The Siege of Jadoltville, The Liberator, All Quiet on the Western Front – Pictures via Netflix
Whether you’re seeking an epic war film or something more emotionally driven, Netflix offers up plenty of amazing war movies. In this list, we explore 10 of the best that you can stream today.
Netflix has an esteemed history when it comes to war movies, not least thanks to the Oscar-winning World War I flick All Quiet on the Western Front. In fact, the streamer’s first-ever original movie was a war film, Beasts of No Nation, which was released a decade ago in 2015. Let’s take a tour of 10 of the greatest Netflix Original war films and series, ranging from WWI and WWII to medieval wars and more.
Will
Two young police officers find themselves torn between collaboration and resistance as they navigate the Nazi-occupied Antwerp during World War II.
2024 movie Will swept the Ensor Awards, taking home Best Film. The movie takes place during World War II, when two young police officers in Nazi-occupied Antwerp find themselves torn between compliance and resilience. Collaborate and survive; or resist and be killed? The drama is poignant, emotional, and dark. It chronicles the struggles to stay alive during wartime in a way that’s both gritty and visceral.
The movie is available on Netflix through dub or subtitles.
The Six Triple Eight
During WWII, the only US Women's Army Corps unit of color stationed overseas takes on an impossible mission in Tyler Perry's drama based on a true story.
The Six Triple Eight tells the story of a pivotal, yet somewhat overlooked part of World War II. The story follows the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, led by Major Charity Adams (Kerry Washington). The unit was the sole all-Black, all-female Women’s Army Corps stationed in Europe during WWII. Their task? To sift through and sort out massive backlog of around 17 million undelivered mail to U.S. soldiers. The movie tackles themes of racism and sexism, and is a poignant and important story that’s often been overlooked in the media.
While The Six Triple Eight received modest reviews, it reached the top 10 in over 85 countries, becoming Tyler Perry’s most successful Netflix film.
Outlaw King
In 14th-century Scotland, Robert the Bruce claims the crown and leads a fierce uprising to win back the country's independence from English rule.
With this entry, we head back to 14th-century Scotland, where Robert the Bruce (Chris Pine) leads a rebellion against oppressive English rule. After being exiled by the English, Robert the Bruce puts together a band of outlaws, and together they help him fight back and reclaim his throne. The film has a stacked cast, with supporting cast including Florence Pugh (Elizabeth de Burgh), Billy Howe (Edward, Prince of Wales) and Stephen Dilane (King Edward I of England).
The film brilliantly delves into the raw brutality of the times with gritty and intense action sequences, but was also criticised for its rushed plot. Even so, if you’re seeking a cinematic war movie of that period, it’s perhaps the finest choice for Netflix subscribers.
War Machine
A rock star general bent on winning the “impossible” war in Afghanistan takes us inside the complex machinery of modern war. Inspired by the true story of General Stanley McChrystal.
From raw, gritty, and deeply emotional war films, to Brad Pitt’s highly satirical War Machine, which follows eccentric and overly charismatic General Glen McMahon (Pitt) — described as the ‘rock star’ of his vocation — and his deployment to Afghanistan to lead NATO forces. However, upon arrival, he instantly becomes entangled in the complexities of modern warfare.
The movie loosely adapts ‘
The Liberator
A diverse, deeply brave crew of ragtag soldiers become some of the most heroic fighters of the European invasion in World War II. Based on true events.
Releasing back in 2020, British series The Liberator is one of the most unique war series on Netflix. Filmed using the Trioscope technique, the series blends live-action and CGI to create an utterly unique, yet visually appealing style.
The 4-episode series tells the true story of U.S. Army officer Felix Sparks and his unbelievably brave infantry unit, all battling their way through World War II Europe — an ongoing fight that they endured for over 500 days. The series was created by Vikings: Valhalla showrunner Jeb Stuart.
Beasts of No Nation
When civil war tears his family apart, a young West African boy is forced to join a unit of mercenary fighters and transform into a child soldier.
Releasing way back in 2015. Beasts of No Nation was the first-ever feature film distributed by Netflix. It’s based on the 2005 novel by Uzodinma Iweala and is headlined by Idris Elba. The movie follows a young African boy, Agu (Abraham Attah), who’s forced to join a military unit following a civil war that tears his family apart.
Despite being initially boycotted by theatre chains for violating the traditional release window for theatre exclusivity, the film still set a high standard for Netflix movies. In addition, Idris Elba took home a SAG-award for his outstanding performance.
Mosul
After his life is saved by a rogue Iraqi squadron, a young police officer joins them in their fight against ISIS in a decimated Mosul.
Releasing back in 2019, Arabic-language war movie Mosul covers the true events of the 2016 Battle of Mosul –where Iraqi forces and allied forces fought to liberate the city from ISIS control.
Directed by Matthew Michael Carnahan, the movie follows young Iraqi police officer Kawa, who’s unwittingly recruited into the Nineveh SWAT team. The renegade police force launches a perilous, and desperate, guerrilla operation against ISIS to reclaim the city. The film is a gripping watch, covering the battle through in incredibly realistic and fresh lens. It currently stands at an impressive 83% on IMDb.
The Siege of Jadotville
Irish Commandant Pat Quinlan leads a stand off with troops against French and Belgian Mercenaries in the Congo during the early 1960s.
The Siege of Jadotville is a completely true story, based on Declan Power’s bestselling novel of the same name. It follows Commandant Pat Quinlan and his enormous unit of 156 Irish UN peacekeepers. In September 1961, while stationed in the mining town of Jadotville, his unit was attacked by upwards of 3000 Congolese troops, led by French and Belgian mercenaries. The movie covers the events of the siege that follows, from the incredible resilience to their impressive implementation of tactics.
The 2016 film was highly praised for its action sequences and for skillfully bringing a lesser-covered historical event to the big screen. Even all these years later, it remains one of Netflix’s finest war films. It hasn’t picked up nearly the viewership it deserves, so allow us to give you a wholehearted recommendation.
All the Light We Cannot See
In the final days of WWII, the paths of a blind French girl and a German soldier collide. Based on Anthony Doerr's Pulitzer Prize-winning bestseller.
All the Light We Cannot See is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Anthony Doerr. Netflix adapted the novel into a 4-part series in 2023. Directed by Stranger Things veteran Shawn Levy, the story takes place during World War II, where the lives of a blind French girl, Marie-Laure LeBlanc (Aria Mia Loberti), and a German soldier, Werner Pfennig (Louis Hofmann), unexpectedly intertwine.
All Quiet on the Western Front
When 17-year-old Paul joins the Western Front in World War I, his initial excitement is soon shattered by the grim reality of life in the trenches.
All Quiet on the Western Front is undeniably one of the most celebrated movies in Netflix’s history. Look no further than the nine Oscar nominations it received, taking home four: Best International Feature Film, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Production Design.
The adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s 1929 novel takes place during World War I, following an idealistic young German soldier on the frontline. His dreams and aspirations, and hopes of heroism, wither and fade as he deals with the intensity and distress of war. The film is a stunningly-filmed and striking piece of art, one that’s an absolute must-watch for any Netflix subscriber.
These are our picks. Which war movies would you have on your list? Tell us in the comments down below!
