War movies are attractive because they have suspenseful moments, emotional scenes and exciting twists and turns in the plot. All these factors make a war movie compelling to watch compared to other genres of movies. The best thing about war movies on Netflix is that they have something for everyone. Whether you want action-packed scenes or deep insights into the human condition, these films will not disappoint. Here are some of the best war movies on Netflix for your viewing pleasure:
7. Beasts of No Nation
Most people know of the movie Beasts of No Nation due to the controversy surrounding it. Netflix premiered this movie on their platform despite the fact that it should have been shown in theatres. The film is about a young boy’s journey from Ghana to find his father in the neighbouring country, Burkina Faso.
The movie was released on Netflix on October 16, 2015. It had a budget of $6 million with no acting experience for any actor. It was directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, an American film director who also directed the first season of HBO’s “True Detective.”
6. First They Killed My Father
The movie “First They Killed My Father” is based on the memoirs of Loung Ung, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge genocide during the 1970s in Cambodia. Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie directed the film and tells the story of a five-year-old girl who becomes one of 2.5 million people to lose her family and friends to Pol Pot’s genocidal regime.
The movie is a heartbreaking account of her experiences during these years. It portrays events at every level, from village life before Pol Pot through to his overthrow and escape into exile in Thailand. The film covers many difficult themes, including war, refugees, violence against women and children, starvation, torture, fear, and abuse.
5. The Siege of Jadotville
The Siege of Jadotville is a 2016 Irish-French-Belgian film based on the siege of Jadotville in Congo in September 1961.
The Siege of Jadotville is based on the true story of 150 Irish soldiers who were flown to Congo during a civil war and were ambushed by rebels without any backup. They are trapped inside their compound for days and under constant fire until, eventually, they surrender.
4. The King
Plot:
Hal, wayward prince and heir to the English throne, is crowned King Henry V after his tyrannical father dies. Now the young king must navigate palace politics, the war his father left behind, and the emotional strings of his past life.
IMDB: 7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
3. Da 5 Bloods
Plot:
From Academy Award® Winner Spike Lee comes a new joint: the story of four African American Vets – Paul (Delroy Lindo), Otis (Clarke Peters), Eddie (Norm Lewis), and Melvin (Isiah Whitlock, Jr.) – who return to Vietnam. Searching for the remains of their fallen Squad Leader (Chadwick Boseman) and the promise of buried treasure, our heroes, joined by Paul’s concerned son (Jonathan Majors), battle forces of Man and Nature – while confronted by the lasting ravages of The Immorality of The Vietnam War.
2. Outlaw King
Outlaw King is a story about Robert the Bruce, the king of Scotland. It covers the period before he is crowned to his fight for independence and eventual crowning. The movie takes place in 1304-1307.
The whole movie is based on true events, but it also has some liberties taken with it. For example, we see a scene where an English soldier murders Bruce’s wife and children, but that never happened. We can see this as an excuse for him to take revenge on the English and fight for independence.
1. The Pianist
The Pianist is a 2002 movie about the Holocaust and how it affects people on a personal level. It is the story of Polish-Jewish pianist, Wladyslaw Szpilman, who lives in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II. It is based on his autobiographical book “The Pianist: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man’s Survival in Warsaw, 1939-1945”. The film depicts Szpilman’s life in the ghetto from 1940 to 1945.
This movie was directed by Roman Polanski with a screenplay by Ronald Harwood. It stars Adrien Brody as Szpilman and features Emilia Fox, Frank Finlay, Ed Stoppard, and Michal Zebrowski.