USA Today writer Brian Truitt hit out at the lack of diversity in Dunkirk which revolves around the British Expeditionary Force

A film critic has been ridiculed after claiming that there were not enough women and 'actors of colour' in World War II movie Dunkirk.

USA Today writer Brian Truitt hit out at the lack of diversity in the movie which revolves around the British Expeditionary Force - an army which did not have females among its ranks.

Despite his historical blunder, the critic generally gave the film by director Christopher Nolan a glowing review - going as far as praising the 'real-life heroism' of the famous evacuation in 1940.

He added: 'Nolan's ambitious story revolves around three tales unfolding at different times over land, sea, and air, only coming together at the end.'

But Truitt lamented the film's lack of diversity claiming 'the fact that there are only a couple of women and no lead actors of colour may rub some the wrong way'.

He has now been criticised on Twitter with one user joking: 'Historical accuracy... how dare they!'

Editor of National Review Online Charles W Cooke jokingly tweeted: 'It was highly problematic that the British Expeditionary Force and the French army stranded such a monochrome crew.'

Washington Free Beacon's Alex Grisworld added: “USA Today’s Dunkirk review is officially as absurd as conservative parodies of the social justice crowd.'

Dunkirk - which stars James D'Arcy and Kenneth Branagh, both pictured above - opens in 1940 with hundreds of thousands of British and Allied troops hemmed in by the German army on the beaches of northern France

Christopher Nolan's wartime film Dunkirk, based on the heart-wrenching story of soldiers being evacuated from the beaches during the Second War War, has been universally praised in reviews.

The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw commended the 'architectural expression of doomed homeward yearning', while The Telegraph's Robbie Collin has hailed the acclaimed director at the 'peak of his power' - both granting the movie a full five stars amongst others.

Nick De Demlyen from Empire referenced the 'incredible' bleak undertones to satisfy the audience's cinematic experience and commended Harry Styles for an 'impressive debut', while Todd McCarthy from The Hollywood Reporter deemed it an 'impressionist masterpiece.'

Christopher Nolan's wartime film Dunkirk has been universally praised in reviews

Dunkirk - which stars Kenneth Branagh, Harry Styles and Tom Hardy - opens in 1940 with hundreds of thousands of British and Allied troops hemmed in by the German army on the beaches of northern France.

The British launched Operation Dynamo to save them between May 7 and June 4 with 338,000 arriving safely in England.