Recently, director Edward Berger has garnered attention for his Oscar-nominated movieConclave,which means now is as good a time as any to reflect on Berger’s last (and better) success,All Quiet on the Western Front.Berger is a German director who has spent most of his career since the 1990s making successful German films. However, in 2022, he made a splash in Hollywood with his adaptation of the1929 Erich Maria Remarque novel,All Quiet on the Western Front.This film won Berger various prestigious awards, and could be considered one of the best modern war movies to date.
Since cinema’s beginnings, war movies have been a staple of the entertainment industry. From the propaganda films of the 1930s and 1940s to unforgettable classics likeSchindler’s ListtoApocalypse Now,war movies have fascinated audiences and had a decades-long impact that other movie genres can’t always compete with.In the late 2010s and 2020s, a number of war films have revived the genreand stood out as potential classics, fromDunkirkto1917.However,All Quiet on the Western Frontmay bethe modern war movie that does it betterthan anyone else.
This Is Netflix’s One Truly Great War Movie
All Quiet On The Western Front Is Better Than Other Netflix War Movies
Produced by Netflix,All Quiet on the Western Frontis undoubtedly the streaming service’s best war movie. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has 90% ratings from both critics and audiences, and has a Certified Fresh badge of honor. Reviewers praised the film for its masterful cinematography, its brutal realism, and its dedication to presenting war as a horrifying catastrophe rather than a time for honor or glory. From the stunning performances to the haunting set pieces,All Quiet on the Western Frontcompletely immerses audiences in its grim war setting.
10 Best World War 2 Dramas On Netflix
Netflix has no shortage of fantastic World War II dramas that cover a wide range of stories about real historical figures and important moments.
Over the years, Netflix has produced numerous war movies, including Spike Lee’sDa 5 Bloods,and more recently,The Six-Triple Eight.While these movies certainly aren’t bad,they fail to reach the heights thatAll Quiet on the Western Frontdoes. The movie is so rooted in its setting and themes that it never falls into war movie clichés such as corny inspirational sentiments. Viewers will never doubt that this is an anti-war movie, and like1917,the filmmaking allows audiences to be right there in the midst of the action in a truly terrifying and gripping way.
A Lot Of The Best War Movies Do The Same Thing
How All Quiet On The Western Front Compares To The Best Modern War Movies
As it turns out, the key toAll Quiet on the Western Front’ssuccess is an element that is apparent in just about every great war movie. This element is the true terror of war. While older war movies intended to inspire audiences with stories of amazing heroes and valiant fights,modern war movies often leave this trend behind in favor of darker, more realistic stories. These movies are not only more truthful about the realities of war, but they also allow viewers to connect far more deeply with the characters because they appear more human.
Rather than trying to raise hope or telling an unbelievable true story, Berger’s movie pulls back the curtain on war.
Ultimately,All Quiet on the Western Frontnails this sense of awful realism. Rather than trying to raise hope or telling an unbelievable true story, Berger’s movie pulls back the curtain on war. LikeSaving Private Ryan’sopening scene in NormandyorAtonement’ssingle-shot reenactment of the Dunkirk retreat,All Quiet on the Western Frontprioritizes horror over everything else, and it works. If anything, this 2022 movie is a perfect example of how war movies have drastically changed in the modern era. Clearly, these developments have been for the better based on critical ratings.
All Quiet On The Western Front Is A War Story That Keeps Working
Berger’s Movie Future Explained
In some ways, it isn’t entirely surprising thatAll Quiet on the Western Frontbecame so successful back in 2022.This is a war story that has never faltered since its conceptionin the late 1920s. From the original novel to its various on-screen adaptations in 1930, 1979, and 2022,All Quiet on the Western Fronthas consistently compelled audienceswith its heartbreaking story of loss and trauma. Of course, Berger definitely deserves praise for how he handled this iconic story, but in general, this is a tale that cannot be beaten.
Three years after its release, audiences may be wondering if Berger will ever make something likeAll Quiet on the Western Frontagain. At the moment, the answer seems to be no.Berger’s 2024 movie,Conclave,is quite different fromAll Quiet on the Western Front,focusing on religious politics rather than violence. Furthermore, Berger’s next movie, 2025’sThe Ballad of a Small Player,will follow a gambler and a con artist seeking refuge in China. Thus, those who loveAll Quiet on the Western Frontshould try revisiting the movie rather than waiting for something similar to premiere.
