The Best War Movies On Netflix, Ranked By Fans
- 1Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Luke BraceyThe true story of Pfc. Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield), who won the Congressional Medal of Honor despite refusing to bear arms during WWII on religious grounds. Doss was drafted and ostracized by fellow soldiers for his pacifist stance but went on to earn respect and adoration for his bravery, selflessness and compassion after he risked his life -- without firing a shot -- to save 75 men in the Battle of Okinawa.More Hacksaw Ridge
- #7 of 264 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
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- 2Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Aaron Hilmer
A chilling and haunting retelling of the 1930 Lewis Milestone classic, 2022's All Quiet on the Western Front is a chilling, haunting, and brutally realistic depiction of war audiences haven't seen since the likes of Saving Private Ryan. While initially optimistic and cheerful, our protagonists excited to defend their homeland, once they and we reach the titualr Western Front, all hell breaks loose in this bleak, brutal, and unrelenting depiction of the horrors of war. A stunning visual achievement from director Edward Berger, the 2022 remake of All Quiet on the Western Front is a film that will shock and appall audiences for generations to come.
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- #3 of 16 on16 Anti-War Movies That Have Us Marching For Peace
- 3Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Mendelsohn
A war film that doesn't show war seems counterintuitive for most films, however, in Darkest Hour, director Joe Wright shows that the lead-up to war, the desperate pleas to stop it, and the crazed negotiations to save the world from it are just as pulse-pounding and heartstopping as anything seen on the battlefield. Telling the tale of Winston Churchill's negotiations with Nazi Germany on the eve of World War II, Darkest Hour forces audiences to sit knowing that every plea and desperate negotiation tactic will fail, but to stop is as bad as causing the war itself. A desperate, disheartening, and devastating film of what happens behind the scenes of war, Darkest Hour is a masterful film highlighted by the award-winning performance of Gary Oldman as Winson Churchill.
More Darkest Hour- #75 of 264 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
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- 4Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyen, Kelly Macdonald
An exciting but utterly harmless film showcasing the titualr Operation Mincemeat, a British intelligence plan to confound and trick Nazi spies into thinking an attack was coming from one location and not another. Operation Mincemeat is a well-made, well-executed, and well-acted film that is a fascinating journey for those intrigued by espionage and the tactical aspects of war, and while it may not be a resounding epic or a phenomenal tale of war, it is a fascinating film that one can indulge in and simply get lost in the wonderful sets, setpieces, and the masterful story being told.
- 5Jamie Dornan, Mark Strong, Jason O'Mara
Irish Commandant Pat Quinlan and his battalion of 150 men hold off against the siege of 3,000 French and Belgian mercenaries in the Congo during 1960 is the epic and heroic tale of The Siege of Jadotville. While the film depicts the horrors of war quite well, what The Siege of Jadotville highlights is the bravery, the strength, and the courage of man in the faces of danger and imminent doom. A truly heroic and wonderful depiction of Ireland in the midst of war, the film holds itself high due to its brutally realistic portrayal of the events that happened in Jadotville, but manages to keep a heartwarming and uplifting tone throughout.
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- 6
Sand Castle
Nicholas Hoult, Henry Cavill, Logan Marshall-GreenSet on a seemingly un-auspicious mission, an inexperienced private and his team learn the ramifications of war when a seemingly routine mission in a rural Iraqi village turns into something nightmares are made of. A deeply haunting and saddening film, Sand Castle opts often to not show the “enemies” of war, but instead shows those stuck in the war zone, simply trying to survive. A truly human look at what it means to be trapped in a battle you want nothing to do with, Sand Castles is an inspirational tear-jerker that shows the dangers of war and the good all humans have within themselves.
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- 7Idris Elba, Abraham Attah, Opeyemi Fagbohungbe
An emotional, powerful, and heartbreaking look at the toils of war, Beasts of No Nation is arguably one of the most gut-wrenching and deeply saddening films about War ever created. Opting to put the focus on the poor children who are essentially enslaved into going to war, Beasts of No Nation pulls no punches in the cruel, horrid, and masochistic world West Africa can be. A painful shattering of childhood, fear, and melancholy, Beasts of No Nation is a painstaking but ultimately rewarding piece of masterful filmmaking and storytelling.
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- 8Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam
A rather unique and intriguing movie about war and the arrogance of man, Triple Frontier tells a rather unexpected tale of men returning to war, but not for the fight, but to plan an elaborate heist in South America. Triple Frontier is unlike any other film on this list due to its tone. While it is still a serious film that brutally depicts the effects of war, it has a much more lighthearted, action-y, and almost uplifting tone. With an absolutely star-studded cast highlighted by Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, and Pedro Pascal, Triple Frontier is a film that is incredibly easy to turn on and get invested in, without having the dark and saddening thoughts of war enter one's mind.
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- 9
War Machine
Brad Pitt, Anthony Hayes, John MagaroThe incredibly rare melancholic war comedy, War Machine is an all too real and all too saddening look at the true life story of “rockstar” General Stanley McChrystal and his efforts to try and win the “impossible” war in Afghanistan. Interlinking comedy and tragedy brilliantly, War Machine is not going to be the stereotypical war film audiences expect, but the surreal, depressing, and hilarious look at what happens behind the scenes of the American chase for glorious freedom. With a standout performance from Brad Pitt, War Machine won't be for everyone, but for those who are willing to get tongue-in-cheek with the American military, this film will be a wonderful surprise.
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- 10Sreymoch Sareum, Kompheak Phoeung, Socheata Sveng
Writer and director Angelina Jolie delivers arguably her most profound, authentic, and devastating stories in the heartbreaking First They Killed My Father, the tale of a young girl desperate to survive in Cambodia in 1975 after a four year-reign of genocide and destruction has devastated everything she once knew. A story that is not for the weak of heart, First They Killed My Father is an incredibly difficult and saddening story to watch unfold, and the fact that this is indeed a biography makes it that much more desolate. A truly cinematic achievement, First They Killed My Father is a film that will change audiences by the time the credits role.
- 11Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters
Simultaneously showcasing the very physical war of Vietnam and the emotional war of civil rights, Da 5 Bloods is an incredibly powerful, thought-provoking, and life-changing film from the brilliant mind of Spike Lee. A film that doesn't relish in the violence, instead opting to show audiences the otherworldly impact war can have on a human being, Da 5 Bloods is highlighted by masterful performances from Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, and the late Chadwick Boseman. Da 5 Bloods is unrelentingly itself and is a brutally sad and destructive look at imperialism, greed, and unrelenting rage.
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- 12Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones, Orlando BloomA small unit of U.S. soldiers, alone at the remote Combat Outpost Keating, located deep in the valley of three mountains in Afghanistan, battles an overwhelming force of Taliban fighters in a coordinated attack. The Battle of Kamdesh became the bloodiest American engagement of the Afghanistan War in 2009, and Bravo Troop 3-61 CAV became one of the most decorated units of the 19-year conflict.More The Outpost
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- 13Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana LynchIn the 1800s, a group of all-female warriors protects the African kingdom of Dahomey with skills and fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen. Faced with a new threat, Gen. Nanisca trains the next generation of recruits to fight against a foreign enemy that's determined to destroy their way of life.More The Woman King
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- 14Jack O'Connell, Domhnall Gleeson, Garrett HedlundAs a boy, Louis "Louie" Zamperini is always in trouble, but with the help of his older brother, he turns his life around and channels his energy into running, later qualifying for the 1936 Olympics. When World War II breaks out, Louie enlists in the military. After his plane crashes in the Pacific, he survives an incredible 47 days adrift in a raft, until his capture by the Japanese navy. Sent to a POW camp, Louie becomes the favorite target of a particularly cruel prison commander.More Unbroken
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- 15Jessica Brown Findlay, George MacKay, Jeremy Irons
An adaptation of the international bestseller of the same name by Robert Harris, Munich: The Edge of War is a fascinating and pulse-pounding thriller about two enemies turned allies who must work together in order to stop an impending war. While Munich: The Edge of War may not offer any bombastic action scenes to get the blood pumping, what it does offer is an incredibly tight and heart-stopping thrill ride about the toils of war and the desperation to stop it before it reaches a deadly conclusion. A remarkably intelligent and masterfully crafted film, any and all spy aficionados will relish in the opportunity to live and, more importantly, survive in this heart-pounding world.
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