The Best War Movies on Netflix

So when it comes to war movies on Netflix, there is actually quite a lot to pick from. It's nice that there's a lot of choices, but the truth is, hardly any of them are good. Sure, if you see Saving Private Ryan streaming on Netflix and you haven't seen it yet, it's a must see, but what I'm trying to do is to bring you movies that you probably haven't seen yet. You choose jamilslist.com because you've already seen all the big name movies and you're looking for something off the beaten path now. Well look no further than the movies below. Each of these titles is a great war movie and they all bring their own twist to the genre that will keep you entertained.

The Way Back

Well congratulations to you Colin Farrell. You managed to make a movie that I didn't hate you in. You weren't the same character that you play in every role (a douchebag) that makes me think you're actually too good at the role for you to be acting. Ok, that was a little harsh, but really, he did a great job this time and I can't say anything bad about his performance. The Way Back is a harrowing tale of survivor. There's a few different opinions on whether or not this is all based on a true story, but nonetheless the action and cinematography make it all worth it. It's hard to imagine just walking your way through the Siberian winter, Mongolia, and the vast deserts of Gobi. Don't get me wrong, these are all things I hope to see one day, but from behind the glass of a train window sipping on some champagne with the air conditioning on! Just watching The Way Back you get to experience all the seasons of the world in the worst way. There's drama at every turn, and it's not just the elements they have to worry about. Some of my favorite scenes were in the Gulag. It really showed how brutal prison life in 1940 was when prisoners had to fight for their own survival by any means necessary. Incidentally, The Way Back would be great on a list of good prison movies on Netflix. Needless to say The Way Back is absolutely worth watching, considering I don't think there will ever be a role that Ed Harris is actually bad in.

Beasts of No Nation

Beasts of No Nation is truly an enthralling movie that will keep you eyes peeled to the screen. It follows the story of Agu who gets recruited to be a child soldier in an African civil war. The worse part of how he finds himself lost and eventually recruited is that you know it's obviously happened to thousands of children just like him in present day Africa. Once separated and recruited, it goes into depth of the horrendous ways the militia leaders prey on the children and coerce all members of the group. Idris Elba plays a great role as the vile captain that pretends to be a motivational speaker for the people when he really cares about his own interests. Beasts of No Nation isn't all harrowing and depressing though. Throughout the film there are laughs here and there and you might just be amazed at how well the role of Agu is acted by Abraham Attah. Unfortunately, the realities of war are stark in this movie, and it's a more moving film than it is funny. It's a beautiful depiction of the ugly realities that exist in this world. Don't miss this one, it's one of the best I've seen about the ongoing conflicts in Africa.

Virunga

Virunga is another heartfelt story about the selfless people of the world protecting some of the world's last mountain gorilla's. Like I've mentioned in a few other reviews, anyone willing to risk their lives for such a humanitarian cause deserves you're undivided attention at the very least. Virunga takes you through the jungle and into the lives of mountain gorilla's in a way few people have seen. It will show you the best of human nature and the worst. I don't think that a lot of people know it but the Congo has such a sad history dating back hundreds of years. Virunga reminded me of the resilience the country has to do good and find compassion in the worst of times. The views and scenery are unbelievable and so is the bloody violence that has marred the country. The park rangers risking their lives in the protection of these animals seem to almost put every life on the planet in front of their own. When it comes to the realities of war, this is the true "boots on the ground" version. Tension quickly builds as the story goes on and you will absolutely start to get nervous about witnessing a coup in real time. There is also a lot of undercover work exposing the corruption in Africa. It's always so satisfying to see people being caught on camera and journalists coercing them to divulge all their atrocities. Virunga has some of the best war journalism I have seen.

Must see movies on Netflix are the ones that keep you guessing and keep you glued to the screen. These three war movies do just that and more. There are quite a few blogs out there that write about the "best war movies on Netflix" but they just seem to list practically every war movie on Netflix and that's not what we're here for. We're here for the "off the beaten path" movies that everyone hasn't already seen right? I could list Inglorious Bastards or Schindler's List, which are great war movies in themselves, but more than likely, you've already seen them. I mean could keep going with some seriously classic movies that I love like Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket, but a good list of movies on Netflix has to focus on excluding the movies for the masses and at jamilslist.com that's what we strive to do with these great war movies.