This week, we mark the 71st anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, which suddenly plunged the U.S. into a two-front war. FDR announced our entry into the war with these famous words:
“Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”
The Pacific Theater hasn’t gotten much movie attention over the years, but it’s time to remedy that. There may not be as many movies made about this front of the war, but there’s no time like the present to watch some of my favorites. In addition to the classic Pearl Harbor, I recommend Tora! Tora! Tora!, the original 1976 version of Midway, HBO’s miniseries The Pacific, The Thin Red Line and The Bridge on the River Kwai (link to stream in its entirety below):
Pearl Harbor (2001)
Watch the trailer for Pearl Harbor below:
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)
Watch the trailer for Tora! Tora! Tora! here:
Midway (1976)
Watch the trailer for Midway (the original 1976 version) here:
The Pacific (2010)
Watch the trailer for HBO’s The Pacific here:
The Thin Red Line (1998)
Watch the trailer for The Thin Red Line here:
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
Watch the trailer for The Bridge on the River Kwai here: