Our team compiled the best war movies and here is what they came up with
War movies are a popular genre that deals with the human experience of war and its impact on soldiers and civilians. They offer a powerful and emotional portrayal of the sacrifices made by soldiers, the horrors of war and the impact it has on the people and their families. They often explore themes of heroism, bravery, sacrifice, and the cost of freedom. War movies are popular because they provide a deeper understanding of the history and events that shape the world we live in. They also offer a glimpse into the human experience of war, which can be difficult to fully comprehend without the visual representation. Additionally, they often feature powerful performances by actors and are directed by some of the best in the industry.
Here are the 23 best war movies to check out on the streaming service.
1. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
A war film directed by Steven Spielberg, the movie grossed over $481 million worldwide. The movie takes place during the invasion of Normandy in World War II, where a group of soldiers is sent behind enemy lines to find and bring back a paratrooper whose brothers have been killed in action. The story follows Captain John Miller, who leads the soldiers on their mission. The movie was appreciated for its intense and realistic portrayal of the horrors of war, its strong performances, particularly by Tom Hanks, and its Oscar-winning cinematography. Rated R
2. Schindler’s List (1993)
A war film directed by Steven Spielberg, the movie grossed over $321 million worldwide. The movie takes place during World War II, where a German businessman, Oskar Schindler, saves the lives of more than a thousand Jewish refugees from the Holocaust. The story follows Schindler as he uses his influence and money to protect and save the lives of the Jewish refugees. The movie was appreciated for its powerful and emotional portrayal of the Holocaust, its strong performances, particularly by Liam Neeson, and its Oscar-winning cinematography and directing. Rated R
3. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
A war film directed by David Lean, the movie grossed over $10 million worldwide. The movie takes place during World War II, where a group of British prisoners of war are forced to build a bridge for the Japanese army in Burma. The story follows Colonel Nicholson, who is the commanding officer of the prisoners, as he struggles with his duty and his pride. The movie was appreciated for its strong performances, particularly by Alec Guinness, and its Oscar-winning screenplay, directing and cinematography. Rated PG
4. The Great Escape (1963)
A war film directed by John Sturges, the movie grossed over $17 million worldwide. The movie takes place during World War II, where a group of Allied prisoners of war plan a mass escape from a German camp. The story follows Squadron Leader Roger Bartlett, who leads the escape plan and the prisoners as they escape. The movie was appreciated for its thrilling and exciting portrayal of the escape, its strong performances, particularly by Steve McQueen, and its iconic theme music. Rated PG
5. The Dirty Dozen (1967)
A war film directed by Robert Aldrich, the movie grossed over $45 million worldwide. The movie takes place during World War II, where a group of convicted criminals are trained and sent on a dangerous mission to infiltrate and sabotage a German stronghold. The story follows Major John Reisman, who leads the criminals on their mission. The movie was appreciated for its thrilling and exciting portrayal of the mission, its strong performances, particularly by Lee Marvin, and its ensemble cast of iconic actors. Rated PG
6. The Deer Hunter (1978)
A war film directed by Michael Cimino, the movie grossed over $48 million worldwide. The movie takes place during the Vietnam War, where a group of friends from a small town in Pennsylvania are sent to fight in the war. The story follows Michael, Nick and Steven, who are friends from the town, as they go through the horrors of the war and their struggle to return home. The movie was appreciated for its powerful and emotional portrayal of the Vietnam War, its strong performances, particularly by Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken, and its Oscar-winning cinematography and directing. Rated R
7. Apocalypse Now (1979)
A war film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the movie grossed over $150 million worldwide. The movie takes place during the Vietnam War, where a U.S. Army officer is sent on a dangerous mission to assassinate and assassinate a rogue colonel who has gone insane. The story follows Captain Willard, who is sent on the mission, as he travels up the Nung River to find and assassinate the colonel. The movie was appreciated for its intense and surreal portrayal of the Vietnam War, its strong performances, particularly by Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando, and its Oscar-winning sound editing. Rated R
8. Platoon (1986)
A war film directed by Oliver Stone, the movie grossed over $138 million worldwide. The movie takes place during the Vietnam War, where a young soldier is sent to fight in the war and experiences the horrors of the war. The story follows Chris, who is sent to fight in the war, as he struggles to survive and make sense of the war. The movie was appreciated for its realistic and intense portrayal of the Vietnam War, its strong performances, particularly by Charlie Sheen and Willem Dafoe, and its Oscar-winning directing and cinematography. Rated R
9. Full Metal Jacket (1987)
A war film directed by Stanley Kubrick, the movie grossed over $46 million worldwide. The movie takes place during the Vietnam War, where a group of U.S. Marines are sent to fight in the war. The story follows Joker, who is a journalist covering the war, as he experiences the horrors of the war and the dehumanization of the soldiers. The movie was appreciated for its intense and realistic portrayal of the Vietnam War, its strong performances, particularly by Matthew Modine and Vincent D’Onofrio, and its Oscar-nominated writing and directing. Rated R
10. Glory (1989)
A war film directed by Edward Zwick, the movie grossed over $26 million worldwide. The movie takes place during the American Civil War, where the first African American regiment is sent to fight in the war. The story follows Colonel Robert Shaw, who leads the regiment, as he struggles to lead the regiment and the soldiers as they fight for their freedom and glory. The movie was appreciated for its powerful and emotional portrayal of the Civil War, its strong performances, particularly by Matthew Broderick and Denzel Washington, and its Oscar-winning writing and supporting acting. Rated R
11. The Thin Red Line (1998)
A war film directed by Terrence Malick, the movie grossed over $98 million worldwide. The movie takes place during World War II, where a group of soldiers are sent to fight in the Battle of Guadalcanal. The story follows a group of soldiers, including Private Witt, as they struggle to survive and make sense of the war. The movie was appreciated for its poetic and philosophical portrayal of the war, its strong performances, particularly by Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, and Jim Caviezel, and its Oscar-nominated writing and cinematography. Rated R
12. Black Hawk Down (2001)
A war film directed by Ridley Scott, the movie grossed over $172 million worldwide. The movie takes place during the Somali Civil War, where a group of U.S. soldiers are sent to capture a Somali warlord and are ambushed. The story follows the soldiers, including Staff Sergeant Eversmann, as they struggle to survive and fight their way out of the ambush. The movie was appreciated for its intense and realistic portrayal of the war, its strong performances, particularly by Josh Hartnett and Ewan McGregor, and its Oscar-nominated sound and editing. Rated R
13. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
A war film directed by Clint Eastwood, the movie grossed over $43 million worldwide. The movie takes place during World War II, where a group of Japanese soldiers are sent to fight on the island of Iwo Jima. The story follows the soldiers, including General Kuribayashi, as they struggle to survive and make sense of the war. The movie was appreciated for its powerful and emotional portrayal of the war, its strong performances, particularly by Ken Watanabe, and its Oscar-nominated writing and directing. Rated R
14. The Hurt Locker (2008)
A war film directed by Kathryn Bigelow, the movie grossed over $49 million worldwide. The movie takes place during the Iraq War and follows a team of soldiers who are tasked with diffusing and disposing of bombs. The story follows the team, led by Staff Sergeant William James, as they struggle to survive and complete their mission. The movie was appreciated for its intense and realistic portrayal of the war, its strong performances, particularly by Jeremy Renner and Anthony Mackie, and its Oscar-winning writing and directing. Rated R
15. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
A war film directed by Quentin Tarantino, the movie grossed over $321 million worldwide. The movie takes place during World War II and follows a group of Jewish soldiers who are tasked with killing Nazis. The story follows the soldiers, led by Lieutenant Aldo Raine, as they struggle to survive and complete their mission. The movie was appreciated for its unique and entertaining portrayal of the war, its strong performances, particularly by Brad Pitt and Christoph Waltz, and its Oscar-nominated writing and cinematography. Rated R
16. War Horse (2011)
A war film directed by Steven Spielberg, the movie grossed over $177 million worldwide. The movie takes place during World War I and follows a horse named Joey as he is sold to the army and sent to the front lines. The story follows Joey as he is passed from owner to owner and struggles to survive the war. The movie was appreciated for its emotional and powerful portrayal of the war, its strong performances, particularly by Emily Watson and Peter Mullan, and its Oscar-nominated score and visual effects. Rated PG-13
17. Lone Survivor (2013)
A war film directed by Peter Berg, the movie grossed over $154 million worldwide. The movie takes place during the War in Afghanistan and follows a team of Navy SEALs who are tasked with capturing a Taliban leader. The story follows the team, led by Lieutenant Michael Murphy, as they struggle to survive and complete their mission. The movie was appreciated for its intense and realistic portrayal of the war, its strong performances, particularly by Mark Wahlberg and Taylor Kitsch, and its attention to detail and accuracy. Rated R
18. American Sniper (2014)
A war film directed by Clint Eastwood, the movie grossed over $547 million worldwide. The movie takes place during the Iraq War and follows a Navy SEAL named Chris Kyle as he becomes the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history. The story follows Kyle as he struggles to survive and make sense of the war, and deals with its aftermath. The movie was appreciated for its powerful and emotional portrayal of the war, its strong performances, particularly by Bradley Cooper, and its Oscar-nominated writing and directing. Rated R
19. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
A war film directed by Mel Gibson, the movie grossed over $175 million worldwide. The movie tells the true story of Desmond Doss, a combat medic during World War II who refused to carry or use a weapon, and instead saved 75 men in the Battle of Okinawa. The story follows Doss as he struggles to survive and make sense of the war, and deals with its aftermath. The movie was appreciated for its powerful and emotional portrayal of the war, its strong performances, particularly by Andrew Garfield, and its Oscar-nominated writing, directing and sound editing. Rated R
20. Dunkirk (2017)
A war film directed by Christopher Nolan, the movie grossed over $526 million worldwide. The movie takes place during the evacuation of Dunkirk during World War II, and follows soldiers and civilians as they struggle to survive and escape the German forces. The story follows multiple characters as they navigate the evacuation and face the harsh realities of war. The movie was appreciated for its intense and realistic portrayal of the war, its strong performances, particularly by Tom Hardy and Harry Styles, and its Oscar-nominated writing, directing and sound editing. Rated PG-13
21. Darkest Hour (2017)
A war film directed by Joe Wright, the movie grossed over $150 million worldwide. The movie tells the true story of Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II, as he faces the difficult decision of continuing the war or making peace with Germany. The story follows Churchill as he faces the pressure of the war and the British government, and ultimately makes the decision to fight on. The movie was appreciated for its powerful and emotional portrayal of the war, its strong performances, particularly by Gary Oldman, and its Oscar-nominated writing and acting. Rated PG-13
22. 1917 (2019)
A war film directed by Sam Mendes, the movie grossed over $373 million worldwide. The movie takes place during World War I and follows two young soldiers as they are tasked with delivering a message across enemy lines that will stop a deadly attack. The story follows the soldiers, Schofield and Blake, as they struggle to survive and complete their mission. The movie was appreciated for its intense and realistic portrayal of the war, its strong performances, particularly by George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman, and its Oscar-winning cinematography and sound editing. Rated R
23. The Pianist (2002)
A war film directed by Roman Polanski, the movie grossed over $123 million worldwide. The movie tells the true story of Władysław Szpilman, a Polish-Jewish pianist during World War II, as he struggles to survive the Holocaust in Warsaw. The story follows Szpilman as he faces the horrors of the war and the Holocaust, and ultimately survives. The movie was appreciated for its powerful and emotional portrayal of the war, its strong performances, particularly by Adrien Brody, and its Oscar-winning writing and directing. Rated R