Films About U.S. Imperialism
U.S. imperialism refers to the policy or practice of extending a nation's power and influence through diplomacy or military force, often justified by a sense of superiority or a mission to civilize. This theme has been explored in various films that critique or reflect upon the consequences of America's foreign interventions, military actions, and cultural dominance. These films often portray the complexities of power, identity, and moral dilemmas faced by individuals and nations caught in the web of imperialistic endeavors.
List of Films About U.S. Imperialism:
“Apocalypse Now”, 1979
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, this film is set during the Vietnam War and follows Captain Willard as he embarks on a dangerous mission to assassinate a rogue Colonel. It is a surreal exploration of the horrors of war and the dark side of imperialism.
Starring: Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall, Frederic Forrest, Sam Bottoms, Laurence Fishburne, Albert Hall, Harrison Ford, Dennis Hopper, G.D. Spradlin, Jerry Ziesmer, Scott Glenn, Bo Byers, James Keane, Kerry Rossall, Ron McQueen, Tom Mason, Cynthia Wood, Colleen Camp, Linda Carpenter, Jack Thibeau, Glenn Walken, George Cantero, Damien Leake, Herb Rice, William Upton, Larry Carney, Marc Coppola, Daniel Kiewit, Father Elias, Bill Graham, Hattie Bell, Jerry Ross, Dick White, Christian Marquand, Aurore Clément, Michel Pitton, Frank Villard, David Olivier, Chrystel Le Pelletier, Robert Julian, Yvon LeSeaux, Roman Coppola, Gian-Carlo Coppola, Henri Sadardeil, Gilbert Renkens, Don Gordon Bell, Robin Blair-Crawford, Larry Franco;
Production year: 1979;
Genre: war, drama, history, action;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 194 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,4;
“Full Metal Jacket”, 1987
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick's film provides a gritty look at the Vietnam War, focusing on the dehumanizing effects of military training and the brutal realities of combat, ultimately questioning the motives behind U.S. involvement in Vietnam.
Starring: Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D'Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey, Dorian Harewood, Kevyn Major Howard, Arliss Howard, Ed O'Ross, John Terry, Kieron Jecchinis, Kirk Taylor, Tim Colceri, Jon Stafford, Bruce Boa, Ian Tyler, Sal Lopez, Gary Landon Mills, Papillon Soo, Peter Edmund, Ngoc Le, Leanne Hong, Tan Hung Francione, Marcus D'Amico, Costas Dino Chimona, Gil Kopel, Keith Hodiak, Peter Merrill, Herbert Norville, Nguyen Hue Phong, Duc Hu Ta, Martin Adams, Kevin Albridge, Del Anderson, Louis Barlotti, John Beddows, Patrick Benn, Steve Boucher, Adrian Bush, Tony Carey, Gary Cheeseman, Wayne Clark, Chris Cornibert, Danny Cornibert, John Curtis, John Davis, Harry Davies, Kevin Day, Gordon Duncan, Phil Elmer, Colin Elvis;
Production year: 1987;
Genre: drama, war;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 116 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,3;
More information about the film “Full Metal Jacket” on the website imdb.com
“The Hurt Locker”, 2008
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
This film, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, follows an elite bomb disposal team in Iraq as they navigate the dangers of their job amidst the backdrop of the U.S. invasion. It delves into themes of addiction to war and the psychological toll of military service.
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Christian Camargo, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes, David Morse, Sam Spruell, Christopher Sayegh, Evangeline Lilly, Suhail Dabbach, Nabil Koni, Sam Redford, Feisal Sadoun, Barrie Rice, Imad Dadudi, Erin Gann, Justin Campbell, Malcolm Barrett, Kristoffer Ryan Winters, J.J. Kandel, Ryan Tramont, Hani Al Naimi, Hasan Darwish, Wasfi Amour, Nibras Qassem, Ben Thomas, Nader Tarawneh, Anas Wellman, Omar Mario, Fleming Campbell, Mark Behar, Tommy Dallace, Jeffrey Feingold, Jerry Fortuna, David Gueriera, Samantha Kelly, Joseph Martinus, Kate Mines, Meera Nandlal, Yousef Shweihat;
Production year: 2008;
Genre: thriller, drama, war, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 126 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
“No End in Sight”, 2007
Director: Charles Ferguson
A documentary that examines the Iraq War and the U.S. occupation, providing a critical look at the decisions made by the U.S. government and military that led to the ongoing conflict and chaos in the region.
Starring: Campbell Scott, Gerald Burke, Ali Fadhil, Omar Fekeiki, Robert Hutchings, Paul Hughes, Marc Garlasco, George Tenet, James Bamford, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, Colin Powell, Samantha Power, Feisal Istrabadi, George Packer, Joost Hiltermann, Ahmad Chalabi, Lawrence DiRita, Barry Posen, Lawrence Wilkerson, Seth Moulton, David Yancey, Hugo Gonzalez, Chris Allbritton, General Jay Garner, David McKiernan, James Fallows, Nir Rosen, Paul Eaton, Robert Perito, Paul Bremer, Walter Slocombe, Amazia Baram, Yaroslav Trofimov, Ray Jennings, Linda Bilmas, Ann Gildroy, Sergio Vieira de Mello, Jamal Benomar, Mahmoud Othman, Paul Pillar, Zalmay Khalilzad, Robert Gates, Aida Ussayran, Matt Sherman, Ashton Carter;
Production year: 2007;
Genre: documentary, war;
Duration: 102 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,2;
More information about the film “No End in Sight” on the website imdb.com
“American Sniper”, 2014
Director: Clint Eastwood
Directed by Clint Eastwood, this biographical war film follows the life of Chris Kyle, a U.S. Navy SEAL sniper. While it portrays Kyle's heroism, it also raises questions about the moral implications of the U.S. military's actions abroad.
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Kyle Gallner, Cole Konis, Ben Reed, Elise Robertson, Luke Sunshine, Troy Vincent, Brandon Salgado Telis, Keir O'Donnell, Marnette Patterson, Billy Miller, Leonard Roberts, Jason Walsh, Reynaldo Gallegos, Kevin Lacz, Jake McDorman, Cory Hardrict, Eric Ladin, Brando Eaton, James Ryen, Luke Grimes, Jonathan Kowalsky, Shane Habberstad, Sammy Sheik, Kevin Ryan, Evan Gamble, Benjamin Mathes, Tim Griffin, Luis Jose Lopez, Brian Hallisay, Erik Aude, Jad Mhidi Senhaji, Navid Negahban, Fehd Benchemsi, Eric Close, Zack Duhame, Mido Hamada, Kathe E. Mazur, Sam Jaeger, Chance Kelly, Ryan Sadaghiani, Ayman Samman, Assaf Cohen, Fahim Fazli, Salah Salea, Hector Bucio, Aidan McGraw, Jonathan Groff;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: action, drama, war, biography;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 132 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “American Sniper” on the website imdb.com
“Born on the Fourth of July”, 1989
Director: Oliver Stone
This film, based on the life of Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic, portrays his transformation from a patriotic soldier to an anti-war activist, highlighting the disillusionment that can arise from U.S. military actions abroad.
Starring: Tom Cruise, Willem Dafoe, Kyra Sedgwick, Raymond J. Barry, Jerry Levine, Frank Whaley, John Getz, Bob Gunton, Mark Moses, Bryan Larkin, Caroline Kava, Josh Evans, Seth Allen, Jamie Talisman, Sean Stone, Anne Bobby, Jenna von Oÿ, Samantha Larkin, Erika Geminder, Amanda Davis, Kevin Harvey Morse, David Warshofsky, Jason Gedrick, Michael Compotaro, Paul Abbott, Bill Allen, William Baldwin, Claude Brooks, Michael Guess, James Le Gros, William Mapother, Christopher W. Mills, Byron Minns, Ben Wright, Markus Flanagan, R.D. Call, John Falch, Dan Furnad, Fred Geise, Greg Hackbarth, Donald Wilson, Jessica Prunell, Jason Klein, Lane R. Davis, Richard Panebianco, Johnny Pinto, Rob Camilletti, J.R. Nutt, Stephen Baldwin, Philip Amelio;
Production year: 1989;
Genre: drama, war, biography;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 145 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,2;
More information about the film “Born on the Fourth of July” on the website imdb.com
“Generation Kill”, 2008
Director: Susanna White, Simon Cellan Jones
A miniseries that follows a group of U.S. Marines during the initial invasion of Iraq. It offers a raw portrayal of the realities of war, the soldiers’ experiences, and the complexities of U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts.
Starring: Alexander Skarsgård, James Ransone, Lee Tergesen, Stark Sands, Billy Lush, Eric Nenninger, Kellan Lutz, Jon Huertas, Rudy Reyes, Jonah Lotan, Wilson Bethel, Pawel Szajda, Marc Menchaca, Rey Valentin, Mike Figueroa, Rich McDonald, Eric Ladin, Chance Kelly, Brian Wade, Neal Jones, Michael Kelly, David Barrera, Benjamin Busch, Owain Yeoman, J. Salome Martinez, Nabil Elouhabi, Langley Kirkwood, Stefan Otto, Sal Alvarez, Daniel Fox, Bjorn Steinbach, Sydney Hall, Justin Shaw, Sean Brosnan, Theo Landey, Kyle Siebert, Jeffrey John Carisalez, Darron Meyer, Eric Kocher, Denton Douglas, Josh Barrett, Robert John Burke, Henk Pretorius, Aziz Khacham, Daniel Janks, Leyla Haidarian, Issam Ammi, Danie Struwig, Abdelkrim Ouasmi, Fouad Chahab;
Production year: 2008;
Genre: drama, war;
Age: 18+;
Rating: IMDB: 8,5;
“The Constant Gardener”, 2005
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Based on John le Carré's novel, this film explores corporate imperialism and the exploitation of Africa by Western pharmaceutical companies, reflecting on the broader implications of U.S. economic policies abroad.
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Hubert Koundé, Danny Huston, Archie Panjabi, Bill Nighy, Pete Postlethwaite, Gerard McSorley, Donald Sumpter, Richard McCabe, Daniele Harford, Packson Ngugi, Damaris Itenyo Agweyu, Bernard Otieno Oduor, Keith Pearson, John Sibi-Okumu, Nick Reding, Juliet Aubrey, Jacqueline Maribe, Donald Apiyo, Samuel Otage, Anneke Kim Sarnau, Mumbi Kaigwa, John Moller, Andre Leenheer, Lydia M. Manyasi, Steenie Njoroge, Stuart Wheeler, Chris Payne, Nyajima Jial, Brigid M. Kakenyi, Katherine Damaris, Christopher Okinda, Ainea Ojiambo, Peter King Nzioki, Ng'ang'a Kirumburu, Ben Parker, John Keogh, Rupert Simonian, Teresa Harder, Thomas Chemnitz, Joe Christopher Rhode, Edgar Nicholas Rhode, Eva Plackner, Claire Simpson, Sidede Onyulo, Chris Lightburn-Jones, Ann Achan, Dang Wuor Dew;
Production year: 2005;
Genre: thriller, drama, melodrama, detective;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 123 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “The Constant Gardener” on the website imdb.com
“Hotel Rwanda”, 2004
Director: Terry George
While primarily focused on the Rwandan genocide, this film indirectly critiques the lack of U.S. intervention in the crisis, highlighting the moral failures of Western powers in the face of suffering and instability.
Starring: Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte, Cara Seymour, Joaquin Phoenix, Jean Reno, Fana Mokoena, David O'Hara, Tony Kgoroge, Desmond Dube, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Leleti Khumalo, Antonio David Lyons, Mosa Kaiser, Mduduzi Mabaso, Xolani Mali, Rosie Motene, Neil McCarthy, Mabutho «Kid» Sithole, Jeremiah Ndlovu, Lebo Mashile, Kgomotso Seitshohlo, Lerato Mokgotho, Mathabo Pieterson, Ofentse Modiselle, Lennox Mathabathe, Mothusi Magano, Noxolo Maqashalala, Thulani Nyembe, Simo Mogwaza, Mirriam Ngomani, Harriet Lenabe, Roberto Citran, Sonni Chidiebere, Thomas Kariuki, Sibusiso Mhlongo, Ashleigh Tobias, Eugene Khumbanyiwa;
Production year: 2004;
Genre: drama, war, biography, history;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 121 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
More information about the film “Hotel Rwanda” on the website imdb.com
These films together create a multifaceted narrative around U.S. imperialism, examining its impacts on both the invaded countries and the soldiers sent to enforce American dominance.
The selection of films about US imperialism offers a thought-provoking and multifaceted exploration of the complex and often controversial role of the United States in global affairs. From gritty war dramas to introspective documentaries, these films provide a platform for critical reflection on the impact of US imperialism on individuals, societies, and geopolitical landscapes. They challenge viewers to confront uncomfortable truths and engage in meaningful conversations about power, privilege, and the human cost of imperialism. Through their diverse narratives and compelling characters, these films invite audiences to consider the far-reaching implications of US imperialism, making them an essential part of cinematic discourse on this significant and timely subject.
