Do you love the smell of napalm in the morning? Does the pulse-pounding action and the heart-stopping suspense of watching a war movie fill you with an overwhelming sense of joy, pride, and patriotism? Then the best war movies on Netflix are sure to have you standing proud of all the brave young men and women who have valiantly served their countries, whether they be fictional or biographical. The greatest war movies place audiences squarely on the battlefield with the terrifying death, destruction, and violence it takes to defend a homeland, and now, it is easier than ever to witness these wonderful and inspiring feats of bravery right from the comfort of your own home thanks to the incredible catalog of Netflix war films!
Whether it be the army, navy, marines, or anything in between, the brave soldiers who risk their lives in these films mark an inspiration to everyone who watches them and tells magnificent tales of history through generations. From the haunting tales of fighting against Nazi's in World War II presented in Darkest Hour or Munich: The Edge of War, the horrors of the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan in films like Zero Dark Thirty and War Machine, to the devastating history and brutality of the Vietnam War in films like Da 5 Bloods, each of these magnificent films are filled with the blood, sweat, and tears that each of their respective countries has been built on.
One of the most critically acclaimed, revered, and adored films of all time, The Dirty Dozen is a quintessential war film that is a must-watch for all fans of the genre. As 12 American military prisoners set to infiltrate a well-guarded enemy chateau and kill the Nazi's occupying it in order to get time off their respective sentences, The Dirty Dozen is a film that relishes and thrives in its character-driven drama. A fascinating and brutal depiction of war, the human spirit, and teamwork, The Dirty Dozen has been copied hundreds of times throughout cinema, but none do it better than the original!
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.
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.
Incredibly dark, intense, often frightful depiction of what entails a manhunt, Zero Dark Thirty is America's tale of revenge against Osama bin Laden for his attacks on 9/11, and the brutally realistic portrayals of vengeance and the depths those have to sink to achieve it are simultaneously haunting and inspiring. With nail-bitting scenes of tension that don't let up until the credits role and masterful performances from Jessica Chastain and Jason Clarke, Zero Dark Thirty elevates itself from other war films because it doesn't strictly show the grime and horrors of the battlefield, but of the true evil that lays behind the ones pulling the strings.
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.
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.
