There’s nothing better than watching war movies on Netflix on a Saturday night with some snacks.
The best part?
Netflix has many to choose from. If you also love to watch war movies on Netflix and don’t know which one to watch, we have a whole blog post about them.
So, let’s get started
The point of war movies is to inspire people’s heroism, bravery, and courage in times of hardship.
Historically correct war movies also provide the opportunity to learn about epic battles fought in the past.
The best war movies of all the time on Netflix are:
The African Queen (1951)
It is as much a love story as it is an adventure saga. The African Queen is set at the beginning of WWI. It stars Humphrey Bogart as Charlie Allnut, a gin-guzzling river rat estranged from civilization after running guns for rebels in the Congo. He rescues a missionary named Rose (Katharine Hepburn). They soon become unlikely partners when their steam launch faces the rapids and the Germans to get to salvation.
The Battle of Algiers (1966)
The Battle of Algiers is an Italian epic historical film, directed by Gillo Pontecorvo, that narrates the War of Independence in Algeria fought against French colonialism.
The Big Red One (1980)
The Big Red One is a film written and directed by Samuel Fuller based on his experiences as a WWII veteran. It stars Lee Marvin, Mark Hamill and Robert Carradine, amongst others.
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
When Allied prisoners of war are ordered to build a bridge to aid the Japanese war effort, Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness) meticulously oversees its construction. That is until he’s beaten at his own game by a no-nonsense POW known only as “the Sino” (Sessue Hayakawa).
The Imitation Game (2014)
Benedict Cumberbatch is Alan Turing, the genius mathematician and cryptanalyst who broke the infamous German Enigma code during World War II. He then spearheaded a team whose work led to modern computers. Turing’s homosexuality is also brought to light with all the consequences he suffered, albeit becoming a hero. It also stars Keira Knightley and Matthew Goode, amongst others.
The Last King of Scotland (2006)
A young doctor assigned to work in Uganda quickly gets swept up into the political disaster of Idi Amin’s reign. But his true motivation for staying may lie closer to home. Forest Whitaker won an Oscar for his depiction of the brutal Ugandan dictator.
Lone Survivor (2013)
Based on the failed mission to capture or kill Taliban leader Ahmad Shah, Lone Survivor follows a group of four Navy SEALs on an ill-fated covert mission in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan.
War movies are a great way to learn about conflicts from the past. Whether you’re looking for drama or action, there is no shortage of options when it comes to war films streaming on Netflix. Have you watched any of these war films yet? Let us know which one was your favourite by leaving a comment below.