12 Epic War Movies on Netflix to Stream

If you’d like to spend your movie night watching an epic film about war, consider looking for one on Netflix. The king of streaming services offers a myriad of war movies for every taste, from classic dramas to modern action-packed blockbusters and emotional love stories. Unfortunately, some of those titles may appear unavailable in your current location. But with a virtual private network (VPN) service, you can overcome this challenge and enjoy the desired content even when going abroad. Here are our top picks of movies about war on Netflix and how to access them from anywhere.

VeePN Research Lab

Sep 22, 2023

11 min read

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The best war movies on Netflix

With hundreds of titles available, it may not be easy to choose a perfect movie right away. So, for your convenience, we picked the 12 best war movies to watch on Netflix. Ready? Let’s jump in!

💡 Pro tip: Netflix catalogs vary in different countries due to copyright and distribution agreements. It means that when traveling abroad, you may find a particular movie unavailable in the local Netflix library. Luckily, a reputable VPN service like VeePN can solve this problem. It alters your virtual location by changing your IP address, so Netflix and other websites won’t detect where you really are. Download VeePN for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, or any other device, connect to one of the remote servers across 89 locations in 60 countries, and enjoy the war movie of your choice without speed drops and privacy challenges.

1. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

📺 Available on Netflix in Germany, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Ukraine, Colombia, Israel, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Turkey

🎥 Genre: epic war movie

⭐️ IMDb: 8.6

🎬 Directed by: Steven Spielberg

🪖 Starring: Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore

Saving Private Ryan is generally considered one of those movies everyone should watch and is on the top of almost any list of the best classic war films on Netflix. Why? Maybe because it’s a drama based on true historical events? Definitely (Steven Spielberg never fails here). Outstanding special effects and realistic battle scenes? Sure thing! And what about acting? Just take a look at the amazing cast of this movie.

The film tells the story of a group of soldiers led by captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) in France during World War II. They take on an extremely difficult mission – to find private James Ryan (Matt Damon) and bring him home after his three brothers die on the battlefield.

2. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

📺 Available on Netflix in the United States, Australia, Czech Republic, Japan, South Korea

🎥 Genre: biographical war movie

⭐️ IMDb: 8.1

🎬 Directed by: Mel Gibson

🪖 Starring: Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Hugo Weaving

An American Army combat medic Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield) joins the Battle of Okinawa, despite the fact that he can’t kill people due to his personal principles and beliefs. But can someone whose religious views don’t let them take up weapons become a war hero? The director Mel Gibson answers this question in an uncompromising and powerful manner, making Hacksaw Ridge not only one of the best World War 2 movies on Netflix, but also a strong humanistic statement.

3. 1917 (2019)

📺 Available on Netflix in the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain

🎥 Genre: war movie

⭐️ IMDb: 8.2

🎬 Directed by: Sam Mendes

🪖 Starring: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew Scott, Colin Firth

1917 is probably the most stunning among many World War 1 movies on Netflix. Two British soldiers – lance corporal Schofield (George MacKay) and lance corporal Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) – receive an order that seems almost impossible to fulfill. They should enter the enemy territory to pass an important message that could save thousands of lives, including Blake’s brother.

This critically acclaimed war movie has become famous for its accurate and realistic depiction of war, showing its horror and brutality.

4. Dunkirk (2017)

📺 Available on Netflix in France, Germany, Belgium, Japan, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland

🎥 Genre: historical war action thriller movie

⭐️ IMDb: 7.8

🎬 Directed by: Christopher Nolan

🪖 Starring: Killian Murphy, Tom Hardy, Fion Whitehead, Tom Glynn-Carney, Harry Styles

It would be surprising if the master of visual storytelling Christopher Nolan didn’t step into the genre of war movies. Dunkirk is based on a true story of British, French, and Belgian soldiers trying to evacuate from the town of Dunkirk during a battle against German forces. The movie portrays these events from sea, land, and air.

Dunkirk is definitely one of the best Netflix war movies based on true stories – a must-watch for fans combining original concepts with outstanding visual effects. As a bonus, you can enjoy one of the most intense and impressive soundtracks of all time by Hans Zimmer.

5. The Last Samurai (2003)

📺 Available on Netflix in Germany, Australia, Italy, Switzerland

🎥 Genre: epic period action drama movie

⭐️ IMDb: 7.8

🎬 Directed by: Edward Zwick

🪖 Starring: Tom Cruise, Timothy Spall, Ken Watanabe, Billy Connolly

The movie is set in Japan during the 1890s. The Emperor of Japan hires American captain Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) to train his army of samurai in the use of modern weapons.

If you want to dive into the traditions of the mysterious Japan of the 19th century, The Last Samurai is a perfect fit. The movie combines impressive battle scenes, beautiful Japanese landscapes, and excellent acting performances by Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe.

6. Atonement (2007)

📺 Available on Netflix in Brazil

🎥 Genre: romantic war drama

⭐️ IMDb: 7.8

🎬 Directed by: Joe Wright

🪖 Starring: James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Romola Garai, Saoirse Ronan

If you’re looking for romantic war movies on Netflix, Atonement is a perfect option for your movie night. This English drama based on the book by Ian McEwan follows Cecilia Tallis (Keira Knightly) and Robbie Turner (James McAvoy) who fall in love regardless of social inequality. But the couple is suddenly torn apart because of a false slander. Their paths cross again during the terrible events of World War II.

Unfortunately, the Atonement movie is only available on Netflix in Brazil. Alternatively, you can find this movie on Amazon Prime Video.

7. Black Hawk Down (2001)

📺 Available on Netflix in Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, Belgium, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Ukraine, Turkey, Thailand, Switzerland, Sweden, South Africa, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia

🎥 Genre: war movie

⭐️ IMDb: 7.7

🎬 Directed by: Ridley Scott

🪖 Starring: Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore, Jason Isaacs

This movie is based on a non-fiction book by Mark Browden telling the story of the Black Hawk helicopter crew that was shot down at the battle of Mogadishu. Captain Mike Steele (Jason Isaacs) leads a group of US soldiers to catch two top lieutenants of a Somali warlord. This attempt results in a fierce battle between the United States forces and local militias.

8. Beasts of No Nation (2015)

📺 Available on Netflix in most locations

🎥 Genre: war drama movie

⭐️ IMDb: 7.7

🎬 Directed by: Cary Joji Fukunaga

🪖 Starring: Idris Elba, Kurt Egyiawan, Jude Akuwudike, Abraham Attah

This movie shot and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga follows a young boy in an unspecified Western African country. Abu (Abraham Attah) becomes a child soldier who participates in a horrible civil war. Although this Netflix original is not based on a true story, it accurately portrays the frequent armed conflicts occurring across the continent. Besides, Beasts of No Nation includes one of the best long-take sequence scenes among all military action movies on Netflix.

9. Fury (2014)

📺 Available on Netflix in Australia, Belgium, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Malaysia, Iceland, Mexico, Romania, the Netherlands, Slovakia, South Korea, Sweden, South Korea, the United Kingdom

🎥 Genre: war movie

⭐️ IMDb: 7.6

🎬 Directed by: David Ayer

🪖 Starring: Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Jon Bernthal

Fury is another great epic war movie based on World War II events. Sergeant Don “Wardaddy” Collier (Brad Pitt) leads a Sherman tank with a crew of five men in the enemy territory, facing the overwhelming forces of Nazi Germany in April 1945. While the story itself is fictional, it follows the experience of several real-life Allied tankers. Fury also includes some of the most realistic and impressive tank battles in movies.

10. American Sniper (2014)

📺 Available on Netflix in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, Switzerland, the United Kingdom

🎥 Genre: biographical war drama movie

⭐️ IMDb: 7.3

🎬 Directed by: Clint Eastwood

🪖 Starring: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller

Among numerous true-story war movies on Netflix, this one is definitely worth your attention. Directed by legendary Clint Eastwood, the film follows US Navy SEAL Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper) during the war in Iraq. While struggling to be a good father and husband back home, he becomes the deadliest sniper in American military history (255 kills during four tours in the Iraq War).

Apart from many epic battle scenes, the movie covers challenges like the soldiers’ adaptation to peaceful lives after returning home.

11. Eye in the Sky (2015)

📺 Available on Netflix in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia

🎥 Genre: thriller

⭐️ IMDb: 7.3

🎬 Directed by: Gavin Hood

🪖 Starring: Helen Mirren, Alan Rickman, Aaron Paul, Barkhad Abdi

Eye in the Sky is not a typical war movie but rather an intense thriller raising ethical dilemmas associated with armed conflicts. A lieutenant general (Alan Rickman) and a colonel (Helen Mirren) find themselves at the center of a political scandal after taking down a group of terrorists in Kenya with a drone strike. The attack led to the death of an innocent victim, causing public debate.

12. First They Killed My Father (2017)

📺 Available on Netflix in most locations

🎥 Genre: biographical historical thriller movie

⭐️ IMDb: 7.2

🎬 Directed by: Angelina Jolie

🪖 Starring: Sreymoch Sareum, Socheata Sveng, Kimhak Mun

First They Killed My Father is a Netflix original that follows the life of Loung Ung – a young Cambodian girl who becomes a child soldier and goes through the horrors of the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s. This biographical drama is based on Ung’s memoir of the same name, and the movie’s original language is Khmer. Moreover, Jolie wrote the script for this movie together with Loung Ung herself.

Now, let’s take a look at how to access these and other Netflix war movies with the help of a reputable VPN for streaming like VeePN.

How to watch war movies on Netflix with a VPN

To access the desired movie or TV show on Netflix while traveling, follow these simple steps:

Head to the VeePN website and create an account.
Select the most suitable pricing plan for your needs.
Download and install the VeePN app on your device. VeePN supports all popular devices and operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux, as well as smart TVs, streaming devices, and even Wi-Fi routers.

Choose the desired server location. For instance, if you’re an American temporarily visiting Europe, choose one of our US-based servers to get a relevant IP address and access the American Netflix library.

Select the most suitable server location

Clear your browsing data and turn your VPN on.

You’re all set! Open Netflix, log into your account, and enjoy a smooth streaming experience with VeePN.

For more details, check out our comprehensive guide on how to change your Netflix region and access hidden content while traveling.

⚠️ Note that VeePN is not intended to be used as a means of copyright circumvention. VeePN is not sponsored or endorsed by Netflix, nor is it affiliated with Netflix in any way. For more details, read the VeePN Terms of Service and Terms of Use of Netflix.

Bottom line

Ready to watch one of our top picks? Then, grab some popcorn and a pack of handkerchiefs (depending on which war movie you’re going to watch), and make sure to get started with VeePN – one of the best VPNs for streaming out there. Overcome Internet limitations and don’t miss out on your favorite Netflix content wherever you go.

Pick the most suitable VeePN pricing plan and try it now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!

FAQ: Best War Movies on Netflix

Yes, there are dozens of decent war movies on Netflix, from classics like Saving Private Ryan and The Last Samurai to modern action military films like Dunkirk and 1917. Not all of them are available in every country, though. Check out this article to learn more.

There are several worthy movies about World War I on Netflix, including 1917 (a 2019 epic war film directed by Sam Mendes) and Women at War (a 2022 mini-series about the lives of four women during World War I). Read this article to find out more interesting movies about war available on Netflix.

There are several exciting movies about the war in Iraq on Netflix. They include American Sniper (2014), War Machine (2017), The Yellow Birds (2017), and Mosul (2019). Read this article to explore our top picks of war movies on Netflix.