The greatest military films stir the blood and move the viewer beyond words, leaving an impression that is akin to timeless brotherhood. Certain war movies stand apart and above the others, and belong on every man’s lifetime list of repeat viewings.

Spanning the medieval Dark Ages to the blood soaked juggles of Vietnam, these five films set the standard for the genre. Saving Private Ryan, directed and released by Steven Spielberg in 1998, was rightly nominated for and took home numerous awards. Beginning with the invasion of Normandy during WWII, the film follows a US Army Rangers captain and his squad as they attempt to locate the last-surviving brother of four soldiers.

Apocalypse Now is the crowning achievement of writer, producer, and director Francis Ford Coppola’s career, not merely adapting Joseph Conrad’s novella “Heart of Darkness,” but transferring it to the Vietnam War. Despite its problematic production the film’s horror-laden tale of the pursuit of a madman continues to find new generations of fans.

Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket details the training of U.S. Marines Joker and Pyle as they struggle under the iron fist of their drill instructor, as well as the experiences of those in the Tet Offensive. A wild card of a film, Full Metal Jacket somehow managed to divide critics while unanimously garnering worldwide praise.

Platoon, Oliver Stone’s anti-war drama, introduces us to a platoon of young infantrymen as they brave the hellish jungles of South Vietnam. The cast famously underwent a rigorous regime, which included long marches, nighttime ambushes, minimal sleep routinely disturbed by the firing of blanks, and a severely limited diet. The result? An unforgettable “other side” perspective on the well-known war trope.

Braveheart was by no means a modern military account, nor an entirely accurate one, but it earned a folkloric place among the best war films ever made. A loose biopic of the life of 13th century Scottish rebel William Wallace, the movie’s epic cinematography, unforgettable score, and powerful performances won it the 1995 Academy Award for Best Picture.