Top 10 Cold War Movies

let’s play global thermonuclear war burn

let’s play global thermonuclear war burn the arms race the space race

the arms race the space race

the arms race the space race international espionage and an ongoing

international espionage and an ongoing

international espionage and an ongoing threat of worldwide nuclear destruction

threat of worldwide nuclear destruction

threat of worldwide nuclear destruction the Cold War was as fascinating as it

the Cold War was as fascinating as it

the Cold War was as fascinating as it was frightening don’t you think it’s

was frightening don’t you think it’s

was frightening don’t you think it’s time to recognize there is little worse

time to recognize there is little worse

time to recognize there is little worse on your side as there is on mine making

on your side as there is on mine making

on your side as there is on mine making it the perfect fodder for brilliant

it the perfect fodder for brilliant

it the perfect fodder for brilliant filmmaking welcome to watchmojo.com and

filmmaking welcome to watchmojo.com and

filmmaking welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for

today we’re counting down our picks for

today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 Cold War movies

for this list we picked films that were

for this list we picked films that were either a product of the period or

either a product of the period or

either a product of the period or offered a valuable retrospect of that

offered a valuable retrospect of that

offered a valuable retrospect of that day and age in each case these films

day and age in each case these films

day and age in each case these films aptly reflect the real fears convoluted

aptly reflect the real fears convoluted

aptly reflect the real fears convoluted paranoia and difficult paradoxes that

paranoia and difficult paradoxes that

paranoia and difficult paradoxes that characterized this troubling period in

characterized this troubling period in

characterized this troubling period in our recent history a lot of things going

our recent history a lot of things going

our recent history a lot of things going wrong today it’s making everyone nervous

wrong today it’s making everyone nervous

wrong today it’s making everyone nervous number 10 the Bedford incident good good

number 10 the Bedford incident good good

number 10 the Bedford incident good good very good the Cold War turns hot in the

very good the Cold War turns hot in the

very good the Cold War turns hot in the Arctic Ocean

Arctic Ocean

Arctic Ocean I see photographer Ben munceford boards

I see photographer Ben munceford boards

I see photographer Ben munceford boards the USS Bedford for a feature piece on

the USS Bedford for a feature piece on

the USS Bedford for a feature piece on its captain Eric finlander by the way

its captain Eric finlander by the way

its captain Eric finlander by the way have you ever met Captain Finland do not

have you ever met Captain Finland do not

have you ever met Captain Finland do not yet but when Finn Landers crew detects a

yet but when Finn Landers crew detects a

yet but when Finn Landers crew detects a Soviet sub beyond international

Soviet sub beyond international

Soviet sub beyond international boundaries munceford watches the

boundaries munceford watches the

boundaries munceford watches the hard-line captain come unhinged hunting

hard-line captain come unhinged hunting

hard-line captain come unhinged hunting down the enemy risking his crew and his

down the enemy risking his crew and his

down the enemy risking his crew and his country’s precarious peace

country’s precarious peace

country’s precarious peace Wow gentleness Vall liked it huh loosely

Wow gentleness Vall liked it huh loosely

Wow gentleness Vall liked it huh loosely based on historical events the Bedford

based on historical events the Bedford

based on historical events the Bedford incident demonstrates the danger of

incident demonstrates the danger of

incident demonstrates the danger of giving too much power to one man I’m

giving too much power to one man I’m

giving too much power to one man I’m proud to be an old-fashioned Patriot and

proud to be an old-fashioned Patriot and

proud to be an old-fashioned Patriot and I destroy any enemy if it meant saving

I destroy any enemy if it meant saving

I destroy any enemy if it meant saving my country now what the hell is wrong

my country now what the hell is wrong

my country now what the hell is wrong with that number nine good night and

with that number nine good night and

with that number nine good night and good luck

good luck

good luck let’s walk very carefully through these

let’s walk very carefully through these

let’s walk very carefully through these next few moments this film managed to

next few moments this film managed to

next few moments this film managed to portray television as a tool for

portray television as a tool for

portray television as a tool for education and change we’re gonna go with

education and change we’re gonna go with

education and change we’re gonna go with the story cuz it terrors right here in

the story cuz it terrors right here in

the story cuz it terrors right here in this room Edward our Murrow was the

this room Edward our Murrow was the

this room Edward our Murrow was the intrepid journalist who challenged

intrepid journalist who challenged

intrepid journalist who challenged Senator Joseph McCarthy and his

Senator Joseph McCarthy and his

Senator Joseph McCarthy and his notorious anti-communist witch hunt on

notorious anti-communist witch hunt on

notorious anti-communist witch hunt on his show see it now you know it occurs

his show see it now you know it occurs

his show see it now you know it occurs to me we might not get away with this

to me we might not get away with this

to me we might not get away with this one capturing a small but significant

one capturing a small but significant

one capturing a small but significant moment at the height of the Cold War

moment at the height of the Cold War

moment at the height of the Cold War this film blends historical reenactment

this film blends historical reenactment

this film blends historical reenactment with archival footage to explore the

with archival footage to explore the

with archival footage to explore the complex interrelationships between

complex interrelationships between

complex interrelationships between political ideologues corporate interests

political ideologues corporate interests

political ideologues corporate interests and reporters struggling to fulfill

and reporters struggling to fulfill

and reporters struggling to fulfill their journalistic responsibilities it

their journalistic responsibilities it

their journalistic responsibilities it is necessary to investigate before

is necessary to investigate before

is necessary to investigate before legislating in a period of suspicion

legislating in a period of suspicion

legislating in a period of suspicion uncertainty and fear we shall hope to

uncertainty and fear we shall hope to

uncertainty and fear we shall hope to deal with matters of more vital interest

deal with matters of more vital interest

deal with matters of more vital interest to the country next week good night and

to the country next week good night and

to the country next week good night and good luck

good luck

good luck number 8 failsafe mr. chairman this is

number 8 failsafe mr. chairman this is

number 8 failsafe mr. chairman this is the president of the United States do

the president of the United States do

the president of the United States do you hear me clearly a routine military

you hear me clearly a routine military

you hear me clearly a routine military exercise runs awry and an American

exercise runs awry and an American

exercise runs awry and an American president must make the impossible

president must make the impossible

president must make the impossible choice or face nuclear annihilation

choice or face nuclear annihilation

choice or face nuclear annihilation we’re talking about war I say every war

we’re talking about war I say every war

we’re talking about war I say every war including thermonuclear war must have a

including thermonuclear war must have a

including thermonuclear war must have a winner and a loser which would you

winner and a loser which would you

winner and a loser which would you rather be

rather be

rather be a bonafide classic this Cold War

a bonafide classic this Cold War

a bonafide classic this Cold War thriller depicts the catch-22 scenario a

thriller depicts the catch-22 scenario a

thriller depicts the catch-22 scenario a full-blown warfare between two Cold War

full-blown warfare between two Cold War

full-blown warfare between two Cold War superpowers

superpowers

superpowers we’ve got no alternative released just

we’ve got no alternative released just

we’ve got no alternative released just two years after the Cuban Missile Crisis

two years after the Cuban Missile Crisis

two years after the Cuban Missile Crisis fail-safe depicts the worst-case

fail-safe depicts the worst-case

fail-safe depicts the worst-case scenario of what could have been

scenario of what could have been

scenario of what could have been illustrating that when there’s a nuclear

illustrating that when there’s a nuclear

illustrating that when there’s a nuclear arms build-up any countries failsafe

arms build-up any countries failsafe

arms build-up any countries failsafe will never be safe enough what makes us

will never be safe enough what makes us

will never be safe enough what makes us worth surviving grow deshyla that we are

worth surviving grow deshyla that we are

worth surviving grow deshyla that we are ruthless enough to strike first yes

ruthless enough to strike first yes

ruthless enough to strike first yes those who can survive are the only ones

those who can survive are the only ones

those who can survive are the only ones worth surviving number 7 the spy who

worth surviving number 7 the spy who

worth surviving number 7 the spy who came in from the cold

came in from the cold

came in from the cold Venus based on a spy book that was

Venus based on a spy book that was

Venus based on a spy book that was actually written by a spy I’m an

actually written by a spy I’m an

actually written by a spy I’m an operator control just inaugurated this

operator control just inaugurated this

operator control just inaugurated this film follows secret agent Alec Leamas as

film follows secret agent Alec Leamas as

film follows secret agent Alec Leamas as he stealthily executes an elaborate ruse

he stealthily executes an elaborate ruse

he stealthily executes an elaborate ruse to undermine enemy operations and rescue

to undermine enemy operations and rescue

to undermine enemy operations and rescue a British intelligence officer from

a British intelligence officer from

a British intelligence officer from behind the Iron Curtain

behind the Iron Curtain

behind the Iron Curtain I began that’s what I ended fastest

I began that’s what I ended fastest

I began that’s what I ended fastest filled with suspenseful plot twists and

filled with suspenseful plot twists and

filled with suspenseful plot twists and a little idealistic love I’ll be back

a little idealistic love I’ll be back

a little idealistic love I’ll be back this film for goes Hollywood style

this film for goes Hollywood style

this film for goes Hollywood style heroism in the interest of a harsher

heroism in the interest of a harsher

heroism in the interest of a harsher grittier picture of the secret world

grittier picture of the secret world

grittier picture of the secret world that a Cold War spy must navigate and

that a Cold War spy must navigate and

that a Cold War spy must navigate and survive don’t tell me you’re a bloody

survive don’t tell me you’re a bloody

survive don’t tell me you’re a bloody communist number six the lives of others

communist number six the lives of others

communist number six the lives of others mess infinite Easter time on here’s the

mess infinite Easter time on here’s the

mess infinite Easter time on here’s the auto discreetly our diggers georg

auto discreetly our diggers georg

auto discreetly our diggers georg dreyman

dreyman

dreyman is a celebrated East German playwright

is a celebrated East German playwright

is a celebrated East German playwright loyal to his country and its cause mr.

loyal to his country and its cause mr.

loyal to his country and its cause mr. Tonko

Tonko

Tonko and Ginoza polish to you captain Garrett

and Ginoza polish to you captain Garrett

and Ginoza polish to you captain Garrett V slur is the diligent Stasi agent who

V slur is the diligent Stasi agent who

V slur is the diligent Stasi agent who spies on him

spies on him

spies on him the OTS read among friends I can 55 ants

the OTS read among friends I can 55 ants

the OTS read among friends I can 55 ants on behind lady he is known as Bastogne

on behind lady he is known as Bastogne

on behind lady he is known as Bastogne as a girlish date as onsen as defiant

as a girlish date as onsen as defiant

as a girlish date as onsen as defiant set in 1984 this beautiful bleak film

set in 1984 this beautiful bleak film

set in 1984 this beautiful bleak film explores the intersecting lives of two

explores the intersecting lives of two

explores the intersecting lives of two men who struggle to survive in the

men who struggle to survive in the

men who struggle to survive in the Orwellian world behind the Iron Curtain

Orwellian world behind the Iron Curtain

Orwellian world behind the Iron Curtain conceived US troops to fight Mr Ludlow

conceived US troops to fight Mr Ludlow

conceived US troops to fight Mr Ludlow mr. intuition praised by those who

mr. intuition praised by those who

mr. intuition praised by those who actually lived through the period this

actually lived through the period this

actually lived through the period this film captures the tension fear and

film captures the tension fear and

film captures the tension fear and paranoia of a not so far off past a

paranoia of a not so far off past a

paranoia of a not so far off past a zookeeper Shepard emoji number 5 Tinker

zookeeper Shepard emoji number 5 Tinker

zookeeper Shepard emoji number 5 Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy I understand you

Tailor Soldier Spy I understand you

Tailor Soldier Spy I understand you still have one Hungarian identity

still have one Hungarian identity

still have one Hungarian identity running I do there’s a rat at the circus

running I do there’s a rat at the circus

running I do there’s a rat at the circus and George Smiley must find it smiley is

and George Smiley must find it smiley is

and George Smiley must find it smiley is leaving with me like the spy who came in

leaving with me like the spy who came in

leaving with me like the spy who came in from the cold it’s based on a john

from the cold it’s based on a john

from the cold it’s based on a john lecarre a novel you can’t stay here

it isn’t safe

it isn’t safe but Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy enters the

but Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy enters the

but Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy enters the clandestine operations of the British

clandestine operations of the British

clandestine operations of the British intelligence service that she claimed to

intelligence service that she claimed to

intelligence service that she claimed to have information vital to the

have information vital to the

have information vital to the safeguarding of the circus calculated

safeguarding of the circus calculated

safeguarding of the circus calculated maneuvering and double crosses are

maneuvering and double crosses are

maneuvering and double crosses are punctuated by gruesome violence and

punctuated by gruesome violence and

punctuated by gruesome violence and star-crossed love schedule aligned with

star-crossed love schedule aligned with

star-crossed love schedule aligned with Tommy’s dealer a cerebral thriller where

Tommy’s dealer a cerebral thriller where

Tommy’s dealer a cerebral thriller where the heroes look less like James Bond and

the heroes look less like James Bond and

the heroes look less like James Bond and more like your dad this is a fascinating

more like your dad this is a fascinating

more like your dad this is a fascinating look at the murky world of Cold War

look at the murky world of Cold War

look at the murky world of Cold War espionage no glitz just guts we need to

espionage no glitz just guts we need to

espionage no glitz just guts we need to decide if we want to be part of the past

decide if we want to be part of the past

decide if we want to be part of the past or part of the future I should have left

or part of the future I should have left

or part of the future I should have left you where I found you look control

you where I found you look control

you where I found you look control number four war games

number four war games

number four war games games refers to model simulations and

games refers to model simulations and

games refers to model simulations and games Jeff that must be down T check

games Jeff that must be down T check

games Jeff that must be down T check applications so what does that mean

applications so what does that mean

applications so what does that mean a high school computer genius hacks into

a high school computer genius hacks into

a high school computer genius hacks into the American military mainframe and

the American military mainframe and

the American military mainframe and inadvertently starts World War three oh

inadvertently starts World War three oh

inadvertently starts World War three oh my god

yes that is actually the premise of this

yes that is actually the premise of this movie though it’s got a seemingly

movie though it’s got a seemingly

movie though it’s got a seemingly out-there plot wargames does explore the

out-there plot wargames does explore the

out-there plot wargames does explore the significant quandary and real fears of

significant quandary and real fears of

significant quandary and real fears of the Cold War period I want a visual

the Cold War period I want a visual

the Cold War period I want a visual confirmation on let the neverending arms

confirmation on let the neverending arms

confirmation on let the neverending arms race the potentially devastating effects

race the potentially devastating effects

race the potentially devastating effects of simple human folly and the

of simple human folly and the

of simple human folly and the frightening possibilities of artificial

frightening possibilities of artificial

frightening possibilities of artificial intelligence anybody in here by that one

intelligence anybody in here by that one

intelligence anybody in here by that one unfortunately it’s just believable

unfortunately it’s just believable

unfortunately it’s just believable enough to be really scary but just

enough to be really scary but just

enough to be really scary but just thrilling enough to be really

thrilling enough to be really

thrilling enough to be really entertaining

number three The Manchurian Candidate

number three The Manchurian Candidate Patrol was taken by a Russian airborne

Patrol was taken by a Russian airborne

Patrol was taken by a Russian airborne unit and flown by helicopter

unit and flown by helicopter

unit and flown by helicopter across the Manchurian border to a place

across the Manchurian border to a place

across the Manchurian border to a place called tuna water with brainwashed

called tuna water with brainwashed

called tuna water with brainwashed soldiers karate kicking spies dubious

soldiers karate kicking spies dubious

soldiers karate kicking spies dubious politicians and one overbearing mother I

politicians and one overbearing mother I

politicians and one overbearing mother I don’t know what you’re talking about The

don’t know what you’re talking about The

don’t know what you’re talking about The Manchurian Candidate is a movie which

Manchurian Candidate is a movie which

Manchurian Candidate is a movie which both reflects and parodies the Cold War

both reflects and parodies the Cold War

both reflects and parodies the Cold War paranoia of 1960s America will you

paranoia of 1960s America will you

paranoia of 1960s America will you recommend setting up a Joint

recommend setting up a Joint

recommend setting up a Joint Intelligence CIA FBI unit based out of

Intelligence CIA FBI unit based out of

Intelligence CIA FBI unit based out of New York a box-office success when first

New York a box-office success when first

New York a box-office success when first released it received mixed reviews from

released it received mixed reviews from

released it received mixed reviews from critics who found the plot too

critics who found the plot too

critics who found the plot too outlandish how did you know that how do

outlandish how did you know that how do

outlandish how did you know that how do you know but with some of the more

you know but with some of the more

you know but with some of the more farcical elements shown to be

farcical elements shown to be

farcical elements shown to be frightening Lee close to historical

frightening Lee close to historical

frightening Lee close to historical reality this film has aged well becoming

reality this film has aged well becoming

reality this film has aged well becoming a true Cold War classic no would I ask

a true Cold War classic no would I ask

a true Cold War classic no would I ask any fellow American in depends on his

any fellow American in depends on his

any fellow American in depends on his freedom that which I would not gladly

freedom that which I would not gladly

freedom that which I would not gladly give myself my life before my limiting

give myself my life before my limiting

give myself my life before my limiting number two The Hunt for Red October a

number two The Hunt for Red October a

number two The Hunt for Red October a great day comrades we sail into history

great day comrades we sail into history

great day comrades we sail into history Jack Ryan is the brilliant CIA analyst

Jack Ryan is the brilliant CIA analyst

Jack Ryan is the brilliant CIA analyst tasked with deciphering the curious

tasked with deciphering the curious

tasked with deciphering the curious actions of Marko Ramius the 1 e is the

actions of Marko Ramius the 1 e is the

actions of Marko Ramius the 1 e is the Americans we meet the right sort this

Americans we meet the right sort this

Americans we meet the right sort this good work

good work

good work a Soviet commander who’s taken his

a Soviet commander who’s taken his

a Soviet commander who’s taken his nuclear armed submarines off course and

nuclear armed submarines off course and

nuclear armed submarines off course and is headed for the US

is headed for the US

is headed for the US he’s defecting and it can’t change his

he’s defecting and it can’t change his

he’s defecting and it can’t change his mind is this the start of World War

mind is this the start of World War

mind is this the start of World War three or something a little more

three or something a little more

three or something a little more complicated station battle stations

complicated station battle stations

complicated station battle stations battle stations battle station an action

battle stations battle station an action

battle stations battle station an action flick at its heart this movie shows the

flick at its heart this movie shows the

flick at its heart this movie shows the complex diplomatic workings of Cold War

complex diplomatic workings of Cold War

complex diplomatic workings of Cold War superpowers and the challenges faced by

superpowers and the challenges faced by

superpowers and the challenges faced by people stuck in the middle 15 years a

people stuck in the middle 15 years a

people stuck in the middle 15 years a war no battles before we unveil our pick

war no battles before we unveil our pick

war no battles before we unveil our pick for number one here are a few honorable

for number one here are a few honorable

for number one here are a few honorable mentions we’re all that’s left

mentions we’re all that’s left

mentions we’re all that’s left somebody’s got them someone’s gotta live

somebody’s got them someone’s gotta live

somebody’s got them someone’s gotta live somebody’s gotta make it we have said if

somebody’s gotta make it we have said if

somebody’s gotta make it we have said if there’s rocket fire from Cuba we will

there’s rocket fire from Cuba we will

there’s rocket fire from Cuba we will retaliate then there goes the whole

retaliate then there goes the whole

retaliate then there goes the whole ballgame as a nasty little Christmas

ballgame as a nasty little Christmas

ballgame as a nasty little Christmas present but I shouldn’t think I need it

present but I shouldn’t think I need it

present but I shouldn’t think I need it in this assignment sir all the same take

in this assignment sir all the same take

in this assignment sir all the same take it with

some people sound you guy to the boy

some people sound you guy to the boy warm I sing for a gentleman you can’t

warm I sing for a gentleman you can’t

warm I sing for a gentleman you can’t fight in here this is the war room

fight in here this is the war room

fight in here this is the war room number one what is going on here I

number one what is going on here I

number one what is going on here I demand an explanation dr. Strangelove or

demand an explanation dr. Strangelove or

demand an explanation dr. Strangelove or how I learned to stop worrying and love

how I learned to stop worrying and love

how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb classic and not without good

the bomb classic and not without good

the bomb classic and not without good reason

reason

reason Oh an army general has lost his mind a

Oh an army general has lost his mind a

Oh an army general has lost his mind a b-52 has lost its radio has everyone

b-52 has lost its radio has everyone

b-52 has lost its radio has everyone lost control mr. president it is not

lost control mr. president it is not

lost control mr. president it is not only possible it is essential Stanley

only possible it is essential Stanley

only possible it is essential Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece depicts the

Kubrick’s masterpiece depicts the

Kubrick’s masterpiece depicts the frightening paradox of Cold War warfare

frightening paradox of Cold War warfare

frightening paradox of Cold War warfare doomsday machine is designed to trigger

doomsday machine is designed to trigger

doomsday machine is designed to trigger itself automatically but surely you can

itself automatically but surely you can

itself automatically but surely you can disarm it somehow the mutual destruction

disarm it somehow the mutual destruction

disarm it somehow the mutual destruction of east and west as seen through the

of east and west as seen through the

of east and west as seen through the comedic lens of the mutually absurd

comedic lens of the mutually absurd

comedic lens of the mutually absurd combined with a spirit of bold curiosity

combined with a spirit of bold curiosity

combined with a spirit of bold curiosity for the Avenger head released in 1964

for the Avenger head released in 1964

for the Avenger head released in 1964 dr. Strangelove was a biting commentary

dr. Strangelove was a biting commentary

dr. Strangelove was a biting commentary on the political environment of the

on the political environment of the

on the political environment of the period and is now universally regarded

period and is now universally regarded

period and is now universally regarded as one of the best Cold War films ever

as one of the best Cold War films ever

as one of the best Cold War films ever made

do you agree with our list which film

do you agree with our list which film made you want to cower under a table

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