As Americans celebrate 248 years of independence today, let’s celebrate some of the best American movies ever made. Criteria for this can be pretty loose, but we’ll focus on what films best sum up the American experience.
1.Forrest Gump – One of the most successful films from the 90s, Tom Hanks portrayal of Forrest Gump produced easily one of the greatest American films of all-time.
As Forrest finds himself at key moments throughout American history, his character and the overall story represents a true underdog story. And if folks remember correctly, underdogs are what helped America break free from the rule of a King.
- Rambo First Blood – One of Sylvester Stallone’s most famous roles, Rambo First Blood tells the story of a Vietnam veteran who returned home from an awful war, only to feel discarded by society.
While it may not be the most pleasant American experience, not all American experiences have been pleasant. It’s been a complex and challenging pursuit of the perfect union, and sending men off to seemingly pointless wars has been part of that.
In Rambo, John Rambo finds himself at war with the local sheriff after he arrives in town to look for an old friend. This confrontation is central to one of the eighties’ most iconic movies.
- Independence Day – Literally named after the 4th of July, it wouldn’t feel right to leave this movie off the list, despite the fact that it’s about fighting off an alien invasion of Earth.
Will Smith and Bill Paxton turned into classic performances for this most beloved movie. Sure it may not be a premise rooted in Americana outright but it certainly reflects the American spirit as humanity comes together to repel the alien forces and save the day.
- Band Of Brothers – Speaking of humanity coming together to repel evil, Band Of Brothers has to make the list given its historical value of being one of the most successful WW2 war docuseries ever produced.
Depicting the heroics of Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, U.S. Army, Band Of Brothers was a great vehicle to showcase the sacrifices and efforts made by allied troops during WW2. It also showcased the value of great effort and attention to detail from a filmmaking perspective, winning it numerous Emmys.Emma’s.
- Tombstone – A list of best American movies wouldn’t be complete without something from the wild west, and since a Will Smith film was already listed, we can’t just end easily with Wild Wild West.
Fortunately, Tombstone exists. Based on the series of the events leading up to the
shootout at the O.K. Corral, Tombstone is a timeless piece of American entertainment and cinema. Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, and Sam Elliot (among others) turned in legendary performances that honored the likes of American western icons like Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday.
