War movies are a great way to get your blood pumping and learn about history. There are many types of war movies, from biopics to dramas to action movies and more.
Biopics are best for those who want to learn about the history of a particular war or conflict, as they tend to include all of the details from real events. Biopics are also great for those who want to learn about how one particular character dealt with their experience during wartime.
Dramas tell stories about real people who have experienced wartime and survived it, but they also tend to include fictional characters based on actual people who have been in similar situations.
Dramas can be hard to watch because they can be very emotional and intense, but they’re also very informative and educational!
Action movies involve lots of fighting or other forms of physical activity that allow you to see how soldiers live their lives while they’re in combat zones.
So here we present to you the best war movies on Netflix that will either inspire you or send a chill down your spine.
The Forgotten Battle (2020)
Cast: Gjis Blom, Jamie Flatters, Susan Radder, Tom Fleton, Jan Bjovet
Director: Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
The Forgotten Battle is a 2020 Dutch war movie directed by Matthijs van Heijningen. The film is based on the true story of the Battle of Arnhem in World War II, where Allied forces fought to take control of a bridge over the Rhine River.
The story begins with a group of soldiers fighting their way through German lines as they attempt to reach their objective: a bridge over the Rhine River, allowing them to continue toward Berlin.
But they are stopped by German troops and forced into a fight for survival. The film was nominated for Best Soundtrack at the Golden Raspberry Awards.
Black Crab (2022)
Cast: Noomi Rapace, Dar Salim, Jakob Oftebro, Aliette Opheim, David Dencik
Director: Adam Berg
Black Crab is a thriller film from Sweden that was released in 2022.
It was directed by Adam Berg and written by Adam Berg & Pelle Rådström; stars Noomi Rapace as its protagonist – who joins the army under orders to skate across sea ice behind enemy lines.
The team is assigned to deliver a secret package to a remote island research base, which could help end the war.
When the team arrives at the research facility, they discover that it is run by a mad scientist (Stellan Skarsgård) who wants to use a new weapon against the Nazis. However, he needs more time to perfect his invention, so Rapace agrees to help him out.
The film features many twists and turns as Rapace’s character must decide whether or not she can trust Skarsgård with her life.
The film was well received by critics, with many praising its concept and the acting performances of Rapace, Rolf Lassgård, and Joel Kinnaman.
It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 85th ceremony.
Outside the Wire (2021)
Cast: Anthony Mackie, Damson Idris, Enzo Clienti, Emily Beecham, Michael Kelly
Director: Mikael Hasfstorm
The film is set in a future where people are able to be downloaded into android bodies.
It follows two military police officers who are on the trail of a serial killer and must find him before he can launch a global attack that will kill millions. It received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
It was a box office success, grossing $389 million worldwide against its $15 million production budget.
The film generally received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances of its cast (particularly Mackie and Idris) and Håfström’s direction.
Troy (2004)
Cast: Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Diane Kruger, Brian Cox, Sean Bean, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Wofgang Petersen
Troy is an American epic film about the Trojan War, based on historical events. The film stars Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom as the two main heroes of the show, and Cate Blanchett provides her usual superb acting.
The movie is a bit slow-paced at times, but overall, it’s just as good if not better than most other historical war films out there.
The film is well-written and directed, with a nice sense of humor that doesn’t detract from the seriousness of the story or its message.
The movie also has beautiful cinematography and great costumes that help set the mood for each scene.
The movie has received many awards and nominations, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Picture.
300 (2006)
Cast: Gerard Butler, David Wenham, Lena Headey, Dominic West, Vincent Regan
Director: Zack Snyder
300 is a film that shows Greek and Macedonian soldiers, one of whom kills the other in a vicious fistfight.
The fallen Spartan vows to get revenge but tells his captain that even those who are conquered remember their past and when they see a foe who is larger or faster than them attack, they might become enraged.
300 is a movie that delivers on all counts. Director Zack Snyder has crafted one of the most visually stunning films ever made, taking his audience through an epic clash between Christians, Jews, and Muslims; depicting war based on the style of ancient Greek tragedy.
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016)
Cast: John Krasinski, Max Martini, Dominic Fumusa, James Badge Dale
Director: Michael Bay
In Libya, a civil war rages, and the US is caught between militia factions vying for control of the country.
During the night of September 11, 2012, at a small CIA annex in Benghazi, Libya rebels confront a vast coalition of Libyans and Toubou mercenaries working for Muammar Qaddafi.
The Americans were betrayed by their commanding officer who left the compound without authorization.
Michael Bay’s Benghazi drama is a propaganda flick that may be politically opportunistic but is far more entertaining than most.
The film details an attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi on September 11, 2012, that left four Americans dead and set off a political firestorm in the Obama administration.
Tears of the Sun (2003)
Cast: Bruce Willis, Monica Belluci, Tom Sketitt, Cole Hauser, Eammon Walker
Director: Antoine Fuqua
In Tears of the Sun, a group of soldiers from various African nations must fight for their lives after being exposed to a mysterious virus that turns them into killing machines.
Getting their hands on government research containing an antidote for the virus is the only hope for humanity.
And when a small force arrives at a secretive outpost where scientist George Freese (Bruce Willis) is conducting his experiments, they’ll find themselves fighting for survival against unknown enemies in what looks like mankind’s last stand.
This gritty, realistic war story details the experiences of a squad of U.S. soldiers protecting an oil field in Africa.
Fuqua’s direction is strong, his filming is bold and active, his editing is tight and vivid, and his cinematography conveys the busy, dirty feel of a war zone with great economy yet also highlights some breathtaking sunsets.
The Guns of Navarone (1961)
Cast: Gregory Peck, David Niven, Anthony Quinn, Stanley Baker, James Darren
Director: J. Lee Thompson
The Guns of Navarone is a 1961 British World War II adventure and swashbuckling film directed by J. Lee Thompson, loosely based on the novel of the same name by Alistair MacLean.
It follows an allied commando unit as they attempt to raid the island fortress of Navarone and steal an important codebook from its German overseers.
The movie’s lush cinematography transports viewers to another kind of world, where this mountain valley’s dampening fog and mist are so thick that they form a uniform, shifting blanket of white over everything.
American Sniper (2014)
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Luke Grimes, Cory Hardict
Director: Clint Eastwood
American Sniper (2014) is a biographical war drama film, directed by Clint Eastwood and written by Jason Hall.
The film focuses on Chris Kyle who, as a member of SEAL Team 3, served three tours in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom between 2003 and 2009.
He earned two Silver Stars, five Bronze Medals with “V” device for valor from his superiors, and many more decorations that were classified under American military secrecy.
The film was a huge success with its gripping story and fantastic cinematography as well as suspenseful and thrilling moments.
It received many positive reviews for Cooper’s lead performance as well as Eastwood’s Direction.
The Great Raid (2005)
Cast: James Franco, Connie Nielsen, Benjamin Bratt, Joseph Fiennes
Director: John Dahl
The Great Raid is an intense and compelling film that celebrates the bravery and sacrifice of American soldiers, as well as the devotion of Asian citizens during World War II.
It also explores, in fascinating detail, the grueling process required to train elite American troops for a secret mission deep behind enemy lines in the jungles of Burma.
The Great Raid is a classic Hollywood war movie: spectacular battle sequences, a large cast of over-the-top supporting players.
The film won numerous awards including the Best Picture Academy Award, “Best Picture” Golden Globes, and “Best Director” Academy Awards.
Spectral (2016)
Cast: James Badge Dale, Max Martini, Emily Mortimer, Clayne Crawford
Director: Nic Mathieu
Spectral is a science fiction war thriller set in the near future.
A scientist involved in research into electromagnetism and quantum mechanics attempts to bridge both worlds by creating a new device that can access otherwise unusable information from the human brain.
At the same time, her husband discovers an entity known as “The Collector” that feeds on otherworldly energy called Spectra and stalks her through the house. She must find a way out of this trap before The Collector overcomes her.
The Seige of Jadotville (2016)
Cast: Mark Strong, Danny Sapani , Jason O’ Mara, Jamie Dornan,
Director: Richie Smyth
The Siege of Jadotville is an Irish true war drama that tells the story of how African troops killed some 300 Irish soldiers in a face-off called ‘The Battle of Jadotville’.
It was when they were attempting to relieve their comrades trapped in a FAPL (Forces Armées Populaires de Liberation) bunker near Gabon in 1967.
It is based on a declassified secret report by the British Defense Secretariat, which was issued on October 24, 1968.
Journey’s End (2017)
Cast: Asa Butterfield, Toby Jones, Paul Bettany, Sam Clatffin
Director: Saul Dibb
A moving and intimate story of survival, The Journey’s End follows a contingent of doomed British soldiers and their Jewish prisoners as the German army closed in on their beleaguered POW camp.
The film charts the final months of the Great War, as German tanks advance across no man’s land toward Allied trenches.
It paints a riveting portrait of combat from the perspective of men who do not survive their experience.
Capturing the human experience with unflinching clarity, Saul Dibb’s epic narrative was filmed entirely on location and won an Academy Award (Oscar) nomination for Best Cinematography.
12 Strong (2018)
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shanon, Michael Pena, Geoff Stults
Director: Nicolai Fuglsig
12 Strong is a poignant, powerful war movie that delivers the genuine emotion of a group of American soldiers fighting to hold back Taliban militants in Afghanistan.
Despite the over-enthusiasm of many to be called heroes and praised as such, this group of soldiers’ mission is anything but glamorous.
The movie doesn’t shy away from the realities of war and presents a realistic depiction of what it’s like for soldiers to fight in a foreign land.
The film shows the camaraderie between troops, but also their struggles with PTSD and other mental health issues.
A lot has been said about how this movie was filmed, but it’s clear that director Nicolai Fuglsig did an excellent job making sure that the action scenes were not only intense but also accurate.
Operation Finale (2018)
Cast: Oscar Isaac, Ben Kingsley, Lior Raz, Nick Kroll
Director: Chris Weitz
A riveting true story of a Mossad Agent’s fight against Nazi forces, Operation Finale is a triumph by director Chris Weitz.
Based on the intense and personal account of Adolf Eichmann, this mission pack movie details Wiesenthal’s involvement with the French resistance during the time of World War II.
With an all-star cast, we watch as he makes contact with the resistance and helps smuggle out 8 Nazis involved with mass genocide.
This movie offers a great perspective into history without being a complex film about politics or warfare theory.
The movie is about how one man brought justice to those who were wronged by others; this is a far too often neglected topic for all but history buffs or those who are interested in how things were before “the present” became “the present.”
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