10 Best Sniper Movies to Binge in 2023

Snipers have always been more entertaining to watch than any other military unit. Watching one marksman take their time and shoot one bullet can be more thrilling than an entire squad fighting in the field of battle. Unsurprisingly, there have been many movies made about these deadly warriors. To save you time, we took the best sniper movies and put them on one list.

From stories about individuals seeking revenge, to historical war dramas, there is something for everyone here.

Best Sniper Movies to Binge in 2023

In this list, we review the 10 best sniper movies of all time. These are movies that are sure to thrill war movie lovers or just people that like to spend an evening watching a thrilling drama.

So grab some popcorn, sit back, and get ready to be mind-blown by some of the best sniper action that has ever been produced. These are our choices for the best sniper movies of all time.

1. American Sniper (2014)

“American Sniper”, directed by Clint Eastwood, tells the true story of Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL sniper who killed nearly 200 enemy soldiers.

The film is incredibly violent and emotionally heavy, but it respectfully portrays Chris Kyle as a man, not just a legend. Bradley Cooper gave an excellent performance as Kyle, truly becoming the character.

Eastwood, in his mid-eighties, proved that he can still make outstanding films. American Sniper avoids the cliches of other military movies and tells Kyle’s story as he told it in his book. The film also cleverly examines the parallels between Kyle’s life as a sniper and his struggles at home.

Technically, the film excels with great cinematography and sound design. It’s a powerful cinematic experience that will certainly move you. Overall, “American Sniper” stands at the top of the best sniper movies ever made.

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2. Enemy at the Gates (2001)

“Enemy at the Gates” is a historic sniper war movie set during the Battle of Stalingrad during World War II and is one of the best sniper movies. Although it fictionalizes parts of the story and the love triangle shown in the film, it still paints a fairly accurate picture of the atrocities of war.

The story follows a young and talented Russian sniper named Vassili Zaitsev, played by Jude Law, and his relationship with fellow sniper and love interest, Tania (Rachael Weisz), and the opposing German sniper Erwin Koning (Ed Harris) who is sent to eliminate Vassili.

The film explores the love triangle theme between Vassili, Tania, and Danilov, and the final confrontation between Vassili and Koning is intense, to say the least.

All actors including Bob Hoskins and Ron Perlman give powerful performances, while the cinematography captures the destruction of the war-torn cities effectively. The film score, conducted by James Horner, is a sorrowful reminder of the devastation that people felt during the days of World War II.

“Enemy at the Gates” remains one of the top sniper movies more than twenty years after its release.

3. Shooter (2007)

“Shooter,” tells the story of a patriotic individual, played by Mark Wahlberg, who is betrayed and mistreated by the government he pledged to serve. The movie also features the mistreatment of his pet dog, which makes the story more relatable and gut-wrenching. Despite this, you will not feel depressed watching this movie, as there are many thrilling turns to keep you entertained.

Wahlberg plays the character of Bob Lee Swagger, a skilled Army sniper, who is given the task of planning an assassination, but not carrying it out.

The plot of the movie is filled with action-packed political conspiracy, similar to that of Tom Clancy’s novels like “Clear and Present Danger” and “Patriot Games”, but with a more assertive hero.

The film is shot in Philadelphia, and the city scenery in this movie works very well. If the audience can suspend their disbelief during some more cliche moments in the movie, the movie will keep them engaged from start to finish.

4. The Wall (2017)

In the fourth place of best sniper movies, “The Wall” tells the story of two American soldiers, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and John Cena, who are stranded in Iraq and under attack by an enemy sniper.

The movie was made with a budget of $3 million and directed by Doug Liman and written by Dwain Worrell. The movie received mostly positive reviews from critics, but it had limited attention in movie theaters.

The story follows Staff Sergeant Shane Matthews and Sergeant Allen Isaac, who are sent to investigate shootings at a pipeline construction site in the Iraqi desert. After 22 hours, Matthews determines the site is clear but as he approaches the bodies, he is shot by an unseen Iraqi sniper and Isaac is also shot and trapped behind a collapsing wall. As the sniper converses with Matthews over a military radio, a psychological showdown develops between the two men.

The film has a great premise, a talented cast, and a decent director but it isn’t particularly thrilling or exciting. It definitely deserves a spot among other good sniper movies and is worth watching if you are a fan of the genre.

5. The American (2010)

“The American” is a character-driven movie about a man who is trying to leave his dangerous profession but is continuously haunted and paranoid.

Directed by Anton Corbijn, the movie operates more as a mood piece than a typical high-energy action flick and is a far cry from the spy thrillers of the ’90s or the regular sniper Hollywood movies.

Starring George Clooney as Jack, the movie follows Jack’s journey as a professional custom rifle builder who is targeted, and on the run from mysterious Swedes, he meets a client Mathilde, and a prostitute Clara and becomes close with them.

The film is characterized by Corbijn’s precise visual style, an excellent command of framing, and a lot is said without any dialogue, the climax is not as high-energy as most audiences would expect but it is a profound and engaging portrayal of the struggles of a man trying to escape his past.

6. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

“Saving Private Ryan” is a military film set during World War II, directed by Steven Spielberg, that follows the story of a group of American soldiers led by Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) who are sent on a mission to find and bring home Private James Ryan (Matt Damon) from the front lines of the war.

The movie starts with the invasion of Normandy on D-Day and as they battle the Germans, they learn of Private Ryan and his situation that his three brothers have been killed in action, and his mother is expected to receive the tragic news. The military sends Captain Miller and his troops to find and bring home Private Ryan as a means of giving his mother closure and comfort.

The film’s theme centers on the bravery and courage of the soldiers who fought in the war and their journey to complete the mission.

“Saving Private Ryan” has some amazing sniper scenes and is one of the few sniper movies on Netflix, even though the movie is not centered around marksmen.

7. Sniper (1993)

When it comes to best sniper movies, “Sniper” must be mentioned. “Sniper” is a film inspired by the real-life exploits of Carlos Hathcock, a legendary US Marine sniper who accumulated a high number of confirmed and unconfirmed kills during his two tours in Vietnam.

The movie follows the story of Sgt. Thomas Beckett, played by Tom Berenger, is at the end of his career as a top sniper, but later in the movie realizes that life as a civilian will be pointless, as he has no other skills outside of being a sniper. Beckett reluctantly accepts his fate as a lifetime professional killer for his country.

The story of the film is focused on Beckett and Agent Richard Miller, and Billy Zane, as they are sent deep inside the Panamanian jungle to take out rebel General Miguel Alveraze and Colombian drug kingpin Raul Ochoa, who are supporting a planned military take-over of the country.

The movie has an interesting subplot about a rebel sniper who was stalking Beckett, but it was later abandoned in the movie. The film’s ending was criticized as it devolved into a Rambo-like finale.

Despite the critique of the last 15 minutes, “Sniper” is still worth watching as it tells the story of a solitary killer who kills with precision and skill, and is one of the best movies about snipers.

8. Targets (1968)

“Targets” is a film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, starring Boris Karloff, Tim O’Kelly, and Bogdanovich himself.

The story is based on the real-life mass murderer Charles Whitman, who killed 16 people during a shooting at the University of Texas in Austin in 1966. Released at a time when the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy were still fresh in people’s minds, the film was timely and relevant, even though it wasn’t a commercial success.

Over the years, it has gained a cult following for its potent and unsettling storytelling. The film has two separate narrative threads: one features Karloff as an aging horror film actor who feels like he’s out of touch with the world, and the other thread follows a young man (O’Kelly) whose mind is about to fracture, leading to a violent end.

The two stories eventually converge in a bloody finale at a drive-in movie theater. Despite some subpar acting around Karloff, the film manages to leave a lasting impression.

9. Jarhead (2005)

“Jarhead” is a Biographical-Drama movie that depicts the training and deployment of a group of Marines who were selected to become snipers and sent to participate in the Gulf War. The film follows the struggles and hardships faced by these soldiers as they cope with feelings of homesickness and missing their loved ones.

The direction by Sam Mendes was excellent, capturing the intense training and the reality of war faced by these soldiers. The performances by the lead actors were noteworthy, particularly Jake Gyllenhaal who played Anthony Swofford, and Jamie Foxx as Staff Sgt. Sykes and Peter Sarsgaard as Alan Troy.

If you’re looking for a different perspective on war movies, without the usual stereotypes, then “Jarhead” might just be what you need.

10. Jack Reacher (2012)

“Jack Reacher” is an intense and gripping modern action thriller that stays true to its source material. The movie is packed with action, but also has a good balance of character development that makes the audience care about the main character’s goals. The film’s unique action scenes set it apart from other films in the genre.

The plot follows the story of Jack Reacher, a former army police officer, who comes out of hiding to help clear the name of an army colleague who has been convicted of murder.

Despite some critics not being impressed by Tom Cruise’s portrayal of Jack Reacher, due to his greatness, Cruise still manages to convey the character’s wit and determination effectively. The supporting cast, including Werner Herzog, and Robert Duvall, also deliver great performances.

Overall, this is a smart and suspenseful action movie. “Jack Reacher” does not disappoint and is definitely one of the best sniper movies on Netflix.

Conclusion

That closes our list of the best sniper movies of all time. While we think these movies are the best ones to binge this year, there are sniper movies that had to be left out. Movies like “Wanted” (2008), “Phone Booth” (2002), and “Three Kings” (1999) all deserve honorable mentions.

Whatever your taste, we think you’ll definitely find a sniper movie that fits your style. Grab some popcorn and enjoy the thrilling action that awaits!