Published: July 10, 2023
Top 10 Movies About Real-Life American Heroes
It’s so important to celebrate heroism during trying political times. These movies honor American heroes who put their lives on the line for their fellow citizens. From brave soldiers taking on undercover missions to women stepping up to change the course of history for our country, these are the best of the best. Parents should use extreme caution even for older teens and adults because of mature and violent content.
SOUND OF FREEDOM
SOUND OF FREEDOM follows the inspiring true story of Tim Ballard, a former government agent who puts his life on the line to rescue hundreds of children from sex trafficking. It features a very strong Christian, moral worldview in a story about a man who sacrifices his safety and well-being to save hundreds of children. MOVIEGUIDE® advises strong and extreme caution for the movie’s mature subject matter, some implied and depicted violence, implied abuse of children, and a drug use scene. SOUND OF FREEDOM is gripping and heartbreaking, but hope-giving.
Full Review ⇾
AMERICAN SNIPER
AMERICAN SNIPER tells the story of Chris Kyle, the most successful sniper in U.S. military history. A psychiatrist helps Chris to deal with his extreme psychological pain by helping others. Based on a true story, this film is full of strong Christian faith, self-sacrifice and patriotism. That said, after countless killings, even the audience may become war-weary, and some of the minor characters who lose faith and courage will resonate with some audience members. AMERICAN SNIPER is not an easy movie for sensitive viewers.
Full Review ⇾
HACKSAW RIDGE
HACKSAW RIDGE is a great, emotive, powerful, touching Christian war movie, superbly directed by Mel Gibson, about true-life hero Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), a courageous conscientious objector who serves as an unarmed medic during the brutal battle of Okinawa in World War II. The film features an extremely strong Christian, biblical worldview with a man being willing to lay down his life even for his enemies. HACKSAW RIDGE is truly a great movie, but there’s lots of strong, bloody violence and some foul language; so, strong caution is advised.
Full Review ⇾
THE 15:17 TO PARIS
Based on a true story, THE 15:17 TO PARIS shows the lives of three good friends, Alek, Anthony and Spenser, who go on an adventure that sends them into a dangerous, life-changing crisis. The real men play themselves. They do a great job acting, especially considering that it’s their first role. THE 15:17 TO PARIS has a moral, prophetic Christian worldview promoting sacrifice, but it does have some scenes that demand caution. The movie stresses that God’s purpose in our lives is to help and love others.
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LONE SURVIVOR
LONE SURVIVOR is an inspiring, gut-wrenching true story based on SEAL Team 10’s failed mission in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005. It features a strong moral worldview including references to God and Jesus. It has very strong patriotic content extolling patriotism, courage, and sacrifice. The film is expertly made and incredibly gripping. Mark Wahlberg as real-life survivor Marcus Luttrell does a great job. That said, LONE SURVIVOR is full of vulgar language and the violence is at times overwhelmingly blunt and gruesome. MOVIEGUIDE® advises strong and extreme caution.
Full Review ⇾
HIDDEN FIGURES
HIDDEN FIGURES is an engaging, encouraging, uplifting movie about three African-American women in the 1960s, who contributed to the NASA program during the Space Race with Russia. It’s a little-known story, but one that honors women who served their country in amazing ways. The movie encourages a positive moral perspective supporting our God-given liberty and basic civil rights. There are multiple light obscenities, some politically correct content and misuse of Jesus’s name. Because of this, caution is advised for older children for HIDDEN FIGURES.
Full Review ⇾
13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI
13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI is about a group of former military personnel hired by the CIA to protect a secret compound in Benghazi, Libya. On Sept. 11, 2012, a Muslim terrorist attack occurs on the ambassador’s outpost. The chief refuses to let the military rescue the ambassador, but the team goes anyway. The movie contains a strong mixed worldview, including a recitation of New Age Buddhist Joseph Campbell. 13 HOURS is a conservative call to restore patriotism, but the negative content and the mixed belief systems of the heroes demand extreme caution.
Full Review ⇾
HARRIET
HARRIET is a powerful and entertaining true story about a slave in the South before the Civil War named “Minty” who became Harriet Tubman, the woman who saved hundreds of slaves and brought them to freedom. It contains a very strong Christian, moral worldview with characters looking to God for answers, praying and getting direction from the Holy Spirit. Some scenes are very intense, and there is violence and harsh language, which warrants some caution. HARRIET the movie shows that Jesus does miracles, gets us through hard times and fights for us when needed.
Full Review ⇾
SULLY
SULLY is a powerful and true story about the airline pilot who safely landed 175 people in the Hudson River in January 2009. Afterward, however, government bureaucrats start to accuse Capt. Sully so they can have a scapegoat to blame for the crash. The movie chronicles the inquisition and persecution of Sully and his truthful, responsible response. There are references to miracles and some references to faith and prayer, but these aren’t the movie’s focus. Caution is advised for older children because of some foul language and brief air-crash violence.
Full Review ⇾
ZERO DARK THIRTY
ZERO DARK THIRTY is an extremely well-made, very powerful movie about the killing of Usama bin Ladin, the leader of Al Qaeda, the Muslim terror group that attacked New York City in 2001 and later bombed London and Madrid. The film is very patriotic and makes President Obama’s lax interrogation policies look naïve. It contains a Light Christian worldview and is very Pro-American, very pro-military, and very Pro-CIA. That said, there’s a lot of military violence, interrogation violence in ZERO DARK THIRTY. Also, there’s a lot of strong foul language. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution.
Full Review ⇾
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
