A sniper is a military marksman who engage targets from positions of concealment or at distances exceeding detection by the target. They are a critical part of the military, especially special forces who are operating secretive missions. This has led to Hollywood really dramatizing the sniper role in movies, in some cases to unbelievable lengths. With that said, there have been some exceptional sniper movies created and I’m here to tell you about those.
Enemy at the Gates (2001)
Probably one of the most popular military movies of all time, Enemy at the Gates depicts the events surrounding the Battle of Stalingrad durinwq21g World War II in the winter of 1942-1943. The movie is fiction and based on a Soviet Union sniper who goes toe to toe with a German sniper. The movie depicts the two chasing each other and having a snipers duel. The movie certainly does over-dramatize some historical events but overall does a good job of depicting the sniper role.
Shooter (2007)
This is a action thriller film featuring Mark Wahlberg who is framed for murder by a rogue unit of personnel operating for a private military firm. Shooter depicts a number sniper tactics as a result of guidance from former US Marine scout sniper Patrick Garrity. Wahlberg properly handles his sniper rifles with both left and right hands, and the movie even shows him adjusting the scope, judging window, and doing rapid bolt manipulation as required by a properly trained sniper.
Jarhead (2005)
A fairly accurate movie depicting the sniper role with in the US military. Jarhead is a 2005 film based on a US Marine’s, Anthony Swofford, memoir which was a best seller. The movie shows Swofford going through military training and then attending the Scout Sniper course. He ends up becoming a sniper and is deployed as part of Operation Desert Shield and the movie depicts his experiences there. As Swofford was actually a marine sniper, the movie uses his expertise to ensure it remains accurate in depicting not only the experiences but how snipers are deployed and even operate.
Phone Booth (2002)
Phone Booth is a thriller film in which a hidden sniper calls a phone booth and when a young publicist inside answers the phone he quickly finds his life is at risk. The film does a decent job of portraying how a sniper would act in an urban setting. The sniper shows off realistic shooting capabilities, as well as realistic concealment in a urban setting.
Sniper (1993)
The oldest movie on the list, Sniper is a classic. It features Master Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Beckett, a Force Reconnaissance Marine and experience sniper, who is paired up with Richard Miller a SWAT team sharpshooter. The two are set out on a mission to kill a rebel general in Panama. The movie does a good job of showing the sniper role in a jungle setting, and the patience required by snipers to get the kill.
