The Most Impactful Holocaust Movies of All Time

The Holocaust was one of the most horrific events in history. It is estimated that over 6 million Jews were killed during World War II, and the stories of those affected by the genocide remain with us today. Movies about the Holocaust bring awareness to this dark chapter of history and explore the effects of persecution and the resilience of the human spirit. Here is a list of the most impactful Holocaust movies of all time.

Schindler’s List (1993)
The most acclaimed Holocaust movie of all time, Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List, tells the story of German businessman Oskar Schindler, who saved the lives of over 1,000 Jews during World War II. The film features a powerful performance by Liam Neeson in the lead role and is one of the few films to win an Academy Award for Best Picture. The film also features a memorable score by John Williams and is a powerful reminder of the suffering and resilience of those affected by the Holocaust.

Life Is Beautiful (1997)
Roberto Benigni’s Life Is Beautiful is a unique and uplifting take on the Holocaust. The film tells the story of a Jewish man sent to a concentration camp with his son. To protect his son from the horrors of the camp, he tells him it is all a game, and they must stay together to win.

The Pianist (2002)
Roman Polanski’s The Pianist tells the story of Polish musician Wladyslaw Szpilman, who survived the Holocaust by hiding in the ruins of Warsaw. The film features a powerful performance by Adrien Brody and is a gripping and heartbreaking look at the horrors of the Holocaust.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)
Based on the novel by John Boyne, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas tells the story of two young boys, one Jewish and one German, whose friendship transcends the horrors of the Holocaust. The film takes a unique and heartbreaking look at the effects of the genocide and features a powerful performance by Asa Butterfield in the lead role.

Au Revoir Les Enfants (1987)
This French film by Louis Malle tells the story of two young boys, one Jewish and one Catholic, who become friends in a Catholic boarding school. The film is a powerful exploration of the effects of the Holocaust on children and features a memorable performance by Gaspard Manesse as a Jewish boy.

Lilya 4-Ever (2002)
Lukas Moodysson’s Lilya 4-Ever tells the story of a young girl from the former Soviet Union who is trafficked to Western Europe. The film is a powerful exploration of the horrors of human trafficking and the effects of the Holocaust on people living in Eastern Europe. It features a memorable performance by Oksana Akinshina in the lead role.

The Counterfeiters (2007)
This Austrian film tells the story of a group of Jewish prisoners in a concentration camp forced to create counterfeit currency for the Nazis. The film is a powerful exploration of the resilience of the human spirit and features a memorable performance by Karl Markovics in the lead role.

The Book Thief (2013)
Based on the novel by Markus Zusak, The Book Thief tells the story of a young girl who is sent to live with a foster family in Nazi Germany. The film is a powerful exploration of the effects of the Holocaust on children and features a memorable performance by Sophie Nélisse in the lead role.

Son of Saul (2015)
This Hungarian film tells the story of Saul Ausländer, a Jewish prisoner in Auschwitz who is forced to burn the bodies of his fellow inmates. The film is a powerful exploration of the effects of the Holocaust and features a gripping performance by Géza Röhrig in the lead role.

The Holocaust was one of the darkest chapters in human history. Movies about the Holocaust bring awareness to this tragedy and explore the effects of persecution and the resilience of the human spirit. This list of the most impactful Holocaust movies of all time features some of the genre’s best films and is a powerful reminder of the suffering of those affected by the genocide.