Best War Movies on Netflix in 2025: Honest Reviews & Recommendations
Searching for intense war movies to watch? Netflix has hidden gems and classics that bring the madness, bravery, and sacrifices of combat to life. Below, we dissect the best war movies available on Netflix, with honest reviews to assist you in selecting your next movie.
1. The Siege of Jadotville (2016)
Director: Richie Smyth | Starring: Jamie Dornan, Mark Strong
This underappreciated movie recounts the real-life action of 150 Irish UN troops standing their ground against 3,000 hostile combatants in the 1961 Congo crisis. The action sequences are visceral but realistic, emphasizing teamwork and leadership on impossible odds. Though not as well-known as other war movies, Jadotville stands out for its real-story feel and suspenseful pacing.
Why watch? Great for people who like underdog themes. Demonstrates how strategy and bravery can overcome numbers.
2. Mosul (2019)
Director: Matthew Michael Carnahan | Cast: Suhail Dabbach, Adam Bessa
Track an Iraqi SWAT team's struggle to retake Mosul from ISIS. Mosul is remarkable for its gritty presentation of city warfare and camaraderie. The dialogue is in Arabic for realism, and the action sequences are frenetic but engaging.
Why watch? A glimpse into contemporary Middle Eastern conflicts. No glamour like in Hollywood—only grit and survival.
3. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Director: Steven Spielberg | Cast: Tom Hanks, Matt Damon
Spielberg's WWII classic tracks soldiers risking everything to save a paratrooper behind enemy lines. The D-Day opening sequence is one of cinema's most graphic war scenes. Though slow by today's standards, its emotional resonance and historical authenticity make it timelessness.
Why watch? A classic for history buffs. Highlights the human cost of heroism.
4. Black Hawk Down (2001)
Director: Ridley Scott | Starring: Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana
Based on the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, this film throws viewers into relentless urban warfare. Bullets fly nonstop as U.S. soldiers fight to survive after a mission goes wrong. The shaky camerawork adds to the chaos, making it feel like you’re in a firefight.
Why watch? Pure adrenaline. Displays the fog of war—no heroes or villains, just survival.
5. 1917 (2019)
Director: Sam Mendes | Starring: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman
Shot to resemble one long take shot, 1917 is about two soldiers in a mission to prevent a suicidal mission in WWI. Cinematography is breathtaking, with muddy trenches and creepy no-man's-land sequences. Though lighter on plot, the visual storytelling is unforgettable.
Why to watch? Technological wonder. Reminds me of a computer game but it has a feeling.
6. Beasts of No Nation (2015)
Director: Cary Fukunaga | Featuring: Idris Elba, Abraham Attah
War's effects on innocence are dramatized here through child soldiers in West Africa. A warlord (played by Idris Elba) is pulling kids into it. It is disturbing but imperative watching, where innocence meets devastation. Not suitable for the fainthearted.
Why see it? A savage wake-up call. Showcases a little-seen aspect of war.
7. The Outpost (2020)
Director: Rod Lurie | Cast: Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones
Based on the Battle of Kamdesh in 2009, the movie tracks U.S. troops defending an isolated outpost in Afghanistan. The climactic battle is an adrenaline-fueled 40 minutes with claustrophobic filming. Chemistry between the cast makes the bonding work.
Why watch? Contemporary warfare in all its madness. Honors unheralded heroes.
8. The Six Triple Eight (2024)
Director: Tyler Perry | Cast: Kerry Washington, Oprah Winfrey
This more recent release is a true story of the only Black all-female battalion in WWII. Charged with clearing out a mail backlog in Europe, they encounter racism and sexism in the process of demonstrating their capabilities. A different take on war usually overlooked by history.
Why watch? Inspirational and informative. Blends drama with historical significance.
Final Thoughts
Netflix's war films span historical epics (Saving Private Ryan) to contemporary thrillers (Mosul). For action, Black Hawk Down or The Outpost work. For depth, 1917 or Beasts of No Nation. Employ a VPN if a movie isn't showing in your area.
Which one will you watch first? Let us know in the comments!