25 Best Netflix War Movies: Full List
Who likes to watch movies, is always wanting new recommendations of what to see. With that in mind, we have selections of the best Netflix Western movies, the best Netflix movies to watch on weekends, and even a schedule of Netflix 2020 movie releases. If you prefer another type of media, check out the best Netflix series!
Now, we've created a list of the best Netflix war movies. If this is your favorite genre, read on and check out all the recommendations!
1. Beasts of no Nation
We started our list with the first of the original Netflix movies of all time, Beasts of no Nation, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga. It is an American and Ghanaian collaboration.
It is based on the experiences of Agu, a child soldier forced to fight a civil war in an unnamed African country after being captured by the army. Check it out right now through the link!
2. Riphagen
A 2016 Dutch film, Riphagen is directed by Pieter Kuijpers and features Jeroen van Koningsbrugge and Kay Greidanus in the cast.
Follow Dries Riphagen, a Dutch criminal and traitor during World War II who helped Nazi Germany find the Jewish people while stealing its treasures for itself. Watch this great movie on Netflix, one of the best sites for watching movies and series.
3. Even the Last Man
Anyone who enjoys watching movies needs to know Up to the Last Man, directed by Mel Gibson and written by Andrew Knight and Robert Schenkkan based on a 2004 documentary.
It focuses on the experiences of Desmond Doss, a pacifist combat physician, during World War II, who refused to use or carry weapons of any kind. See this exciting film by clicking on the link.
4. A State of Freedom
One of the best Netflix war films is A State of Freedom, written and directed by Gary Ross, with Matthew McConaughey in the cast.
It follows a defector from the Confederate army, Newton Knight, who leads an armed revolt against the Confederate government of Mississippi. Check it out on Netflix!
5. Jadotville
Directed by Richie Smyth and written by Kevin Brodbin, Jadotville is based on a book by Declan Power, The Siege at Jadotville: The Irish Army’s Forgotten Battle.
An Irish army unit follows the mission to maintain peace in Congo in 1961. The commander of that unit, Pat Quinlan, leads his troops against French and Belgian mercenaries in the country. Click on the link to watch one of the best streaming services.
6. Iron Hearts
One of the best-known films on our list, Iron Hearts is written and directed by David Ayer and has names like Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman in the cast.
It takes place in 1945, while the allies are advancing in the European Theater. A sergeant, Wardaddy, commands his tank with 5 men on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. They do everything to attack the heart of Nazi Germany. Watch it now on Netflix!
7. Lída Baarová
A Czech biographical film, Lída Baarová is directed by Filip Renc, written by Ivan Hubac and has Tatiana Pauhofová, Karl Markovics and Gedeon Burkhard in the cast.
There follows a Czech actress, Lída Baarová, who was not only giant on the screen, but also won the heart of Joseph Goebbels, the Minister of Nazi Propaganda, even though he was not of an Aryan lineage. Watch this true story on Netflix, which has one of the best apps for watching movies and series!
8. The Mauthausen Photographer
Of Spanish origin, The Photographer of Mauthausen is a historical biographical drama directed by Mar Targarona and written by Roger Danès and Alfred Pérez Fargas, with Mario Casas, Macarena Gómez and Alain Hernández in the cast.
Follows Francesc Boix, a former soldier of the Spanish Civil War who was arrested in the concentration camp at Mauthausen in Austria, who does everything to have historical evidence of the horrors that happened there. Check out this heavy (and real) movie through the link.
9. Anonymous soldier
Another well-known film is Soldado Anonymous, a biographical drama based on a memoir of the same name, directed by Sam Mendes with Jake Gyllenhaal in the cast.
Follows Swoff, a third generation soldier, since he started his journey in the army until he entered active duty, in the deserts of the Middle East with nothing more than a rifle and a heavy backpack, in a country he does not know fighting for a cause he does not understand . To watch, follow the link!
10. The Darkest Hour
Another one of the best Netflix movies of war Is the Darkest Hour, which is also one of the best Netflix spy movies. It is directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by Mark Boal.
It dramatizes the nearly decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks. The search results in the discovery of its complex in Pakistan and the military invasion that resulted in his death in May 2011. Click on the link to watch this excellent film on one of the best streaming services!
11. Dogs of War
An acid comedy film, directed by Todd Phillips and written by him, alongside Jason Smilovic and Stephen Chin is Dogs of War, released in 2016 and featuring Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, Ana de Armas and Bradley Cooper in the cast.
It follows David Packouz and Efraim Diveroli, two friends who won a $ 300 million contract to arm the Afghan army, which puts them in contact with some very suspicious people. Follow the link to see it!
12. The Resistance Banker
Another Dutch film, The Resistance Banker is directed by Joram Lürsen, written by Marieke van der Pol and Thomas van der Ree and with Barry Atsma, Jacob Derwig and Pierre Bokma in the cast.
It follows Walraven van Hall, a banker who financed Dutch resistance during World War II. Together with his brother, he created plans to borrow, with which he managed to finance the resistance. Go to Netflix to watch!
13. Sand Castle
Another of the best Netflix war movies is Castelo de Areia, an American drama directed by Fernando Coimbra and written by Chris Roessner. It has Henry Cavill and Beau Knapp in the cast.
It follows a young soldier, Matt Ocre, and his introduction to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He is tasked with restoring access to water to a village in the country. It shows all the destruction and horrors of war. Check out this strong movie through the link on one of the best streaming services!
14. The Boy Who Discovered the Wind
An 2019 English film, The Boy Who Discovered the Wind is one of the best Netflix movies in 2019. It was written and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, who also features in the cast. It is based on a memoir of the same name by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer.
A thirteen-year-old boy follows in Malawi, who invents a rather unusual way of saving his family and village from starvation. It is based on the real story of William Kamkwamba. To watch this movie, follow the link to Netflix.
15. Invincible
One of the best films for those who enjoy watching Netflix offline is Invincible, produced and directed by Angelina Jolie and written by the Coen brothers, along with Richard LaGravenese and William Nicholson.
Follows an Olympic athlete, Louis Zamperini, after his plane crashed in World War II. He spends 47 days at sea with two companions before being caught by the Japanese Navy and sent to a concentration camp. Check it out through the link!
16. Black Hawk in Danger
Black Hawk in Danger is a 2001 war film produced and directed by Ridley Scott, written by Ken Nolan. It is based on a book of the same name from 1999, by Mark Bowden. It is the first film in which Tom Hardy acts.
It follows 160 elite American soldiers who go to Somalia to capture two lieutenants of a war leader, and are in a desperate battle for their lives against a large armed force. Go to Netflix to see.
17. 6 Days
English and New Zealand collaboration, 6 Days is an action and political film directed by Toa Fraser and written by Glenn Standring, based on the siege of the Iranian Embassy in London and features Jamie Bell, Abbie Cornish, Mark Strong and Martin Shaw in the cast .
The siege is shown from three perspectives: from negotiator Max Vernon, from SAS (Special Air Service) leader Rusty Firmin and from BBC reporter Kate Adie. It shows the 6-day stalemate, while SAS soldiers were preparing to invade the place. Check it out right now through the link on Netflix, which has one of the best apps for watching anime!
18. Frontier Operation
Another of the best Netflix war films is Operation Frontier, 2017, directed by J. C. Chandor, who wrote the film with Mark Boal based on a second story. It features Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac and Charlie Hunnam in the cast.
Following are five friends and former special forces officers come together to defeat a South American drug baron, which ends up causing a string of unwanted and unexpected consequences. Follow the link to watch!
19. Three Kings
A 1999 comedy film, Three Kings is written and directed by David O. Russell based on a story by John Ridley. Star George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube.
It takes place after the Gulf War, when four soldiers decide to steal another that had been stolen from Kuwait, but find people desperate for help. Watch through the link!
20. The Literary Society and the Potato Skins Pie
A historical drama directed by Mike Newell and written by Don Roos and Tom Bezucha, The Literary Society and Potato Skins was launched in 2018 based on a book of the same name.
It takes place after World War II, when a writer forms ties with residents of Guernsey Island when she decides to write about her experiences in the war. Watch it now on Netflix!
21. Mission in the Red Sea
Mission in the Red Sea is a 2019 spy and war movie. It was written and directed by Gideon Raff and features Chris Evans in the cast.
There follows a Mossad agent who leads an operation that helps Jewish refugees from Ethiopia to escape to Israel. Check it out through the link!
22. Final Operation
Final Operation is a historical drama directed by Chris Weitz and written by Matthew Orton, with Oscar Isaac, Ben Kingsley, Lior Raz, Mélanie Laurent, Nick Kroll, and Haley Lu Richardson in the cast.
There follows a group of Mossad agents who must capture Adolf Eichmann, a Nazi officer who helped lead the Holocaust. To see this exciting film, follow the link!
23. War Machine
Another of the best Netflix war films is War Machine, an American satire of 2017 that was directed and written by David Michôd and has Brad Pitt, Anthony Michael Hall and Anthony Hayes in the cast.
An American general encounters opposition from his enemies, allies and bureaucrats as he tries to rebuild a massive operation in Afghanistan. Check it out right now on Netflix!
24. Road 47
The only Brazilian film on our list, A Estrada 47 is a drama written and directed by Vicente Ferraz based on real events. It has Daniel de Oliveira, Richard Sammel, Sergio Rubini and Julio Andrade in the cast.
It shows Brazil's involvement in the Second World War. He focuses on the drama that an anti-mine unit faces after a panic attack, trying to disable a minefield. Click on the link to see the movie!
25. First they killed my Father
The last film on our list, First Killed My Father is one of the best Netflix drama films. It is a Cambodian and American collaboration. It was directed by Angelina Jolie and written by her with Loung Ung, based on the memoir of the same name by Ung.
It takes place in 1975 and shows Ung aged 5, forced to be trained to be soldered while his brothers are sent to forced labor camps during the Khmer Rouge regime. Follow the link to see this real story.
So, what did you think of our selection of the best Netflix war movies?
Leave in the comments your opinion about them, saying if you already knew them and if we present any new ones. Also, say if you think we forgot any and remember to check out the series releases on Netflix in 2020 and the list of the best documentaries!
