Movies like Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

Empire of the Sun is an emotional war drama directed by Steven Spielberg that tells the story of a young British boy's struggle for survival in a Japanese internment camp during WWII. Much like Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, the film explores the themes of culture clash and the resilience of the human spirit amidst the horrors of war.

Terrence Malick's epic war film The Thin Red Line meditates on the existential aspects of combat and the internal and external conflicts soldiers face. Though set in a different theater of WWII, it shares the poetic and philosophical tone that characterizes Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.

A classic film directed by David Lean, The Bridge on the River Kwai delves into the psychological battle of wills between a British POW and his Japanese captor. Fans of Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence will appreciate the similar setting of a Japanese prison camp and the complex interactions between captors and captives.

Clint Eastwood directs this powerful film from the perspective of Japanese soldiers defending Iwo Jima during WWII. Letters from Iwo Jima offers a poignant look at the other side of the war, similar to how Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence presents a multifaceted view of the Japanese.

Directed by Werner Herzog, Rescue Dawn stars Christian Bale as a U.S. fighter pilot who is captured during the Vietnam War. The film explores the themes of survival, camaraderie, and escape from a POW camp, which are also prevalent in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.