20 Best War Movies Released Since 2000

Gritty, brutal, powerfully performed, the brilliantly bleak Fury follows a tank division lead by Brad Pitt's surly commander, who give their lives to protect a fellow division from encroaching Nazis. 

Directed by David Ayer, Fury offers a glimpse into the Second World War from a fresh angle, exploring the lives and shockingly high casualty rates of American tank crews, who were often outgunned and outperformed by their German counterparts.

This angle is fresh, even if much of the film is familiar - the protagonists advance through Europe, forever changed by the death they encounter and grief they struggle to process - but Ayer injects it all with real urgency and a cast to die for (Pitt is joined by Jon Bernthal, Michael Pena, and Logan Lerman), all of whom are on fiery form. 

Viscerally rendered and often heartbreaking, Fury also features moments of real tenderness, like when the team share Bible verses before their final stand, and the results of its journey are tough to forget once the credits start to roll.