20 Best War Movies on Netflix 2026
Find gripping war films on Netflix, from Lawrence of Arabia and The Deer Hunter to Jarhead, U-571, Official Secrets, and new 2026 picks.
If you’re searching for war films on Netflix that do more than deliver battle scenes, this list brings together grit, tension, and real emotional weight. You’ll find towering classics like Lawrence of Arabia and The Deer Hunter alongside sharper modern picks such as Jarhead, Official Secrets, and U-571. The lineup also reaches into biography, history, thriller, and drama, so there’s something here whether you want a sweeping epic, a tense submarine mission, or a grounded true-story account. Recent additions like Nuremberg and Sisu: Road to Revenge keep the selection current, while The Beguiled adds a darker, more unusual edge. With 20 titles to choose from, it’s an easy way to find a strong film for a serious movie night.
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01
Nuremberg
biography · drama · history · thriller · war
In postwar Germany, an American psychiatrist must determine whether Nazi prisoners are fit to go on trial for war crimes, and finds himself in a complex battle of intellect and ethics with Hermann Göring, Hitler's right-hand man.
Directed by James VanderbiltCast Rami Malek, Russell Crowe, Michael Shannon, Leo Woodall, John SlatteryNetflix -
02
The Deer Hunter
drama · war
Three steelworkers enlist in the army and are sent to Vietnam, one leaving behind a rushed marriage, the others a shared love. What they encounter during the war changes their lives forever.
Directed by Michael CiminoCast Robert De Niro, John Cazale, John Savage, Christopher Walken, Meryl StreepNetflix -
03
Lawrence of Arabia
adventure · biography · drama · war
During World War I, English officer Thomas Edward 'T.E.' Lawrence sets out to unite and lead the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes to fight the Turks.
Directed by David LeanCast Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins, Omar SharifNetflix -
04
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
action · adventure · drama · sci-fi · thriller · war
64 years before he becomes the tyrannical president of Panem, Coriolanus Snow sees a chance for a change in fortunes when he mentors Lucy Gray Baird, the female tribute from District 12.
Directed by Francis LawrenceCast Dexter Sol Ansell, Rosa Gotzler, Clemens Schick, Fionnula Flanagan, Tom BlythNetflix -
05
Sisu: Road to Revenge
action · thriller · war
Returning to the house where his family was brutally murdered during the war, "the man who refuses to die" dismantles it, loads it on a truck, and is determined to rebuild it somewhere safe in their honor. When the commander who killed his family comes back hellbent on finishing the job, a relentless, eye-popping cross-country chase ensues.
Directed by Jalmari HelanderCast Jorma Tommila, Stephen Lang, Richard Brake, Tommi Korpela, Kaspar VelbergNetflix -
06
Jarhead
biography · drama · war
Jarhead is a film about a US Marine Anthony Swofford’s experience in the Gulf War. After putting up with an arduous boot camp, Swofford and his unit are sent to the Persian Gulf where they are eager to fight, but are forced to stay back from the action. Swofford struggles with the possibility of his girlfriend cheating on him, and as his mental state deteriorates, his desire to kill increases.
Directed by Sam MendesCast Jake Gyllenhaal, Scott MacDonald, Peter Sarsgaard, Jamie Foxx, Ming LoNetflix -
07
The Beguiled
drama · history · thriller · war · western
During the Civil War, at a Southern girls’ boarding school, young women take in an injured enemy soldier. As they provide refuge and tend to his wounds, the house is taken over with sexual tension and dangerous rivalries, and taboos are broken in an unexpected turn of events.
Directed by Sofia CoppolaCast Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning, Oona LaurenceNetflix -
08
Official Secrets
biography · crime · drama · thriller · war
The true story of British intelligence whistleblower Katharine Gun who—prior to the 2003 Iraq invasion—leaked a top-secret NSA memo exposing a joint US-UK illegal spying operation against members of the UN Security Council. The memo proposed blackmailing member states into voting for war.
Directed by Gavin HoodCast Keira Knightley, Matt Smith, Matthew Goode, Rhys Ifans, Adam BakriNetflixAMC+ -
09
U-571
action · war
In the midst of World War II, the battle under the sea rages and the Nazis have the upper hand as the Allies are unable to crack their war codes. However, after a wrecked U-boat sends out an SOS signal, the Allies realise this is their chance to seize the 'enigma coding machine'.
Directed by Jonathan MostowCast Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel, Jon Bon Jovi, David KeithNetflix -
10
Born on the Fourth of July
biography · drama · war
Paralyzed in the Vietnam war, Ron Kovic becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country he fought for.
Directed by Oliver StoneCast Tom Cruise, Bryan Larkin, Raymond J. Barry, Caroline Kava, Josh EvansNetflix -
11
Riphagen
biography · drama · war
Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1944, during World War II. Andries Riphagen, a powerful underworld boss, has made his fortune by putting his many criminal talents at the service of the Nazi occupiers. But the long battle is about to end and the freedom fighters, who have been persecuted and murdered for years, are abandoning their hideouts to mercilessly hunt down those who have collaborated with the killers.
Directed by Pieter KuijpersCast Lisa Zweerman, Sigrid ten Napel, Huub Smit, Jeroen van Koningsbrugge, Anna RaadsveldNetflix -
12
American Sniper
action & adventure · drama · war & military
U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle takes his sole mission—protect his comrades—to heart and becomes one of the most lethal snipers in American history. His pinpoint accuracy not only saves countless lives but also makes him a prime target of insurgents. Despite grave danger and his struggle to be a good husband and father to his family back in the States, Kyle serves four tours of duty in Iraq. However, when he finally returns home, he finds that he cannot leave the war behind.
Directed by Clint EastwoodCast Bradley Cooper, Kyle Gallner, Cole Konis, Ben Reed, Elise RobertsonNetflix -
13
Grave of the Fireflies
animation · drama · war
In the final months of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his sister Setsuko are orphaned when their mother is killed during an air raid in Kobe, Japan. After a falling out with their aunt, they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. With no surviving relatives and their emergency rations depleted, Seita and Setsuko struggle to survive.
Directed by Isao TakahataCast Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi Yamaguchi, Kôzô HashidaNetflix -
15
Ordinary Men: The "Forgotten Holocaust"
documentary · history · war & military
Six million Jews died during World War II, both in the extermination camps and murdered by the mobile commandos of the Einsatzgruppen and police battalions, whose members shot men, women and children, day after day, obediently, as if it were a normal job, a fact that is hardly known today. Who were these men and how could they commit such crimes?
Directed by Manfred Oldenburg, Oliver HalmburgerCast Sönke HündingNetflix -
16
Tears of the Sun
action & adventure · drama · mystery & thriller · war & military
Navy SEAL Lieutenant A.K. Waters and his elite squadron of tactical specialists are forced to choose between their duty and their humanity, between following orders by ignoring the conflict that surrounds them, or finding the courage to follow their conscience and protect a group of innocent refugees. When the democratic government of Nigeria collapses and the country is taken over by a ruthless military dictator, Waters, a fiercely loyal and hardened veteran is dispatched on a routine mission to retrieve a Doctors Without Borders physician.
Directed by Antoine FuquaCast Bruce Willis, Monica Bellucci, Cole Hauser, Eamonn Walker, Johnny MessnerNetflix -
17
1917
action · drama · war
At the height of the First World War, two young British soldiers must cross enemy territory and deliver a message that will stop a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers.
Directed by Sam MendesCast Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Daniel Mays, Colin Firth, Pip CarterNetflix -
18
The Choral
drama · history · music · romance · war
As World War I rages on, Dr. Henry Guthrie takes over a British choral society that's lost most of its men to the army. The community soon discovers that the best response to the chaos of war is to make beautiful music together.
Directed by Nicholas HytnerCast Taylor Uttley, Oliver Briscombe, Amara Okereke, Blake Bentham, Liz SimmonsNetflix -
19
Golda
biography · drama · history · war
Focuses on the intensely dramatic and high-stakes responsibilities and decisions that Golda Meir, also known as the 'Iron Lady of Israel,' faced during the Yom Kippur War.
Directed by Guy NattivCast Helen Mirren, Zed Josef, Henry Goodman, Olivia Brody, Emma DaviesNetflix -
20
Mudbound
drama · war
In the post–World War II South, two families are pitted against a barbaric social hierarchy and an unrelenting landscape as they simultaneously fight the battle at home and the battle abroad.
Directed by Dee ReesCast Carey Mulligan, Jason Clarke, Mary J. Blige, Rob Morgan, Jason MitchellNetflix
Wrapping Up
This collection is built for viewers who want war cinema with range, from prestige classics to newer titles with suspense, scale, and strong performances. Whether you’re revisiting a landmark film or trying something fresh like Nuremberg or Sisu: Road to Revenge, the list makes it easier to choose a worthwhile watch. Bookmark this page so you can come back whenever you want a dependable shortlist. It’s updated regularly, so the lineup stays useful as Netflix changes its catalog.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is this list updated?
We refresh this list regularly as titles are added or removed from streaming catalogs, so rankings and availability stay current.
Do I need a Netflix subscription to watch these?
Yes — every title on this list is currently available on Netflix. Availability can change, so we recommend checking the streaming link on each title before you start watching.
How are these war movies ranked?
We rank by a combination of audience rating and current popularity, so you're seeing the war titles people are actually watching right now, not just an old fixed list.
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Last updated: September 10, 2026