If you interact with a military officer who has fought in any war, they will tell you that war is hellish. In the entertainment industry, military movies are a good way of educating the public about war and its implications in all aspects of life. Currently, there are numerous military films on Netflix that you can watch for both entertainment and educative purposes.
What military movies are on Netflix? This streaming service has a wide selection of the best war movies of all time that were filmed in various parts of the world. Some are about WWI or WW2, while others focus on other wars that have been recorded in history. From military movies, we get to experience the raw human suffering that the army officers undergo to protect their countries.
Best International Military Movies
The best military movies are those that make the viewer understand how intense war is. They typically involve a lot of human pain and suffering, the use of war gear and equipment, and multiple human killings. Below is a compilation of the 15 best modern war movies, so read on to find out which one tops the list.
15. Kilo Two Bravo
- Original title:Kajaki
- Release: 2015
- Runtime: 1 hour 48 minutes
- Country: United Kingdom
- Writer: Tom Williams
- Director: Paul Katis
- Rating: R (Contains disturbing and graphic depiction of injuries and strong language)
Kilo Two Bravo’s storyline is set in September 2006 around Kajaki Dam in southern Afghanistan. A three-person patrol consisting of young British soldiers leaves their outpost that is a short distance from the dam to tackle the Taliban. As the young men get across the dried river bed, one steps on a mine that was left behind over two decades before from Russia’s interventions.
The other two soldiers try to save him, only to discover that they are also surrounded by mines. If they make one more step, they risk either severe injury or death. Kilo Two Bravo is one of the top military movies that you can stream on Netflix today. It features David Elliot, Mark Stanley, Scott Kyle, and Paul Luebke.
14. First They Killed My Father
- Release: 2017
- Runtime: 2 hours 16 minutes
- Country: Cambodia/United States of America
- Writers: Loung Ung and Angelina Jolie
- Director: Angelina Jolie
- Rating: TV-MA
First They Killed My Father is one of the Netflix military movies that have bagged a Golden Globe, nine total awards, and 27 nominations. It is about the story of author Loung Ung and her childhood experiences during the Khmer Rouge. In the 1970s, Loung Ung, now a human rights activist and author from Cambodia, witnesses her family disintegrating during the Cambodian invasion by the Khmer Rouge.
The attack leaves the family destitute in a primitive camp. Her dad, a former officer, is murdered, and the rest of the family splits to survive. The film features Sareum Srey Moch, Phoeung Kompheak, Sveng Socheata, Khoun Sothea, and Sarun Nika.
13. Triple Frontier
- Release: 2019
- Runtime: 2 hours 5 minutes
- Country: United States of America
- Writers: Mark Boal and J.C. Chandor
- Director: J.C. Chandor
- Rating: R (Contains strong language and violence)
Triple Frontier, which is one of the best military movies on Netflix, is about loyalty among five friends being put to the test. The five pals are former Special Forces operatives, and they reunite to track down and capture a South American drug lord. They set out on this mission for self-gain rather than for their country.
The heist takes an unexpected turn, and things spiral out of control. Their morals and loyalty to each other are tested. The movie features Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund, Pedro Pascal, and Adria Arjona.
12. My Honor Was Loyalty
- Release: 2016
- Runtime: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Country: Italy
- Writer: Alessandro Pepe
- Directors: Leone Frisa and Alessandro Pepe
- Rating: PG-13
My Honor Was Loyalty is one of the military action movies that show the intensity of war. A loyal and patriotic soldier, Untersharführer Ludwig Herckel, works for the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. The storyline begins when a small group of seasoned infantry soldiers fight against the Soviet forces.
During the war, an explosion renders Herckel unconscious, and he finds himself in the woods. He meets another soldier who is also from Germany, and as the two men bond, the other soldier confides in Herckel that he is worried about his Jewish wife. Later, Herckel goes back to Germany and finds the soldier’s wife running away from being arrested by the Gestapo.
11. War Horse
- Release: 2011
- Runtime: 2 hours 26 minutes
- Country: United States of America/India
- Writers: Lee Hall and Richard Curtis
- Director: Steven Spielberg
- Rating: PG-13 (Contains intense sequences of war violence)
War Horse is one of the military movies on Netflix that centers around the First World War. Young Albert signs up to fight in the war after his father sells his beloved horse named Joey to the cavalry. Joey is sent to France, but his journey across Europe, which is war-torn, is not smooth.
On the other hand, Albert, who is now in the British Army, gets injured during the Battle of the Somme. As he recuperates in the hospital, he gets wind that there is a horse that has been seen in no man’s land. This film features Jeremy Irvine, Peter Mullan, Emily Watson, Niels Arestrup, Tom Hiddleston, and David Thewlis.
10. Good Kill
- Release: 2014
- Runtime: 1 hour 42 minutes
- Country: United States of America
- Writer: Andrew Niccol
- Director: Andrew Niccol
- Rating: R (Contains violent material including a rape, language, and some sexuality)
Good Kill is one of the great military movies that involve drones. A fighter pilot who is based in Las Vegas becomes a drone pilot. He uses the remote controls to fight the Taliban for 12 hours each day before retiring back home to his wife and children.
His family fights for his attention in the remaining 12 hours of the day. Soon, he feels overwhelmed and starts questioning his purpose and mission. Is he fighting an endless war? This film has received one award nomination and features actors like Fatima El Bahraouy, El Khttabi Abdelouahab, Ethan Hawke, and Bruce Greenwood.
9. Operation Red Sea
- Original title:Hong hai xing dong
- Release: 2018
- Runtime: 2 hours 22 minutes <
