From retelling historical war events and patriotic films to public service announcements, war has been a prominent subject of the cinematic landscape. It has evolved as a genre of its own; and is now an essential creative expression of politics and people. But the question is: Why exactly are war movies popular among filmmakers, critics, and viewers alike? The answer is quite simple. While some may assume that people want to view the atrocities that war brings with them, the audience wants to see the events behind the story and learn what it is that leads to war?
More often than not, war and military action films garner popularity among movie fanatics not just because of the glorified portrayal of events and heroism but for the atmosphere they create. As grim as war movies may be, they have the potential to turn the most barbaric acts of human society into the most immersive and engaging work of art. It evokes empathy and recreates history for future generations, pushing them to be better than the people before them.
You can view most of the best war movies on TV, but you need to subscribe to a TV service that will allow you to watch the TV networks that airing war movies. DISH TV services can allow you to view a number of TV channels. You can also refer to the DISH TV Guide to decide which plan you would like to subscribe to.
Netflix also has a wide range of war movies, some of which are mentioned below. All the movies in the list have hints of political conspiracies, heroic sacrifices, psychological struggles, and historical events, so without further ado, let’s dive into the list of best war movies streaming on Netflix right now.
Beasts of No Nation
This wartime drama is not a lighthearted movie that you can just play in the background. It is an adaptation of a novel with the same name written by Uzodinma Iweala. The story narrates the life of a preadolescent child soldier, Agu who is recruited in the African civil war and is given orders by a gruff commander. The movie depicts the explicit, complex, and visceral mechanics of war. It is a violent, tender, and loud – coming of age story.
Da 5 Bloods
This is an American war film that is set in the time of the Vietnam War. The First Infantry Division consists of a squad of Black US Army soldiers, Otis, Melvin, Paul, and Eddie, and their squad leader Norman, who identify themselves as the “Bloods”. The Bloods recover a cargo after securing a site of a CIA plane crash. The cargo also has a locker filled with gold bars which were intended as a payment for the Lahu people. The squad decided to hide the gold for themselves, but things go south after a napalm strike. The movie narrates the journey of old war vets reconnecting with their emotional past.
First They Killed My Father
This is a Cambodian–American Khmer-language biographical historical thriller film also set during the time of Vietnam where the United States military, fighting spills over into neighboring Cambodia, attempts to shelter the neutral territory by bombing the North Vietnamese forces, which commenced the Cambodian Civil War. The eponymous film is a cinematic retelling of the incidents that occurred in the 1970s. It is both thrilling and emotional, which will keep the audience on their toes when they view this dramatic war film.
Wrapping Up
War sure is hell but the movies that meticulously narrate the events of war are pretty damn entertaining. Whether you are eager to learn about the past or are a history buff, the above-mentioned movies will most likely fulfill all your entertainment goals and give you a sneak peek of some of the most gruesome wars of all time.
