It’s not that people are sadistic and want to watch the horrid atrocities in war, but because they want to know and learn about what happens behind the scenes that nobody should go through in real life. If that's you then take a gander at our list of all-time best war movies on Netflix.
You may think that war movies are one of the last on your to-watch priority list. However, you’d be surprised that war movies have amassed an overwhelming fan base throughout the centuries. As grim as they may be, war movies dwell on morally bound climates, military heroism and sacrifice, glorification, romanticization, and ethical implications of war in itself.
With high-stakes action sequences and psychological struggles, war movies have evolved into their genre. They have become a crucial artistic expression of people and politics, ranging from patriotic films and a reenactment of historical events to the retelling of events in a different light. War movies afford a deeper and more humanized lens to the true nature of war.
- All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) – Netflix US, Japan, UK, Canada, Australia
- Fury (2014) – Netflix Japan, UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany
- 12 Strong (2018) – Netflix US, Germany
- Saving Private Ryan (1998) – Netflix Japan
- Black Hawk Down (2001) – Netflix UK, Canada
- The Siege of Jadotville (2016) – Netflix US, Japan, UK, Canada, Australia
- Outlaw King (2018) – Netflix Japan, Netflix US, UK, Canada, Australia
- Dunkirk (2017) – Netflix Japan, Australia, France, Germany
- American Sniper (2014) – Netflix Japan, Canada, Germany
- Hacksaw Ridge (2016) – Netflix Australia, Japan
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Now, let’s get down to the ten best war movies on Netflix:
1. All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)
Aka Im Westen nichts Neues in German, All Quiet on the Western Front is a 2022 German-language anti-war film based on the 1929 novel of the same name by Erich Maria Remarque. The movie stars Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Aaron Hilmer, and more. The movie garnered positive reviews from critics for its anti-war theme.
Securing its position as one of the most-awarded foreign language films in the Oscars' history, All Quiet on the Western Front also performed well at the 76th British Academy Film Awards. The story’s setting is during World War I (WWI) and around the life of an idealistic young German soldier named Paul Bäumer (Kammerer). Being naive, he aspires to be a hero and enlists in the German army.
However, his dreams of becoming a hero shatter as the realities of the war sink in; he finds himself struggling to survive. All Quiet on the Western Front is a grim yet stunning portrayal of trench warfare in WWI. You’ll realize that this movie depicts a clear German understanding of war and power where there are no heroes and no moral compass.
Watch All Quiet On The Western Front on Netflix
2. Fury (2014)
Fury is a 2014 American war film starring Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, and others. The film received positive reviews and grossed $211 million worldwide. The movie begins in 1945 when the US tank crews battle in Germany during the final weeks of the European theater of World War II.
Don “Wardaddy” Collier (Pitt), a battle-hardened US Army Staff Sergeant, commands an M4 Sherman tank nicknamed Fury. The real action is inside this battered vehicle among the four-man crew. Since it is the Allies’ final push into Germany, the line between desperation and moral compromise blurs.
Like ‘Wardaddy’, Don portrays a tough and damaged father figure. Yet, he can be tender at times. Don makes his assessments based on his principle – ideals are peaceful, but history is violent. If you’re ready for some shockingly grisly and pulse-quickening scenes, the movie is engaging even as it heads toward a seemingly suicidal climax.
Watch Fury on Netflix.
3. 12 Strong (2018)
A 2018 American action-war film, 12 Strong is based on Doug Stanton's non-fiction book Horse Soldiers. This war movie stars Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, Michael Peña, and more. Although 12 Strong was complimented for its cast and action, it received criticisms due to the by-the-numbers execution and lack of hindsight of the Afghanistan War.
The movie follows the US Army Special Forces in Afghanistan immediately after the September 11 attacks. Mitch Nelson (Hemsworth), a Special Forces officer with his hard-bodied men, struggles with keeping their feelings in check as they drown in masculine pain, private anguish, and violence against the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
The film has capable and dependable actors with swooping aerial shots of the severely beautiful landscape. However, the movie focuses on brotherhood as a belief and way of life rather than politics. 12 Strong settles as a tense, unremittingly brutal combat movie. Hence, toughen yourself before watching 12 Strong.
Watch 12 Strong on Netflix.
4. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Saving Private Ryan is crowned the best war movie ever made by many. Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring brilliant ensemble casts like Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Vin Diesel, Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore, and more, you know you won’t go wrong with this epic war movie. The main cast underwent a week-long boot camp to understand the soldier's experience.
Saving Private Ryan became one of the year's most successful films due to its critically-acclaimed and realistic graphic portrayal of combat. Being the second highest-grossing film of 1998, Saving Private Ryan won many prizes, including Golden Globe, Academy, BAFTA, and Saturn awards.
Set in 1944 in France during World War II, the movie is about a group of soldiers led by Captain John Miller (Hanks) with the mission to extricate Private James Ryan (Damon) from the war. Saving Private Ryan depicts the horrors of the Second World War accurately, through realistic and often difficult-to-watch scenes. That said, the film is unforgettable and is a must-watch for everyone.
Watch Saving Private Ryan on Netflix
5. Black Hawk Down (2001)
Black Hawk Down is a 2001 war film directed by Ridley Scott, based on the 1999 non-fiction book of the same name by journalist Mark Bowden. Showcasing a large ensemble cast, including Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Eric Bana, Tom Sizemore, and others, the movie received positive reviews from film critics despite being criticized for inaccuracies.
That said, Black Hawk Down won two Academy Awards at the 74th Academy Awards. The war movie is about the US military's 1993 raid in Mogadishu, the biggest US military firefight since the Vietnam war. Staff Sergeant Matthew Eversmann (Hartnett) receives his first command. With his team, the operation begins against a brutal warlord and his militia amidst the civil war-ravaged Somali capital Mogadishu.
Black Hawk Down does not shy away from war violence, casualties, blood, and graphic injuries. That said, the movie depicts the bravery and selflessness of the soldiers amid ferocious battles, typical of historically typified war movies. Although some have commented that Black Hawk Down’s interpretation of history is flimsy, one-sided, and politically questionable, you’ll find this movie engaging nonetheless.
Watch Black Hawk Down on Netflix.
6. The Siege of Jadotville (2016)
The Siege of Jadotville, a 2016 action-war film, is based on Declan Power's book, The Siege at Jadotville: The Irish Army's Forgotten Battle. Starring Jamie Dornan, Guillaume Canet, Emmanuelle Seigner, and more, the movie won three Irish Film and Television Awards, including Best Director. The Siege of Jadotville follows an Irish Army unit's role in the Siege of Jadotville during the UN Operation in the Congo in September 1961.
Irish Army Commander, Patrick Quinlan (Dornan), commands Irish infantry peacekeepers who arrive at the UN compound near Jadotville. The movie tells the true story of these 157 Irishmen under this tactically astute commander in a desperate life-or-death situation against a well-armed enemy outnumbered 20 to one.
The Siege of Jadotville is an astonishing story of heroism and against-all-odds soldiering, where the Irishmen successfully routed a force of 3,000 attackers, killing 300 of them with no fatalities. The movie was said to depict the truth of what happened back then well and accurately, proving Ireland’s reputation for providing today's well-trained, respected, and resilient UN peacekeepers.
Watch The Siege of Jadotville on Netflix
7. Outlaw King (2018)
Outlaw King is a 2018 historical war movie with an impressive cast led by Chris Pine as Robert the Bruce, alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Florence Pugh, and others. The movie was praised for its production design, sets, performances, and choreography, but the historical inaccuracies and clichés stood out like a sore thumb. That said, Outlaw King is for you, especially if you’re into the historical war genre.
In the 14th century, Scottish king Robert the Bruce rebels against the rule of Edward I over Scotland, leading to the 1307 Battle of Loudoun Hill. The combination of exhilarating action and victories is enchanting. Also, the heart-rendering moments of suffering and loss somehow retain the interest.
Some have equated Outlaw King to a sequel to Braveheart, which is commendable. The brisk pace littered with gorgeous shots relies on a romance surrounding historical events, building up characters reluctant to go to war but driven by a sense of righteousness and a higher calling to serve their people, making for a wholesome complete war movie package.
Watch Outlaw King on Netflix.
8. Dunkirk (2017)
A 2017 historical war movie, Dunkirk showcases Harry Styles in his film debut, Fionn Whitehead, Tom Glynn-Carney, and others. The movie has little dialogue, with a focus on cinematography and music. Dunkirk is the highest-grossing World War II film and was praised for its editing, screenplay, direction, musical score, sound design, and cinematography.
Dunkirk received multiple accolades, including eight nominations at the 90th Academy Awards, winning for Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Film Editing. Not surprising since the movie’s visual and sound effects are elaborate and impressive. The story is fictional and based on actual events in mid-1940 when allied troops were stranded between German forces and the French coast on the beaches of Dunkirk.
The troops were exhausted from battle and hoped for deliverance and miracle. Against all odds, some 338,000 were rescued by around 700 small fishing and pleasure boats, captained by private British citizens who crossed the treacherous English Channel to save them; this was nothing short of a miracle – the Miracle of Dunkirk.
Watch Dunkirk on Netflix
9. American Sniper (2014)
American Sniper is a 2014 American biographical war movie directed by Clint Eastwood, loosely based on the memoir American Sniper by Chris Kyle, Scott McEwen, and Jim DeFelice. Starring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller as leads, the movie was a success and secured six nominations at the 87th Academy Awards.
The movie follows the life of Kyle (Cooper), the deadliest marksman in US military history, with 255 kills from four tours in the Iraq War. Despite his celebrated achievements, his family and personal lives suffer due to the demands of the tours of duty. He also struggles with his call of duty, and guilt, a sense of right and wrong that question the realities of his job as a sniper.
Although American Sniper isn't totally about the war in Iraq, the movie dwells brilliantly on the war every soldier fights in to stay alive and come to terms with their beliefs and illusions of the realities of war. The war movie depicts how soldiers battle with PTSD and post-war effects. On the whole, the plot tells us that everybody involved is a casualty of war and that survivors help one another to go on living.
Watch American Sniper on Netflix
10. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
Hacksaw Ridge, a 2016 biographical war movie directed by Mel Gibson, is based on the 2004 documentary The Conscientious Objector, directed by Terry Benedict. Led by Andrew Garfield with Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, and others, the movie received critical acclaim securing six Oscar nominations at the 89th Academy Awards, three Golden Globe nominations, and 12 AACTA Awards nominations.
The movie is during World War II and dwells on the experiences of Desmond Doss (Garfield), an American who served as a combat medic in the Battle of Okinawa. Being a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, he refuses to kill an enemy soldier or carry a weapon into combat. Surrounding the true story of a remarkable hero with moral tension at its center, Hacksaw Ridge features Doss constantly in a dilemma when the realities of war set in.
Many see US Army medic Desmond Doss as a paradoxical hero. After all, he was the first conscientious objector awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II. If you’re alright with intense graphic gore and gruesome details, check out Hacksaw Ridge.
Watch Hacksaw Ridge on Netflix
Wrapping Up
If you want to learn more and navigate the world of war, the list of ten best war movies on Netflix as above suffices. Admittedly, other worthy war movies on Netflix are equally engaging.
However, the above war movies should get you started as you binge-watch on Netflix this weekend.
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