29 OF THE BEST MILITARY MOVIES IN 2024
Is there anything better after a long day than sitting back and unwinding with a movie from the comfort of your own home? There may be several genres available, but military movies are unlike any other. From high-flying action, to humanizing and character-driven storylines, to historical docudramas, the best military movies are going to provide you with an immersive experience from the moment you press play.
Breaking Down the Best Military Movies to Binge This Year
Let’s not pretend that even the best military movies are always the most accurate portrayal of military life. Just like we’re all pretending that the film is the only thing we’ll be doing rather than scrolling through (insert your favorite social media platform) instead. We’re breaking down the best military movies in 2024 that you can enjoy from your couch, bed, or anywhere there's WiFi. Related read: Top 15 Best Sniper Movies To Binge All Year Long
Best Military Movies on Netflix
Love or hate Netflix, it’s impossible to leave out the streaming giant. Though not as top shelf as it once may have been, there are still tons of military movies available for streaming. Of course, these are always subject to change, but here are the best military movies on Netflix you can look forward to:
1. All Quiet on the Western Front
20222h 28mRFollowing the story of 17-year-old Paul Bäumer and his classmates, the group enlists in World War I to defend Germany. But the cruelty of war would prove itself with immediate effect. No sooner do they join up than the first images from the battlefield show them the reality of war. Based on the novel of the same name by Erich Maria Remarque.
2. Hacksaw Ridge
20162h 19mRThis biographical film stars once-Spiderman Andrew Garfield in the true (with some notable historical changes)story of Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector who refuses to bear arms in the war due to his religious beliefs and past troubles. Even in the height of battle, he never fires a gun. Doss’s story, outlined inHacksaw Ridge, is one of bravery and true heroism. If you like military movies in the slightest, this is one you absolutely cannot miss. We’d consider this among the best military movies of all time.
3. All The Light We Cannot See
20233h 48mTV-MAAll the Light We Cannot See is one of our favorites, so it's only fair that this limited series makes the best military movies list. Starring Mark Ruffalo and Hugh Laurie, the series was adapted from Anothony Doerr’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, All the Light We Cannot See. The series tells the story of Marie-Laure, a blind French teenager who collides with a German Soldier. The story follows the two as they fight to survive WWII.
4. Sand Castle
20171h 53mTV-MASand Castle is a star-studded movie set after the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003. Henry Cavill, Nicholas Hoult, Logan Marshall-Green, and more are all part of a platoon sent on a wildly dangerous mission in the middle of a hostile Iraqi village.
5. Da 5 Bloods
20202h 35mRThe late Chadwick Boseman features in Da 5 Bloods, a film set in a post-Vietnam War world. Four Vietnam Vets return to Vietnam and make a shocking discovery. This unique and exciting offering is a gritty piece from director Spike Lee, who has been critically acclaimed for his 2018 film BlacKkKlansman.
6. The Woman King
20222h 15mPG-13Viola Davis stars in The Woman King, a historical action film depicting the Agojie. Throughout the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, this group of all-female warriors were the defenders of Dahomey, a West African country that is now present-day Benin. Davis plays General Nanisca as she trains the next generation to defend their homeland against enemy forces.
Military Movies on Hulu
Forget what you think you know about military movies on Hulu. The platform has plenty of great offerings with something for everyone. The plus side is that you can get a Hulu military discount through Exchange! So no matter what military movies on Hulu suit your fancy, you can watch them for a lower price.
7. The Imitation Game
20141h 48mPG-13The Imitation Gametakes place in 1939, during WWII. The movie tells the story of an English mathematical genius who tries to crack the German Enigma Code. He enlists the help of several other mathematicians as he works to decrypt German intelligence messages for the British government. This movie stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Kiera Knightley.
8. Moffie
20211h 44mRMoffie is truly a unique film experience as the director, Oliver Hermanus, purposely left out all emotion. In fact, this film uses the power of striking visual images to make an impact. The story follows 16 year-old Nicholas who enlists in 1981 to serve two years of required military conscription. It follows his struggles with his sexuality and the ups and downs of military service.Suggested Read: 10 War Horror Movies Perfect for Your Halloween Fright Night
9. Shadow in the Cloud
20201h 23mRThis movie follows a female WWII pilot with an important mission—keep a case of top secret documents safe. While the mission seems simple enough, it is far from it. As a woman, Captain Maude’s every move is watched as soon as she steps on the airplane. However, when an evil force reveals its presence to the crew, it is up to Maude to save them.
Military Movies on Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime has a ton of military films and even more, depending on the add-ons and subscriptions you have that complement your service. We’re focusing on the ones available directly on Prime Video without any of the extra subscriptions below. Still, the offering is quite nice.
10. The Hornet’s Nest
20141h 37mRThe Hornet’s Nest is another documentary, this time following U.S. troops in real-time during nine days of combat in war-torn Afghanistan. Two journalists were on the scene recording everything, so this is as raw and real as it gets.
11. Once a Marine
20201h 9mUnratedOnce a Marine is a documentary following the stories of Marine combat Vets after the War in Afghanistan. They recount candid tales of what they experienced, discuss the mental toll that combat continues to take on them, and talk about how they are re-adjusting to civilian life post-war.
12. American Renegades
20181h 45mPG-13This offering is pure American fun, with big tanks, guns aplenty, and no shortage of action and witty quips. It follows a group of Navy SEALs as they try to hijack millions of dollars in drowned Nazi gold. If you want an exciting, don’t-have-to-think-about-it-too-much watch, American Renegades is a great pick.
13. Red Dawn
19841h 54mPG-13Have you ever wondered what would happen if the U.S. and Russia went to war? It seems like a crazy thought these days, but this quintessential ‘80s flick pits a Soviet invasion into America at the heart of the fictional World War III, starring Patrick Swayze and the rebel Wolverines.
14. Allied
20162h 4mRAllied is one of those movies that kind of has it all. There is suspenseful drama, espionage during World War II, romance, and even Brad Pitt. Not as well-known as many others on our list, this sleeper has garnered its own following despite a less-than-favorable debut.
Best Military Movies To Binge Watch
There are plenty of great military movies out there, of course it comes down to the person watching it. There are different kinds as well like home-front dramas, Veteran films, service comedies, basic training films, documentaries, prisoner-of-war movies, and partisan films. Here are just a few of the best military movies to binge:
15. Greyhound
20201h 31mPG-13If you are into World War II this is the movie for you. Tom Hanks plays as U.S. Navy Cmdr Earnest Krause, who is assigned to lead an Allied convoy across the Atlantic during World War II. Many Hollywood movies focused on the overall idea of World War II, and less focused on what has happened on the Atlantic Ocean. Greyhound gives the audience a sense of what happened during this time.
16. Fury
20142h 14mRFury focuses on the European side during World War II. Starring Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Pena, and John Bernthal; they are members of an American tank crew fighting in Nazi Germany.
17. 1917
2019 1h 59m RIf you are into British war films 1917 should be right up your alley. This movie is based on stories Sam Mendes' grandfather told him about during his service during World War I, it takes place after the German retreat, and follows two British soldiers, Will Schofield and Tom Blake.
18. 12 Strong
2018 2h 10m R12 Strong is an action-war film, based on the non-fiction book Horse Soldiers which is about a U.S. Army Special Force sent to Afghanistan immediately after the September 11 attacks. It is said by critics that the action is phenomenal, but it lacked the hindsight of the war in Afghanistan.
19. Saving Private Ryan
1998 2h 49m RSteven Spielberg focuses on France during World War II and follows a group of Soldiers who set off to find James Francis Ryan and bring him home. This film was inspired by the books of Stephen E. Ambrose who was an American historian and author. No wonder it is one of the most popular military movies.Suggested read: The 5 Best Military Video Games in 2024
Top 10 Military Movies Released in 2022 and 2023
2022 and 2023 provided us with some great movie releases, giving us the action we need and edge-sitting feeling. Here are some of the best military movies that were released in 2022 and 2023. You need to add these to your movie watch list.
20. Sniper the White Raven
2022 1h 51m RSniper the White Ravenis a film that follows a man who is a high school teacher who wanted to live in peace with nature, but was interested in joining the Ukrainian military as a sniper. This movie is based on the life of scriptwriter Mykola Voronin, who enlisted in the military as a teacher.
21. Devotion
2022 2h 19m PG-13Devotionis a film that is based on the book Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice by Adam Makos. It focuses on the Korean War and the true story of Jesse Brown, who was the first Black aviator in U.S. Navy history.
22. Sisu
2022 1h 31m RIn Sisu, gold has been stolen from Nazi Soldiers led by a brutal officer. This leads a solitary prospector to find his gold and try to protect himself. When the Soldiers steal the gold they realize that they are not dealing with a regular miner.
23. The Contractor
2022 1h 43m RThe Contractorfollows a special sergeant as he signs a contract with a private underground military force. His first assignment leads him on the run and fighting to try to stay alive in order for him to get back home. This is the perfect movie to binge if you love twists and turns.
24. Black Crab
2022 1h 52m RIf mystery calls your name then the Black Crab should be at the top of your list. This film is set in a post-apocalyptic world, and follows six Soldiers who are on a covert mission to transport a mysterious package across the frozen archipelago. This movie has won three Guldbagge Awards and is everything you want out of a thriller movie.
25. Napoleon
2023 2h 38m RNapoleon is full of drama and stars the great actor Joaquin Phoenix as the lead. This film highlights the rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his journey to power. This movie has gotten fantastic reviews overall, making it a top pick for 2023.
26. The Covenant
2023 2h 3m RThe Covenant is based on the collective experiences that interpreters and Soldiers in Afghanistan had to go through. It follows the U.S. Army Green Beret master sergeant, and his interpreter fighting the Taliban. Considering we get an interpreter fighting in a war, this watch is one we just can't say no to.
27. Last Sentinel
2023 1h 57m RLast Sentinel is a sci-fi/thriller, very different from the other movies listed above. Climate change has left platoon Soldiers stranded on a military base. Now, they are forced to defend their homeland from an enemy they have never seen before. If you want to watch something just for the fun of it; this would be the movie.
28. Blood and Gold
2023 1h 40m RHere is another movie that is focused on gold and Nazis. Blood and Gold follows a German deserter and a young woman on the hunt for hidden gold, but when they do so, they end up in a bloody mess with a group of Nazis.
29. Plane
2023 1h 47m RPilot Brodie Torrance is in the position to save lives from a lighting strike, but it comes at a cost—a risky landing. After the crash, he finds himself in a war zone. His only choice is to work with an accused murderer to save his passengers from the hostile territory. Plane is the perfect late-night thriller that will keep you on your toes.
Notable Military Movies That Didn’t Make The List
2023 released eye opening and in some cases educational movies. However, there are a few recent military movies that we haven’t yet mentioned. These noteworthy mentions are Ambush, Pippa, Expend4bles, Filip, and Malbatt: Misi Bakara. These are as good as the movies released in years prior. So, when you get the chance, be sure to check them out!
Upcoming Military Movies, 2024 Is an Exciting Year
We're just getting started with 2024. That means we have a ton of new military movies and releases ahead of us. Upcoming titles like Escape From Germany, Civil War, and Liberation seem to be exciting military-themed offerings that are soon to make it to the big screen.We’re sure that some of these will make it into next year’s best military movies list, but for now, we’ll just have to wait and see! Is this the best military movie selection since we’ve had in a while? Only time will tell.Read next: Nikki Haley’s Husband (Michael Haley) Deploys to Africa
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