Last Updated on February 3, 2023 by Fadra Nally
If you’re looking for the best military movies on Netflix, they aren’t always easy to find while browsing. While this post is a little outdated (originally written in 2014), I still stand by these selections. And if you can’t find them on Netflix, you should look them up on JustWatch, my favorite streaming search engine.
I actually watch Netflix all the time and admittedly their on-device (in my case, Roku) search function is in desperate need of improvement. When we sit down to watch TV, even though we have hundreds or possibly thousands of titles to flip through, we’re always left saying the same thing. I can’t find anything to watch.
It might have something to do with the fact that my 7 year old hogs the remote most of the time so when we do actually log on, our recommendations are usually of the animated type. Sometimes that’s fine but sometimes I’m in the mood for something more than Pokémon: Black & White.
After my veteran encounter last week and the upcoming 4th of July holiday, I started thinking about some of my favorite military movies and thought that there must be someone out there that can appreciate my streaming list. Whether you like old war movies, military-themed documentaries, or modern thrillers, I’ve found some of the best military movies on Netflix for instant streaming. That means you can watch it right now if you’re so inclined.
The 10 Best Military Movies on Netflix (or other streaming networks)
Admittedly, I haven’t seen all of these movies and some of my very favorites aren’t available for streaming (namely, Platoon), but when I asked my veteran husband for his help in creating this list, he had no trouble rattling off (and offering commentary) on just about every single movie on this list.
Apocalypse Now
What you need to know: Rated R, 1979; During the Vietnam War, Capt. Willard is sent to Cambodia on a top-secret mission to terminate Col. Kurtz, who’s gone completely insane.
One of my husband’s favorite movies. Some people consider this Francis Ford Coppola classic his best work. I know I’ve seen it but I can’t honestly recall a reaction to it other than “it was weird.”
Our best guess for Fadra: 3.2 stars
Average of 2,392,419 ratings: 4 stars
M*A*S*H
What you need to know: Rated R, 1970; Robert Altman’s thinly veiled satire concerns a group of Army doctors fighting military insanity and healing wounded soldiers during the Korean War.
I’ve never seen the movie for two reasons: it came out the year I was born so it took me awhile to be of the appropriate age. And by the time I reached that age, my M*A*S*H experience was already so defined by Loretta Swit and Alan Alda. I’m not sure I could appreciate the original. Still, it’s a Robert Altman film.
Our best guess for Fadra: 3.2 stars
Average of 1,079,638 ratings: 3.8 stars
Das Boot: The Director’s Cut
What you need to know: Rated R, 1981; Nominated for six Oscars, this edge-of-your-seat dramatic triumph follows the trials of a German U-boat crew during World War II.
This movie came out right around the time that I thought it would be the most boring movie in the world. I’m adding it to my playlist and I’d like to watch the original, in German with subtitles.
Our best guess for Fadra: 4.2 stars
Average of 1,141,776 ratings: 3.9 stars
Tora! Tora! Tora!
What you need to know: Rated G, 1970; Named for the Japanese phrase that signals the start of an attack, this film tells the American and Japanese versions of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
In contrast to other rated R movies during this era, this is considered arguably one of the best war movies made without sugar coating it or adding a love story like some modern day versions.
Our best guess for Fadra: 3.7 stars
Average of 534,240 ratings: 3.8 stars
Twelve O’ Clock High
What you need to know: Not Rated, 1949; A hard-as-nails brigadier general must turn a disheartened group of American bomber pilots into heroes in this vintage World War II drama.
Gregory Peck as a tough brigadier general. It’s almost as if I could write this script in my mind. Fans of the movie claim it’s one of the best war movies ever, no special effects needed.
Our best guess for Fadra: 3.7 stars
Average of 364,130 ratings: 3.9 stars
The Red Baron
What you need to know: Rated PG-13, 2008; This fact-based drama explores the life of Manfred von Richthofen — aka the Red Baron — from his early interest in flying to his military exploits.
Leave it to my husband to get me interested in a World War I movie but to his credit, it was missing blood and guts and was more of an interesting biography than a war movie. And my 5 star rating? I’m pretty sure my husband did that.
Fadra’s rating: 5 stars
Average of 489,210 ratings: 3.7 stars
Black Hawk Down
What you need to know: Rated R, 2001; When U.S. forces attempt to kidnap two underlings of a Somali warlord, their helicopters are shot down, and the Americans suffer heavy casualties.
My husband and I watched this movie together years ago. After spending time in Somalia, this film hit a sore spot for him. He describes it as an intense portrayal of the new battlefield. A must-see in my mind.
Fadra’s rating: 4 stars
Average of 9,163,645 ratings: 4 stars
Jack Reacher
What you need to know: Rated PG-13, 2012; When an ex-military cop investigates a sniper charged with five homicides, he’s drawn into a dangerous cat-and-mouse game in this exciting thriller.
This one’s a stretch to call it a military movie but it’s modern and it’s a thriller. My husband expressed interest in seeing it but we haven’t yet because of the Tom Cruise factor (ick). Reviews range from surprisingly good to just plain terrible.
Our best guess for Fadra: 3.9 stars
Average of 2,668,019 ratings: 3.9 stars
National Geographic: 21 Days to Baghdad
What you need to know: Rated TV-PG, 2003; Fresh from the front lines, this visually compelling documentary monitors the military action that put America in control of Iraq.
2003 seems like eons ago but in light of the recent terrorist activity in Iraq, it might be a good time to watch what it took to originally bring down the reign of Saddam Hussein. It’s been a while since I’ve seen this one and it might be time to watch it again.
Our best guess for Fadra: 3.1 stars
Average of 96,820 ratings: 3.8 stars
Restrepo
What you need to know: Rated R, 2010; Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington embed themselves with the Second Platoon in Afghanistan, chronicling the men’s work, fear and brotherhood.
I happen to be a huge Sebastian Junger fan but wasn’t really interested in watched a military documentary. But when my husband turned this on, I couldn’t help but stay in the room. If you watch nothing else on this list, this is the film you need to watch. A truly insider’s view on a soldier’s life (for better and for worse) in Afghanistan.
Fadra’s rating: 5 stars
Average of 1,845,986 ratings: 4 stars
What are some of your favorite military movies on Netflix?
This post is part of my role on the Netflix Stream Team. All opinions and selections are my own.
Jack Reacher was a fun movie. I’ve admittedly never watched Black Hawk Down or MASH, I should watch those – just got Netflix. 🙂
Even with the Tom Cruise factor? I might have to watch it now.
Yup. Here was my review: http://www.yesnofilms.com/2012/12/jack-reacher.html I liked him recently in Edge of Tomorrow, too.
I’ve heard the same thing about Edge of Tomorrow. DON’T make me a fan!!!
Need to find powerful online marketing that has no per click costs and will get you new customers fast? Sorry to bug you on your contact form but actually that was kinda the point. We can send your promotional copy to sites via their contact pages just like you’re getting this message right now. You can specify targets by keyword or just start mass blasts to sites in the country of your choice. So let’s say you want to send a message to all the real estate agents in the USA, we’ll grab websites for only those and post your advertisement to them. As long as you’re advertising something that’s relevant to that type of business then you’ll be blessed with an amazing response!
Fire off a quick message to [email protected] to find out how we do this