Journalist Films To Watch - If you liked Civil War (2024)

Civil War (2024) is a journalism film rather that a film exploring a second US Civil War. This peace is for people that want more about journalist and are interested in that part of the film and want more. 

For those that want to explore a second US Civil War in a film I have written an article about this subject (in 2021 and updated it in 2024) Films about a Second US Civil War  - Updated. It has what I could find.

All The President's Men (1976) 

Washington Post reporters Woodward and Bernstein uncover and report on the Watergate scandals which lead to President Nixon resigning. Based All The President’s Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward [First published in 1974].

Under Fire (1983)
Set in 1979 during the last days of the Somoza Government in Nicaragua. Photojournalist Russell Price, TV Reporter Alex Grazier, Print Reporter Claire Stryder are part of the press core in country. The three have history and a love triangle which causes tension between them. As the war gets closer to ending Russell loses objectivity and supports the rebels with staging of an important leader still being alive. Resulting in Russell and those helping him becoming targets of Somoza's supporters. 

The Killing Fields (1984)
Based on the book The Death and Life of Dith Pran by Sydney Schanberg [First Published in 1985]. During the Cambodian Civil War between The Cambodian National Army and the Communist Khmer Rouge. Journalists Sydney Schanberg and Dith Pran meet while working for the New York Times. When Dith Pran is captured and by the Khmer Rouge and sent to a labor and reeducation camp where he survives and seeks to escape. While this is happening Sydney Schanberg works on a campaign to free Dith Pran and reunite him with his family in the US. 

Salvador (1986)
Based on a true story photojournalist Richard Boyle and his friend Dr. Rock drive down to El Salvador during the early days of the Salvadorian Civil War. In covering events and people involved in the war.  Various parties try to use Richard Boyle for their needs while he tries to protect and get his girlfriend Maria a local citizen out of the country. 

Welcome to Sarajevo (1997)
Based on the book Welcome to Sarajevo: Natasha's Story by Michael Nickelson [First Published in 1994] Two journalist Michael Henderson and Jimmy Flynn go to report on the Boasian War in 1992 the two try to beat each other to the best and most newsworthy stories. Until Jimmy decides to help a young orphan girl leave the country changing his life and those around him. 

Live from Baghdad (2002)
Based on the book Live from Baghdad: Making Journalism History From Behind the Lines by Robert Wiener [First Published in 1992]. In 1990 CNN Executive Producer Robert Weiner assembles a team to report on Iraq and the Persian Gulf War. 

War Stories (2003)
TV pilot movie about experienced Journalist Ben Dansmore and a rookie photojournalist Nore Stone as they are paired up to cover a war in the Middle East. 

A look at Military Basic Training, Officer Candidate School, and or Advanced Training.

This is a look at going though Basic Training, Officer Candidate School, and or Advanced Training.

Annapolis (2006)
Jake Huard a boy from a poor family is accepted to the US Naval Academy. He is near the bottom of the class with grades and discipline but manages to improve and finish his first year. 

An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
Zack Mayo has been accepted into the US Navy Aviation Officer Candidate School. Zack is cocky and looks out for himself first. As he goes through the training, he clashes with a Gunnery Sergeant; falls for a local girl and becomes an officer and a gentleman. 

Biloxi Blues (1988)
Set during the final years of WWII A group of young recruits is sent for boot camp training in Biloxi Mississippi based on the play Biloxi Blues by Neil Simon. 

The Boys in Company C (1978)
Set in 1967 five young men become friends as they begin marine boot camp together and are sent to fight in The Vietnam War.  

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Steve Rodgers a reject from the US Military participates in a super soldier experiment. By doing this he becomes Captain America and fights against the Red Skull and his organization during WWII. 

C.P.O. Sharkley (1976-1978)
Chief Petty Officer Otto Sharkley is a career Navy man stationed in at a training base in San Diego, CA. At the base he labors to train a company of recruits into professional sailors.

Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Inspired by the novel The Short Timers by Gustav Hasford [First Published in 1979] The film James T Davis aka Joker going through Marine basic training at Paris Island South Carolina under Drill Instructor Gunnery Sergeant Hartman. After training the story continues with Private Joker (Davis) becomes a military journalist and sees various action in Vietnam.

Glory (1989)
Based on the true story of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the Massachusetts one of the first black company of soldiers in the US Army. Colonel Shaw trains a group of black volunteers from civilians to professional soldiers in their first battle during the US Civil War. 

The Guardian (2006) 
Fictional story about the US Coast Guard: Search and Rescue training. Experienced sailor Ben Randall is tasked with training class of rescue swimmers including Jack Fisher a young hot shot rookie into a professional Sailor and rescue swimmers.

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
Based on the true story of Medal of Honor recipient Desmond T Doss an army medic. It shows the challenges he faced for keeping his vow to never using a weapon, going through basic training and how he pulled at least 75 men to safety in one of the bloodiest battlefields in WWII. 

Heartbreak Ridge (1986)
Set in 1983 Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Highway in the US Marine Corp is assigned to Cherry Point North Carolina to train a reconnaissance platoon. Once there finds the platoon not fighting ready, as well as clashing with a Major Powers who sees him as old fashioned. Things change when the US goes to war with Grenada. 

In The Army Now (1994)
Two best friends enlist in the US Army Reserves for some extra money and the one weekend a month two weeks a year commitment. They two of them complete boot camp and then their MOS training and are ready to go back to regular life only to be called to active service in a foreign country. 

Legionnaire (1998) 
Set in 1925 Alain Lefevre a professional boxer gets in to trouble with the mob and joins the French Foreign Legion as a way to escape. He goes through training, bonds with his fellow Legionnaires and is sent to Morocco. While he is going through this the mob learns of his whereabouts, they send men to kill him. So, he has to face danger from within and without. 

Mulan (1998) (2020)
Inspired by the Chinese myth when the Emperor of China calls conscripts an army that would require her father or another male from the family. Mulan disguises herself as a boy and fills the Emperor’s requirement. Goes to boot camp and helps defeat the Hun invaders. 

The Navy Way (1944) 
A group of recruits and how they to go through the US Navy BootCamp. 

Our Girl (2013-2020)
In the first season Molly Dawes joins the British Army as a medic. She goes through training and sees action overseas in Afghanistan. The later season focus on a different medic different medic and her tours, missions and adventures in different parts of the world. 

Private Benjerman (1980)
After, Judy Benjerman's husband dies, she hears a recruitment pitch from an army recruiter and decides to enlist. She faces struggles through boot camp and has a promising career ahead of her until while serving overseas she gets romantically involved with a communist. 

Private Valentine: Blonde and Dangerous (2008)
Megan Valentine is a movie star that is limited in her roles and is having trouble with her career. She ends up enlisting in the US Army. She gets through basic and creates new opportunities for her career.

Renaissance Man (1994)
Businessman Bill Rago is in need of money takes a job as a teacher for the US Army. His assignment is to teach under achieving recruits pass basic and become soldiers.

Starship Troopers (1997)
Inspired by the novel Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein [First Published in 1959] Set in the 23^rd Century this is a Propaganda film about wealthy Johnny Rico as he joins the military for a girl goes through boot-camp to be a Mobil Infantryman and works his way up the ranks enlisted to officer as he fights in or is linked to the most important events and battles during the Earth Arachnid War. 

Strips (1981)
Two out of shape friends with bad jobs and no girlfriends decide to enlist in the US Army. They are laced in a platoon of other less than ideal recruits. When their Drill Sergeant is incapacitated, the guys pull together graduate and are sent on an overseas mission. Where they get involved in an international incident, they become heroes. 

There's Something About a Solider (1943)
Five soldiers from different backgrounds go to Camp Davis, North Carolina for Officers Candidates School compete with each other for command slots and for the local girls.

Tigerland (2000)
Set in 1971 a group of recruits is sent to Fort Polk, Louisiana for Advanced Infantry training before going to Vietnam. 

Ten Gentlemen From West Point (1942)
Set in the early 19^th Century Congress is debating on closing the academy; they decide to have it a one-year trail. When war breaks out the Cadets prove themselves and their worth. 

Top Gun (1986)
US Navy Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell is a daredevil Ace Fighter pilot that gets a place in the Top Gun School. There he works to be the best of the best, out do his father, and overcome personal tragedy after his best friend dies in an accident. 

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Set 30 years after the events of the first film Pete "Maverick" Mitchell is now a Captain. When he is assigned to train a group of the pilots that the US Navy and Top Gun have to offer on what may be a suicide mission into enemy territory. As he does this, he faces mistakes and demons from his past to get his students back home.  

Yomigaeru Sora - Rescue Wings (2006) 
An anime series of the search and rescue wing of the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) Through the eyes of a young helicopter pilot new to the unit. 

Films about a Second US Civil War - Updated

There are a lot of articles about the US splitting and becoming two countries and how Democrats and or Republicans or some other group, faction, organization is dangerous, evil and must be delt with by any means possible. With the end result most likely resulting in a second Civil War. So, I created a list of movies that explore a Second Civil War within the US. - 2021

With the new Civil War movie, I updated a few things. With a civil war the other side is always scary while your side is the oppressed victims. - 2024.   

One day I expect somebody will create a film that really explores a Second US Civil War. Which is a subject that has a lot of interest. Until then this is what I could find which includes a few kind of related or symbolic works with varied degrees of relevance. I hope that Hollywood creates a film or TV series that gives you what you really want. Until then this is what is available.   

The Second Civil War (1997)
After skirmish creates orphan refuges; an NGO decides to send them to Idaho however the Governor closes his state. The US President chooses to reopen the state by any means necessary. Resulting in a civil war. While this is happening the media feeds and helps escalate tensions.   

Civil War (2024) 
When 19 US States succeed from the US this sparks a new Civil War. A group of journalists from different parts of the country travel report and document what is happening with glimpses of the major urban battle fronts to the rural, and refugee areas. 

Barb Wire (1996) 
Inspired by Casablanca (1942) The basic plots of the story are the same. During a second US Civil War a woman going by the name Barb Wire owns and operates a politically natural night club in the last free city state in the US. While also operating as a soldier of fortune. One day her married ex comes to ask for help getting his wife and some plans and information out of the country. 

Captain America: Civil War (2016)
After a series of tragic disasters as seen in the earlier movies. The US, and other Government have creating laws to oversee and control The Avengers, superhumans/superheroes. This splits the team into two groups one that believes that government oversite and control is for the public good while the other group believes that personal freedom less government involvement is for the greater good. 

Jerrico (2006-2008) 
After 23 major cities in the US are destroyed the town of Jericho, Kansas is largely unaffected due to it isolated location, small size and its location near natural resources. The series mainly focus on the town and the people that live there. Various groups, and factions are fighting over who is in control of the country. 

Bushwick (2017)
Texas along with several other states decide to succeed from the union. In doing this a war breaks out with New York becoming a battlefield.  The story is told from the point of view of a college student and a janitor/former military veteran try to survive and make it so safety. 

The Purge (2013), The Purge: Anarchy (2014), The Purge: Election Year (2016), The First Purge (2018), The Purge (TV series) (2018-2019), The Forever Purge (2021) 
Set in the future has the US has been taken over by a group called The New Founding Fathers. To cut down on crime, poverty and those that need/use social services. All crime is legal for 12 hours. The movies and TV series show various people of different backgrounds, status, and classes deal with and are affected by the events of that night.  

Hoover Vs The Kennedy’s: The Second Civil War (1987) Miniseries on the feud between FBI Director J Edgar Hoover and the Kennedy Family. Starting at the 1960 Democratic Convention and ending with the death of Robert Kennedy in 1968. 

The Patriot (1998) 
Inspired by the novel The Last Canadian by William C. Heine [First Published in 1974]. A leader of a militia group is put on trial by the US government. Wanting revenge, he infects the judge presiding over the case with a manmade virus. The virus ends up spreading quickly causing the town to be quarantined. A local immunologist races to find the cure.

The Park is Mine (1985)
Based on the novel The Park is Mine by Stephen Peters [First Published in 1981] Before Veterans Day Mitch Garnett a Vietnam Veteran takes control of Central Park in New York City, New York with mines, guns and booby traps. He has done this to call attention to Veterans Issues. In his demonstration a hostage reporter taken along to document his side of the standoff.

The Chocolate War (1988)
Based on The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier [First published in 1974]. One boy takes on a secret society at a Catholic School by not selling chocolate in the annual chocolate sale. A secret society of students seeks to punish and put the boy back into his place.

Invasion U.S.A. (1985)
A Soviet backed group start to attack and terrorize the US to turn is against each other. However, they failed to kill Chuck Norris and just pissed him off instead. 

Messiah of Evil (1977)
After receiving a letter from her artist father to stay away and that the town of Point Doom, California and that there is a spreading evil in the town. Arletty travels to his house only to find it empty with strange paintings of grey people. She searches for information about her father's whereabouts. While searching she meets other people from out of town that have also heard warnings of a spreading evil. After being kicked out of the hotel they were at they stay at the house as well. The group starts seeing more strange things until the affected people over run the town. Arletty is spared and told to tell the world that they are coming from the small town to the large cities. She does as she is told only to be locked up waiting for them to reach her. 

1984 (1956/1984)                                                     
Based on the novel 1984 by George Orwell [First Published in 1949]. In a future the Earth has been split into Empires. In Oceania one of these three Empires, Winston Smith a man that works for the Ministry of Truth rewriting history, and news to fit the government narrative. One day he meets Julia a woman and falls in love an act of rebellion in itself.  This leads him to become an enemy of the State. 

Fahrenheit 451 (1966) (2018)

Based on Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury [First published in 1953]. Set in the future where books are outlawed a fireman one who sets fire to books and houses that they are hidden in. Rebels and joins a resentence groups who memorize and share the world’s great literature.