Netflix is a household name these days. With its huge collection of classic cinema and TV shows, this streaming service is a huge hit all over the world.
When it comes to war-based movies, one gets a collection of hundreds of brilliant and selected movies from throughout the world. If you are also looking for the best war movies on Netflix to watch in Australia, check out the list below!
War films have never been behind in boosting adrenaline in our veins. There are many fantastic movies on Netflix Australia that are must-watch for a war movie fan. However, there are thousands of movies even on Netflix, and it’s hard to select the best ones. Hence, we have made a list of some of the best war movies on Netflix of all time!
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1. Da 5 Bloods
Director: Spike Lee
Writer: Danny Bilson, Paul De Meo, Kevin Willmott
Cast: Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters
The story is about four African American vets who were in a war returning to Vietnam. They return to the place and face a considerable number of problems both from men and nature.
Things get very uncomfortable and complicated for them, but all they want is to collect the remains of their dead leader and also find the hidden gold treasures.
It is the best war movie on Netflix right now and remains in the must-watch section of Netflix.
2. The Outpost
Director: Rod Lurie
Writer: Eric Johnson, Paul Tamasy
Cast: Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones, Orlando Bloom, Jack Kesy, Cory Hardrict, Milo Gibson, Jacob Scipio, Taylor John Smith
The plot of this war film revolves around a group of young and brave American soldiers fighting hard in the deep valley of Afghanistan.
They face the Taliban and try to wipe the unit out with massive battle action. The movie shows the challenging environment and callous situation soldiers face for the nation.
Leaving it out of the list of best war movies on Netflix will be an injustice to the list itself.
3. The King
Director: David Michôd
Writer: David Michôd, Joel Edgerton
Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Joel Edgerton, Robert Pattinson, Lily-Rose Depp, Sean Harris, Ben Mendelsohn
Henry V is a young and recently crowned king. Everything in the movie is about war, battle, and betrayal. The death of his brother makes Henry a soft target, and he eventually has to battle a lot of people in the war to save his kingdom.
It is one of the best war movies on Netflix instant due to its marvelous story writing and sequence of events seen in the movie. The story proceeds very smoothly, giving the audience a thrilling finish.
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4. Platoon
Director: Oliver Stone
Writer: Oliver Stone
Cast: Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen
The movie is from way back in 1986, but it is still one of the best masterpieces ever seen in war movies. The plot is about a platoon of American soldiers who die for their country.
The movie also exposes the masterminds behind warfare politics and how it affects soldiers, making it among the best war movies on Netflix right now.
The mentality that war is only about guns and bullets is completely wrong, and this movie proves it. It is the dirty politics and the mind games that control the war. Give this movie a watch to understand what happens in a “war.”
5. Beasts of No Nation
Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga
Writer: Cary Joji Fukunaga
Cast: Idris Elba, Abraham Attah, Kurt Egyiawan, Jude
The movie shows that everyone has a hidden soldier in them who needs to take a stand when the time arrives. There is a civil war seen in the movie in the region of Africa.
A warlord trains a group of young orphans to join the army to fight. This story of a struggle takes its name among the best war movies on Netflix. Deep symbolism in the movie provides a positive message from the negative aspects of war.
6. Extraction
Director: Sam Hargrave
Writer: Joe Russo
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Rudhraksh Jaiswal, Randeep Hooda, Golshifte, Farahani, Pankaj Tripathi, David Harbour
Extraction is one of the best Chris Hemsworth movies on screen with amazing warfare schemes. He rescues a little boy who’s kept under control by a terrorist organization.
The extraction of the boy from the arms of terrorists is seen in the movie. Extraction is probably the best modern war movie on Netflix available right now.
7. Pan’s Labyrinth
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Writer: Guillermo del Toro
Cast: Sergi López, Maribel Verdú, Ivana Baquero, Doug Jones, Ariadna Gil, Álex Angulo
Talking about the movie, some people might not agree it should be on the list of war movies, but if you see the movie in a wide scenario, you can relate it to the category.
The main character is trying to escape the world. She’s trying hard to escape death and life at the same time. The movie is very sad, but it’s worth watching.
The complete plot is very dark, and its excellent screenplay speaks volumes. However, even the visuals are enough to give the audience goosebumps.
8. The Siege of Jadotville
Director: Richie Smyth
Writer: Kevin Brodbin
Cast: Jamie Dornan, Mark Strong, Mikael Persbrandt, Jason O’Mara, Danny Sapani, Michael McElhatton, Guillaume Canet
It is a great story of the Irish army’s forgotten battle where their commander and 150 soldiers fought till their last breath without thinking even once that they were going to face the armed army of 3000 men with troops.
The story will definitely make you cry and respect soldiers.
9. War Dogs
Director: Todd Phillips
Writer: Stephen Chin, Todd Phillips, Jason Smilovic
Cast: Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, Ana de Armas, Bradley Cooper
Two boys try contacting the US army for a trade deal, and eventually, by their smart moves, they contact the army.
They make a contract to sell weapons to the Afghan National Army, and things go wild during the trade. The war film comes under the section of best modern war movies on Netflix as modern wars are not only limited to the battleground and advanced war machine, but it’s a lot more.
Sometimes the root for war can be very small, as small as two young boys.
10. Defiance
Director: Edward Zwick
Writer: Clayton Frohman, Edward Zwick
Cast: Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell, Alexa Davalos, Allan Corduner, Mark Feuerstein
Looking for the best World War II movies on Netflix? If yes, then do have a look at this one. World War II didn’t end well for the Jews, and the Nazis were very cruel to the community.
The movie is based on this concept. There are three Bielski brothers seen on the screen trying to escape the Nazi-occupied area after the World War. Many Jews do follow their path, but it ends in a surprising turn of events.
11. Outlaw King
Director: David Mackenzie
Writer: Bash Doran, David Mackenzie, James MacInnes
Cast: Chris Pine, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Florence Pugh, Billy Howle, Sam Spruell, Tony Curran, Callan Mulvey, James Cosmo, Stephen Dillane
Looking for an ancient fantasy war movie? We have the best one you can see right here. In the movie Robert the Bruce, the great warrior gets the crown of Scotland but is denied his place as the king.
The entire story is filled with war tactics and moves he plans to reclaim his throne. In addition, the movie comes with amazing VFX and graphics, which take you back in time.
Chris Pine is seen in the movie with his amazing acting skills. However, the fact that makes this movie different from all others is the beautiful display of action, battle, and combat styles used long ago in human history.
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12. First They Killed My Father
Director: Angelina Jolie
Writer: Loung Ung, Angelina Jolie
Cast: Sreymoch Sareum, Kompheak Phoeung, Socheata Sveng, Dara Heng, Kimhak Mun
If the title gives you goosebumps, then be prepared to see the darkest sides of the war and its tactics. The movie is based on a novel that became a masterpiece in revealing the hidden facts of the Vietnam War.
The movie received several prestigious awards, and it tells a sad story of a child soldier. Angelina Jolie is one among the few actors cum directors who have always been keen on showing the world the darkest elements of mankind.
13. Act of Valor
Director: Mike McCoy, Scott Waugh
Writer: Kurt Johnstad
Cast: U.S. Navy SEALs Roselyn Sánchez, Jason Cottle, Alex Veadov, Nestor Serrano, Emilio Rivera
A reputed and important CIA agent cum operative of the nation gets kidnapped in the movie. The agent holds sensitive information about the country, which is enough to destroy the entire nation.
The US Navy’s special unit goes on a mission to rescue this man from the terrorists.
There is a great display of working of special army units in the movie, so if you are a fan of the modern US army, then this movie is for you.
14. The Pianist
Director: Roman Polanski
Writer: Ronald Harwood
Cast: Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Maureen Lipman, Emilia Fox, Ed Stoppard, Julia Rayner, Jessica Kate Meyer
War never sees how big a personality someone is, and this movie tells that exact fact in a very sad way. In the movie which is based on a true story, the audience is introduced to a renowned Polish musician Wladyslaw.
The acclaimed man has to run far and hide in the debris and ruins of Warsaw to save his life during World War. One can see the struggles he faces to survive.
When you talk about the list of best World War II movies on Netflix, The Pianist is a true story that stands among the movies worth listing.
15. Lincoln
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: Tony Kushner
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, Tommy Lee Jones
The movie is the story of the great Abraham Lincoln during the civil war with the advanced war machine. It’s among the best-rated movies in the category of best war movies on Netflix. (one of the best streaming services)
See how the man uses his powers as the president of the USA to get a solution to unite the two groups of people in America.
He plays tactically to unite people to abolish slavery from its root. The man of great vision ends the war with his smart thinking and efficient tactics.
Final Thoughts!
Depicting war on the screen is very difficult. It takes a lot to show the pain and struggle that war comes with.
Many movies listed above are not just about the Warfield and the war zone, but they also show how war affects normal people.
All the movies on the list have different stories that tell us tales of bravery, sacrifice, and despair that war brings to the people.
These best war movies on Netflix are worth appreciating, and all of them are a delight to watch.