10 Incredible War Movies About Doomed Missions

When it comes to war movies, there are arguably few entries that can give Peter Berg's Lone Survivor a run for its money when it comes to brutal realism or emotional heft. Boasting an ensemble cast spearheaded by Mark Wahlberg as the eponymous Navy SEAL marksman, Marcus Luttrell, the well-received 2013 outing serves as a dramatization of the ill-fated Operation Red Wings.

A disastrous real-life reconnaissance mission that took place during the War in Afghanistan, this tragic confrontation cost the lives of 19 American soldiers in July 2005.

In the first instance, Luttrell's entire team were dispatched in a vicious gunfight on the unforgiving slopes of the Afghan mountains after giving away their position. Tragically still, an even larger number of soldiers were killed in a subsequent rescue attempt after a Taliban RPG brought down their helicopter.

Given the poignant tale of sacrifice and survival against the odds that inspired Berg's efforts, Lone Survivor succeeds in its primary objective and then some. This adrenaline-fuelled war drama pays respectful tribute to the memory of the soldiers who inspired the movie, while painting a jaw-dropping portrait of the courage, resilience and physical capabilities associated with the SEALs. As such, it's easy to forgive some of the film's more obvious drawbacks when it comes to historical accuracy or character development.