Many great war films have been released over the years, but some stand out far above the rest. Viewers regularly debate which one deserves the top spot, yet one movie continues to dominate the conversation. Those who have seen it say it’s emotional, realistic and has some unforgettable performances. Some even add that no other film comes close.

The movie also has an impressive reputation among critics, with an 89% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience rating also stands at an astonishing 93%. What’s more, the film has inspired documentaries, academic studies and some of the strongest reactions from viewers who say it changed the way they understood the Vietnam War.

That film is Platoon, a 1986 war drama directed by Oliver Stone. Reviews from fans remain some of the strongest of any war movie ever made.

One person said: “I think Platoon is the best war movie Hollywood ever made. It’s very humane. I mean it. The director sees all his characters as victims of war rather than heroes or villains.”

Another added: “Undoubtedly the greatest war film ever made, if not one of the best films of all time. Where to begin with such a film? A lot of this goes to Oliver Stone, who actually served in the God-forsaken jungles of Vietnam.

“The film really brings to light the atrocities and pointlessness of the Vietnam War in full force, all cleverly represented by the soldiers who fought these not so courageous and valor-filled battles.”

A third wrote: “Platoon is a legendary film. A film that I will always cherish, and a film that I will never get tired of. And the last Vietnam film that is worth a damn watch.

“It’s a film that is sometimes impossible to watch for its frighteningly intense and emotionally draining account of the Vietnam War as it is waged both on the battlefields and within the very souls of men.”

Someone else said: “It’s hard to know where to start with such a breathtaking masterpiece of a film. Oliver Stone’s Platoon is quite simply the best Vietnam war film ever made in my opinion. Everything about it is as close to perfection as we are likely to see.”

Platoon stars Charlie Sheen as a young US Army volunteer sent to Vietnam, where he becomes caught between two senior officers, played by Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe, whose opposing views on morality and survival shape the entire platoon.

The cast also includes Keith David, Forest Whitaker, Kevin Dillon, Johnny Depp and John C. McGinley.

The script was based on Oliver Stone’s real experiences as an infantryman in Vietnam.

He wrote the film partly to counter earlier Hollywood portrayals of the war. Filming took place in the Philippines, where actors underwent an intense 30-day military-style training camp led by Vietnam veteran Dale Dye to recreate the physical and emotional strain of combat.

Platoon was released in 1986 and became a major success, earning more than $137 million at the box office.

It won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, along with three Golden Globes and several BAFTA honours.

In 2019, it was added to the United States National Film Registry for its cultural and historical importance.

Platoon is available to stream on Netflix.