War movies have been a popular genre of cinema for decades, evolving from the wartime propaganda films of the 20th century to the critical anti-war dramas and rousing actioners of today. The genre has produced some of the most successful movies of all time — films that have won awards and broken box office records. It’s no surprise that Netflix is home to a huge collection of war movies; it’s so huge, in fact, that it can be a daunting task to separate the best from all the rest. That’s why we’ve done the work for you! Read on to discover our ranked selection of the very best war movies on Netflix, including both acclaimed hits and underrated gems.
Looking for more wartime movies? Be sure to check out our lists of the best World War II movies on Netflix, the best R-rated war movies on Netflix, and the best war movies on Netflix in general.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.
8
‘Uprising’ (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | IMDb: 6.6/10
- Release Date
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October 11, 2024
- Runtime
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126 minutes
- Director
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Kim Sang-man
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Gang Dong-won
Cheon-young
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Park Jeong-min
Lee Jong-ryeo
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Cha Seung-won
King Seonjo
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A South Korean period war film, Uprising was directed by Kim Sang-man and written by Shin Cheol and Park Chan-wook. Set in 16th-century Korea, the film follows two childhood friends, one a slave and the other his master, who grow up to find themselves on opposing sides of a terrible war. The movie stars Gang Dong-won, Park Jeong-min, Kim Shin-rok, Jin Seon-kyu, Jung Sung-il, and Cha Seung-won.
Uprising had its world premiere as the opening film of the 2024 Busan International Film Festival and was subsequently released worldwide on Netflix. Praised by both critics and audiences for its cinematography, action sequences, and soundtrack, the movie has earned several accolades, including three Baeksang Arts Awards out of five nominations. The Joseon era is a popular historical period in South Korean cinema, and the movie brings that period to life with plenty of style (though not much historical accuracy). Combining exciting action and court intrigue with the complicated emotional journey of two friends, Uprising is a thoroughly engaging watch for fans of well-crafted historical war dramas.
7
‘First They Killed My Father’ (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes: 88% | IMDb: 7.2/10
A Khmer-language biographical war thriller based on Loung Ung’s eponymous memoir, First They Killed My Father was directed by Angelina Jolie, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Ung. Set in 1970s Cambodia during the Vietnam War, the film follows Ung’s experiences as a child during the rise of the Khmer Rouge regime, which captured her family and sent them to labor camps, forcing her to train as a child soldier. The movie stars Sreymoch Sareum, Kompheak Phoeung, Socheata Sveng, Dara Heng, Kimhak Mun, and more.
A harrowing and eye-opening film, First They Killed My Father presents a devastating personal story that also serves to illustrate the long-ranging consequences of the Vietnam War, some of which are still felt to this day. Highly acclaimed by critics, the film has earned several accolades, including nominations for a Golden Globe, a Critics’ Choice Movie Award, and a British Academy Film Award. The movie was also submitted as Cambodia’s entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but it ultimately wasn’t nominated.
6
‘Black Hawk Down’ (2001)
Rotten Tomatoes: 76% | IMDb: 7.7/10
Directed and produced by Ridley Scott, Black Hawk Down is a war drama inspired by real events. The film was written by Ken Nolan and is based on Mark Bowden’s eponymous non-fiction book about the crew of a Black Hawk helicopter that was shot down in Somalia in 1993 during the Battle of Mogadishu. The movie features a sprawling ensemble cast that includes Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Eric Bana, Hugh Dancy, and more, with Tom Hardy in his feature film debut.
An epic war drama, Black Hawk Down received largely positive reviews at the time of its release in 2001. Though it wasn’t a huge commercial success, the film performed quite well at the box office and earned two Academy Awards. While it takes some liberties with the facts, the movie’s depiction of the Black Hawk Down Incident and its greater conflict makes for a very engaging watch, and the film has been an inspiration for practically every American war movie made since its premiere.
5
‘Beasts of No Nation’ (2015)
Rotten Tomatoes: 91% | IMDb: 7.7/10
Written and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, Beasts of No Nation is a war drama adapted from Uzodinma Iweala’s eponymous 2005 novel. The film follows the story of a young boy from a war-torn region of West Africa who is taken in by a brutal rebel group and forced to train as a child soldier. The movie stars Abraham Attah, Idris Elba, Ama K. Abebrese, Kobina Amissa-Sam, Emmanuel Nii Adom Quaye, Kurt Egyiawan, Jude Akuwudike, and more.
A traumatic, nightmarish film that presents fictional horrors rooted in reality, Beasts of No Nation was highly acclaimed by critics at the time of its premiere in 2015. It’s a hard-hitting and uncompromising drama that’s further elevated by its stellar performances and masterful direction. The film earned numerous accolades, including two Independent Spirit Awards out of five nominations, one NAACP Image Award out of four nominations, and a BAFTA nomination for Idris Elba for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
4
‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | IMDb: 7.8/10
All Quiet on the Western Front
- Release Date
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September 29, 2022
- Runtime
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143 Minutes
- Director
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Edward Berger
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Felix Kammerer
Paul Bäumer
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Albrecht Schuch
Stanislas ‘Kat’ Katczinsky
Based on Erich Maria Remarque’s eponymous novel, All Quiet on the Western Front is a German World War I drama directed and co-written by Edward Berger. The first German adaptation of the novel, the movie follows a young German soldier (Felix Kammerer) who finds his patriotic ideals shattered by the realities of life in the trenches. Parallel to this, the movie also explores the armistice negotiations that led to the end of the war. Besides Kammerer, the movie also stars Albrecht Schuch, Thibault de Montalembert, Daniel Brühl, and more.
All Quiet on the Western Front premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, receiving universal acclaim from critics. Released on Netflix shortly after, the film proved popular with audiences as well, quickly becoming one of the most-watched movies on the streaming service at the time. An honest examination of war and trauma brought to life through an ambitious and expertly crafted production, All Quiet on the Western Front honors the literary masterpiece it adapts from while adding fresh perspectives and mindblowing visuals. Appropriately, the film won several accolades, including four Academy Awards out of nine nominations and seven BAFTAs out of 14 nominations.
3
‘Da 5 Bloods’ (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 6.5/10
Directed, produced, and co-written by Spike Lee, Da 5 Bloods is a war action drama that follows a group of African-American Vietnam War vets who return to the country to find the remains of their fallen squad leader… and the gold he helped them hide. The film boasts an ensemble cast that includes Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Jonathan Majors, Mélanie Thierry, Chadwick Boseman, and more.
At the time of its premiere in 2020, Da 5 Bloods was both highly acclaimed by critics and a big hit with the audience, becoming Netflix’s most-streamed movie during its opening weekend. A masterfully directed film with solid performances and great energy, the movie went on to earn several accolades, including three SAG Award nominations, a BAFTA nomination, and an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score. The film was named one of the top 10 movies of the year by the American Film Institute and the best film of the year by the National Board of Review. Da 5 Bloods is also notable for being the last Chadwick Boseman movie released during the actor’s lifetime.
2
‘1917’ (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes: 88% | IMDb: 8.2/10
Directed and co-written by Sam Mendes, 1917 is a World War I drama thriller that follows two British soldiers tasked with delivering an important message to another battalion, with the lives of 1,600 men hanging in the balance. Written by Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns, the film boasts a star-studded ensemble cast led by George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman, with Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Claire Duburcq, Colin Firth, and Benedict Cumberbatch in key supporting roles.
1917 premiered in 2019 to critical and commercial success, grossing over $446 million worldwide. The movie also won several accolades, including three Academy Awards, seven British Academy Film Awards, and two Golden Globes. A surreal and mindblowing audio-visual experience, the film earned legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins his second Oscar win. But it’s not just the technical mastery behind the film; 1917 is driven by a rousing story of wartime heroism animated by some truly amazing performances. It’s no surprise that the movie was named one of the top 10 films of the year by both the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute.
1
‘Dunkirk’ (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 7.8/10
Written, directed, and co-produced by Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk is a World War II thriller that revolves around the evacuation of the titular French port. Following the operation from the perspectives of the land, sea, and air forces, the film shows how the Allied forces were able to rescue hundreds of thousands of soldiers with the help of civilian vessels. The movie features a massive ensemble cast that includes Fionn Whitehead, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jack Lowden, Barry Keoghan, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy, and more, with Harry Styles in his feature film debut.
An epic period production realized through brilliant practical effects and sweeping cinematography, Dunkirk premiered in 2017 to box office success and near-universal acclaim. The movie grossed over $530 million worldwide, setting a record for the highest-earning WWII film of all time, which was later broken by Nolan’s 2023 movie Oppenheimer. The film also received several accolades, including three Academy Award wins out of eight nominations, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest war movies ever made.