimensions, offering educators and students a wide range of perspectives.
However, many of these films depict the brutal realities of war, including intense violence, mature themes, and emotional content. It's important for educators and librarians to use their discretion when selecting films for their audience, ensuring they align with age appropriateness and educational goals. Age recommendations are included to help guide these decisions, making this list a versatile resource for various classroom settings.
Just Like Me: The Vietnam War/The American War
Just Like Me: Vietnam War/The American War challenges viewers to understand the conflict through both American and Vietnamese eyes. By juxtaposing personal testimonies, intimate interviews, and reflective commentary, this documentary reveals the nuances and shared humanity of those who experienced the war firsthand. This balanced approach helps dismantle stereotypes and encourages an empathetic understanding of the opposing sides.
In an educational setting, this film is ideal for fostering critical thinking about perspective and bias in historical narratives. Teachers and librarians can highlight its use of oral histories to discuss how memory and identity shape our understanding of past events. It aligns well with lessons on comparative history, cultural diplomacy, and the importance of empathy in interpreting global conflicts.
Read our review of Just Like Me.
Purchase a copy of Just Like Me on DVD here.
Operation Dumbo Drop
Operation Dumbo Drop offers a more family-friendly, lighter take on the Vietnam War era. Starring Danny Glover and Ray Liotta, this film is based on a true story about U.S. soldiers transporting an elephant through war-torn territory. While it does not deeply delve into the war’s brutalities, it provides an unconventional viewpoint, focusing on cooperation, trust-building, and cross-cultural friendship against the backdrop of a conflict.
For classrooms and libraries, Operation Dumbo Drop can serve as a gentle introduction to the Vietnam War context for younger audiences. Although not as historically rigorous as other selections, it can help spark interest and encourage further exploration. Educators might use it to examine themes of cultural understanding, humanitarian efforts during wartime, and the ways human kindness can persist despite violence and tension.
Buy a copy of Operation Dumbo Drop on DVD here.
The Vietnam War
Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s The Vietnam War is a 10-part, 18-hour documentary series offering a comprehensive look at America’s involvement in Vietnam. Combining archival footage, interviews with veterans and civilians from all sides, and an exploration of cultural and political shifts, it crafts a multi-faceted narrative. It does not shy away from difficult truths, covering everything from the early origins of the conflict to the intense antiwar sentiment at home, culminating in the war’s lasting legacy on global politics and personal identities.
The Vietnam War is an invaluable resource, presenting a wealth of primary source material and differing perspectives. Its depth and breadth make it suitable for advanced students studying U.S. history, foreign policy, and 20th-century world events. Educators can use it as a springboard for discussions about ethics in warfare, the role of media, political decision-making, and the human cost of conflict.
Read our review of Ken Burn's The Vietnam War.
Buy the entire series of The Vietnam War on DVD here.
Platoon
Oliver Stone’s Platoon, grounded in the director’s personal experience, is a raw infantry-level depiction of the Vietnam War. It focuses on a young soldier’s moral awakening as he witnesses acts of kindness and cruelty within his own unit. The film pulls no punches, depicting violence, moral compromise, and the psychological pressure that shapes soldier behavior under extreme duress.
For educational settings, Platoon fosters discussions on the nature of morality, ethics in wartime, and the reliability of personal testimony in shaping historical understanding. Given its graphic violence, mature language, and intense emotional content, this film is most suitable for older high school and college students who can engage critically with its challenging material.
Buy a copy of Platoon on DVD here.
Last Days in Vietnam
Rory Kennedy’s Last Days in Vietnam recounts the chaotic final weeks of the American presence in Saigon, documenting the frantic, often improvised evacuations and the moral dilemmas U.S. military and embassy personnel faced as North Vietnamese forces closed in. With vivid firsthand accounts and archival footage, the film provides a gripping, almost real-time narrative of a turning point in history—one involving desperate choices, abandoned promises, and human lives hanging in the balance.
For students, Last Days in Vietnam underscores the cost of failed policies, ethical responsibilities during withdrawal, and the humanitarian crises that can follow a military departure. It’s a sobering reminder that the final moments of conflict can have lasting repercussions and that historical interpretation often hinges on the stories of those who lived it.
Read our review of Last Days in Vietnam.
Buy a copy of Last Days in Vietnam on DVD here.
The Quiet American
Based on Graham Greene’s novel, The Quiet American is set in 1950s Vietnam, during the French colonial period leading up to the American involvement. Starring Michael Caine as a British journalist and Brendan Fraser as an enigmatic American, the film explores political intrigue, moral ambiguity, and the shifting power dynamics that paved the way for the larger conflict to come. Its blend of romance, espionage, and political commentary offers a nuanced introduction to the pre-war environment.
The film’s mature themes and subtle historical references make it most appropriate for high school seniors and college students who can appreciate its context. By examining the roots of foreign intervention and the complexity of national interests, educators can spark discussions on colonialism, diplomacy, and the interplay of personal relationships with political events.
Buy a copy of The Quiet American on DVD here.
Hearts and Minds
Hearts and Minds is a groundbreaking documentary that openly questions the U.S. involvement in Vietnam. With candid interviews from American generals, soldiers, and Vietnamese civilians, it juxtaposes official rhetoric against the war’s brutal realities. This film challenged the prevailing narrative at the time of its release and remains a valuable historical artifact for understanding domestic dissent and the complexity of wartime media coverage.
The documentary’s frank portrayal of violence, coupled with emotionally intense interviews, makes it more suitable for older high school students and above. It can be a catalyst for discussions on media influence, public opinion, and how collective understanding of a conflict evolves over time, making it a fitting choice for AP History, Government, or Ethics classes.
Buy a copy of Hearts and Minds on DVD here.
Good Morning, Vietnam
Starring Robin Williams, Good Morning, Vietnam uses humor and music to explore the war’s cultural climate from the perspective of an irreverent U.S. Armed Forces Radio DJ in Saigon. While lighter than most entries here, it touches upon censorship, morale, and the psychological pressures faced by soldiers and support staff. Its blend of comedy and pathos offers a different angle for understanding life behind the lines.
Though it includes strong language and some mature themes, this film is not extremely violent and can be appropriate for high school juniors and seniors. By examining the role of media, entertainment, and morale during wartime, students can consider how humor and protest intersect with historical events, broadening their understanding of the war’s social dimensions.
Buy a copy of Good Morning, Vietnam on DVD here.
Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam
This documentary compiles real letters written by American soldiers during the war, brought to life through voiceover and archival footage. Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam provides an intimate look at the personal fears, hopes, and struggles of those who served. By focusing on individual experiences rather than broad strategic overviews, it humanizes the conflict and allows students to connect with history on a deeply personal level.
Although the content is sobering and sometimes emotionally intense, the film is generally suitable for high school students (grades 10 and up) and college audiences. It serves as a compelling primary source for discussions on soldier morale, the psychological impact of war, and the relationship between personal narratives and historical memory.
Buy a copy of Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam on DVD here.
We Were Soldiers
Based on the book We Were Soldiers Once… and Young by Hal Moore and Joseph Galloway, this film recounts the harrowing Battle of Ia Drang, one of the Vietnam War's first major conflicts. Starring Mel Gibson as Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore, the film explores themes of leadership, sacrifice, and the bond between soldiers during wartime. It also highlights the experiences of families on the home front, offering a broader view of the war's impact.
We Were Soldiers provides educators with an opportunity to discuss the complexities of leadership in war, the personal sacrifices of soldiers, and the human cost of military conflict. Its historical grounding also makes it a valuable resource for analyzing the early stages of U.S. involvement in Vietnam.
Buy a copy of We Were Soldiers on DVD here.
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