John Wayne's Naval War Movie With 92% On Rotten Tomatoes Deserves Your Attention
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When talking about John Wayne's best films, movies like "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" and "True Grit" probably (and rightfully) are the first to get brought up. However, aside from starring in some of the greatest Western films of all time, the Duke made quite a name for himself in some incredible war movies. One unsung gem that stands out in his early filmography is 1945's "They Were Expendable," which boasts a stellar 92% on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of this writing.
The World War II flick stars Wayne, Robert Montgomery, Jack Holt, and Donna Reed and is based on William Lindsay White's 1942 book of the same name. The movie begins in December 1941 and follows a U.S. naval unit that is initially kept out of the fight as Japanese forces attack Pearl Harbor and quickly descend on the Philippines. Wayne plays the brash Lieutenant "Rusty" Ryan, who is desperate to see combat despite suffering from blood poisoning.
"They Were Expendable" should be required viewing for anyone remotely interested in WWII history since it chronicles an often neglected part of the conflict: the period right after the attack on Pearl Harbor and before the Battle of Midway. The Allies' harrowing and disastrous start in the Pacific makes for somber storytelling. There's a sense of dread that constantly looms over even the most heartfelt moments in "They Were Expendable." Just like in Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk, the greatest victory characters like Ryan can ultimately achieve is survival.
Where can you watch They Were Expendable today?
As well-rated of a movie as "They Were Expendable" is, it's not the easiest film to watch in 2025. While it's available to rent and purchase on platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV, the only place online to watch the full movie for free seems to be the Internet Archive (though who knows how long that can last).
Again, "They Were Expendable" is a noteworthy World War II movie that explores a chapter of the conflict not often discussed. It's a time when the momentum is almost wholly on the side of the Japanese military, and figures like General Douglas MacArthur are completely on the backfoot. We don't want to spoil things here, but as many small victories as Wayne and Montgomery's characters may claim, the light at the end of the tunnel is a hopeful flicker at best.
For those who can't get enough of heartbreaking and epic war films like "Saving Private Ryan" and "1917," be sure to check out our rankings of the 30 best war movies of all time.