Best Anti War

Jooss’s *The Green Table* is a seminal work of expressionist ballet and Tanztheater created in 1912. It powerfully portrays the horrors of World War I through a static, emotionally intense scene centered around a single green table. The piece highlights the devastating impact of violence on ordinary...

Paths of Glory is a 1957 film directed by Stanley Kubrick, adapted from Humphrey Cobb’s novel based on the Souain corporals affair during World War I. The story centers around Colonel Dax, who defends French soldiers accused of cowardice following a disastrous offensive. Ralph Meeker portrays the of...

“All Quiet on the Western Front” is a powerful 1930 silent film based on Remarque’s novel. It realistically portrays the disillusionment and brutality faced by American soldiers in World War I. The film's stark depiction of trench warfare and its anti-war themes resonated deeply with audiences, offe...

The Trojan Women is a tragedy by Euripides first performed in Athens in 415 BC. Set after the fall of Troy, it follows Hecuba, Cassandra, Andromache, and other captive women as Greek victors determine their enslavement and the destruction of the surviving royal family. Rather than dramatizing combat...

Platoon is an American epic film set during the Vietnam War, directed by Oliver Stone. The story centers on a U.S. Army volunteer within a South Vietnamese platoon, alongside his superiors who grapple with ethical concerns regarding their actions and the conflict. It marks the first installment in a...

They Shall Not Grow Old is a 2018 documentary utilizing over century-old British Imperial War Museum footage of World War One. The film employed colorization, restoration, and added sound to enhance the silent film material. It incorporates narration derived from interviews with veterans’ accounts h...

The Deer Hunter is a 1978 film depicting the experiences of three Pennsylvania steelworkers who serve as soldiers in the Vietnam War. Set across locations in Clairton, Pennsylvania, and Vietnam, the drama follows their involvement in combat. Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and John Savage star i...

The "War Is Over! If You Want It" campaign was a 1969 anti-war media project created by musicians John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Initiated as a response to the Vietnam War, the project primarily consisted of billboards and posters rented in twelve major cities worldwide, including New York, London, and L...

Full Metal Jacket depicts the psychological impact of war through the eyes of U.S. Marines during the Gulf War. The film explores themes of dehumanization and disillusionment as a platoon undergoes rigorous training and navigates combat. It offers a stark portrayal of military life and its effects,...

Jiří Kylian’s Soldier’s Mass is a powerfully dramatic ballet exploring the devastating consequences of war. The work features stark movement and lighting to depict a mechanized army's relentless pursuit of a single individual across a barren stage. It is notable for its anti-war message and masterfu...

“The Dawns Here Are Quiet” is a Soviet drama from 1970 focusing on female soldiers stationed in Karelia during World War II. The film highlights their disillusionment with the war and presents a nuanced perspective on conflict through the lens of these women’s experiences. Rostotsky's work gained re...

“Oh What a Lovely War” is a 1963 revue exploring the First World War through a series of vignettes. Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop presented this historical satire using music and theatre to examine the conflict's impact on ordinary people. The work gained significant attention for its anti-war...

Banksy's Napalm (2004), also known as Can't Beat the Feeling, is a screenprint showing the iconic Vietnam War napalm girl flanked by Mickey Mouse and Ronald McDonald, critiquing American cultural imperialism.

Kent State (1970) is a screenprint by British artist Richard Hamilton responding to the May 1970 shooting of student protesters by National Guard troops at Kent State University in Ohio, made as a political protest work.

Arms and the Man is a comedy by George Bernard Shaw, first produced in 1894 and set during the Serbo-Bulgarian War of 1885. Its plot contrasts Raina Petkoff's romantic ideas about warfare and love with the practical outlook of Captain Bluntschli, a Swiss professional soldier serving in the Serbian a...

Denise Levertov’s *The Sorrow Dance* offers a stark examination of American experience during the Vietnam War era. This 1967 collection showcases her distinctive style – characterized by direct language and unflinching observation. It explores themes of loss, displacement, and the human cost of conf...

Born on the Fourth of July depicts Ron Kovic's life following his paralysis as a Vietnam War combat medic. The film meticulously portrays his transformation from patriotic youth to a passionate anti-war activist over two decades. It’s a biographical drama notable for its unflinching exploration of v...

The Glassworker is a 2024 Pakistani animated drama focusing on romance and anti-war themes. Produced by Mano Animation Studios, the film utilizes hand-drawn animation with influences from anime styles. Usman Riaz directed this feature film written by Moya O’Shea, marking Pakistan's first hand-drawn...

Slaughterhouse-Five portrays the experiences of Billy Pilgrim, a character who becomes displaced across different points in time due to an unexplained phenomenon. The narrative features actors Michael Sacks, Ron Leibman, and Valerie Perrine within this nonlinear storyline based on Kurt Vonnegut’s no...

Banksy's Happy Choppers (2003) is a screenprint showing military helicopters adorned with decorative bows, juxtaposing symbols of warfare with domestic ornamentation to critique militarism.

The Kellogg-Briand Pact is a 1928 international agreement, initially negotiated by the United States and France, that officially outlawed the use of war as an instrument of national policy. The treaty was eventually signed by over 60 nations, including major world powers such as the United Kingdom,...

Johnny Got His Gun is a 1971 anti-war drama directed by Dalton Trumbo based on his novel of the same title. The film features an ensemble cast including Timothy Bottoms and Marsha Hunt, depicting a soldier’s devastating injuries following combat. It was Trumbo's directorial debut and remains a stark...

Ramsey Clark served as the 66th U.S. Attorney General from 1967 to 1969 under President Lyndon B. Johnson. After his government service, he became a prominent civil liberties attorney known for representing controversial defendants, including foreign leaders facing international tribunals and indivi...

Food Not Bombs is an activist group distributing free vegan food to the public. It operates primarily during protests and gatherings, offering a visible statement against war, systemic poverty, and social injustice. Volunteers provide nourishment and engage in direct action, supporting those experie...

Fear and Desire, directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1952, was an independent anti-war film created with a small production team. Initially titled “Shape of Fear,” it premiered as part of a Venice Film Festival side program during the Korean War era. The film’s creation involved Howard Sackler's screenpl...