25 Memorable movies to honor america's fallen heroes this memorial day

Memorial Day weekend, a time for barbecues, beach trips, and killer shopping deals, but its true spirit often gets lost in the fray. First observed in 1868, the holiday is dedicated to remembering those who've died in service to the United States Armed Forces.

Here are 25 movies that actually feel right for memorial day

For decades, filmmakers have paid tribute to America's troops, with movies that celebrate their valor or challenge the political institutions that force them to sacrifice all. Some of the greatest directors ever, like Oliver Stone, Stanley Kubrick, Edward Zwick, and Steven Spielberg, have centered their best films on the tremendous cost of war.

From classic epics to grounded dramas, these movies are all more powerful than any fireworks display. So grab some popcorn, settle in, and remember the fallen.

Bridge on the river kwai (1957)

One of the greatest films of the 20th century, David Lean's Bridge on the River Kwai follows a group of British POWs forced to construct a strategic bridge for Japan's war effort. An American Naval officer leads a unit to blow it up.

From here to eternity (1953)

A star-studded affair with Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra, and Montgomery Clift, From Here to Eternity tells a sweeping, intersecting love story set against the tragic backdrop of World War II.

Full metal jacket (1987)

Stanley Kubrick's unflinching classic shows how much we truly fucked up in Vietnam. Matthew Modine leads as a Marine whose boot camp horror is followed by his deployment in Da Nang.

Patton (1970)