The best movies on Netflix aren’t limited to any single genre. Because Netflix largely relies on its own original films, it doesn’t have a deep library of classic war films like The Bridge on the River Kwai or even more contemporary titles like Saving Private Ryan. But it does have a fine selection of films that deserve their place among the very best.
It should also be said that the best war movies are the ones that don’t glorify war itself. Some wars have to be fought, but there’s always a high cost to be paid, especially in human lives. These war movies are a reflection of the nuances of war, and of the ways in which it can have a huge effect on those who fight it, even if they believe they’re fighting for a just cause.
Recommended Videos
Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
139m
Genre
Drama, History, War
Stars
Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Vince Vaughn
Directed by
Mel Gibson
Watch on Netflix
Hacksaw Ridge tells the true story of Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), a combat medic during World War II who was a devout pacifist who refused to carry a gun. The real Doss saved several of his fellow servicemen during the Battle of Okinawa, which is depicted in the film. However, director Mel Gibson spends the majority of the movie letting viewers understand why Doss was so adamant against taking up arms against anyone and the price he paid for his moral stance. Doss’ refusal to bend to pressure from other troops and the military brass was also heroic, even though his contemporaries didn’t think so at the time.
All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)
147m
Genre
Drama, War, Action
Stars
Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Aaron Hilmer
Directed by
Edward Berger
Watch on Amazon
Erich Maria Remarque’s novel, All Quiet on the Western Front, will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2029. Additionally, the story’s antiwar message is just as relevant for 2024 as it was in 1919. This is the novel’s third movie adaptation, and the film stars Felix Kammerer as Paul Bäumer, a German teenager during World War I who is swept off to war with romantic notions of becoming a hero in battle. Unfortunately for Paul, he soon discovers that war isn’t a game in which his side can easily be victorious. The brutality and hopelessness of the situation beats Paul down as he watches his fellow soldiers fall in battle or worse. Soon, Paul’s ambitions shift to simply surviving the war, and even that may not be in the cards for him.
The Outpost (2020)
123m
Genre
War, Drama, History, Action
Stars
Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones, Orlando Bloom
Directed by
Rod Lurie
Watch on Netflix
The Outpost is a more contemporary war story set in 2009 during the War in Afghanistan. It depicts the Battle of Khamdesh, in which American soldiers were badly outnumbered by Taliban forces. There is real heroism in the story, but the film also chronicles the incredibly short-sighted and downright foolish decisions by the chain of command that left the soldiers vulnerable to an all-out attack. That makes the story into a tragedy that could have been avoided. Scott Eastwood leads a cast that includes Caleb Landry Jones, Orlando Bloom, Jack Kesy, Cory Hardrict, Milo Gibson. and Jacob Scipio. But in war movies, as in actual wars, not everybody gets to go home when it’s over.
Unbroken (2014)
137m
Genre
Drama, War
Stars
Jack O'Connell, Alex Russell, Domhnall Gleeson
Directed by
Angelina Jolie
Watch on Netflix
Unbroken was the second film ever directed by Angelina Jolie, from a script by Joel and Ethan Coen, as well as Richard LaGravenese and William Nicholson. The movie is based on the true story of Captain Louis “Louie” Zamperini (Jack O’Connell), an American athlete at the 1936 Olympics in Germany before he enlisted in the Air Force as a bomber pilot. Zamperini’s heroics are more significant after his plane goes down and he is captured by the Japanese. As a prisoner of war, Zamperini endures physical and mental torture that is designed to break him. Prison commander Mutsuhiro “The Bird” Watanabe (Miyavi) is particularly obsessed with crushing Zamperini’s spirit. Yet, as the name of the movie implies, Zamperini is remarkably resilient even when facing death.
The Forgotten Battle (2021)
126m
Genre
Action, War, Adventure, History, Drama
Stars
Gijs Blom, Jamie Flatters, Susan Radder
Directed by
Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
Watch on Netflix
The Forgotten Battle is a Dutch World War II movie that follows three separate yet occasionally intersecting storylines about a Dutch soldier, Marinus van Staveren (Gijs Blom), who is forced to fight on the German frontlines; British pilot William Sinclair (Jamie Flatters); and Teuntje Visser (Susan Radder), a young Dutch woman who attempts to be neutral during the war. Of the three main characters, Teuntje has the most interesting path as she abandons any notions of staying on the sidelines after her brother is killed for being part of the resistance. When that happens, Teuntje will do anything to help bring down the Nazis, even at the cost of her own life. Meanwhile, Marinus is disillusioned by the Nazi regime, but there are few opportunities to escape from the war when death is an ever-present companion.
Beasts of No Nation (2015)
137m
Genre
Drama, War
Stars
Abraham Attah, Idris Elba, Emmanuel Nii Adom Quaye
Directed by
Cary Joji Fukunaga
Watch on Netflix
The series True Detective season 1 helmer Cary Joji Fukunaga wrote and directed Beasts of No Nation, based on Uzodinma Iweala’s novel of the same name. This was also one of Netflix’s earliest original movies before the streamer ramped up its production pipeline. The film is a truly harrowing story about Agu (Abraham Attah), a young African boy who is taken in by the Commandant (Idris Elba) and turned into a child soldier. Agu is forced to do things no one, much less a child, should ever be subjected to while also enduring abuse from the Commandant. This forces Agu to wonder if he can ever escape to a life outside of war.
1917 (2019)
119m
Genre
War, Action, History
Stars
George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Mark Strong
Directed by
Sam Mendes
Watch on Netflix
A harrowing, brilliantly directed war movie that’s equal parts beautiful and terrifying, 1917 tells the story of a British soldier during World War I who is sent on a dangerous mission to tell his fellow soldiers that they are walking into a trap. Shot as if it was made in a single take, the movie keeps you viscerally attached to its central character, and cinematographer Roger Deakins fully steps up to what the movie is asking of him. Thanks to a brilliant central performance from George McKay, 1917 never feels like a gimmick in spite of the way it was shot. Instead, it feels like an attempt to remind its audience of just how relentless and danverous war can be.
