War movies maintain their popularity due to their strategic planning, meticulous execution, gripping intensity, and blending of action and drama. Often enriched with historical insights and biographical elements, these movies craft compelling narratives. Max (formerly HBO Max) offers a wide selection of outstanding war films, and here are the 12 best ones you can stream right now. This selection spans various eras, regions, and even fictional conflicts, featuring several Oscar-winning or nominated masterpieces.
In a dystopian future, four journalists travel across the United States during a nationwide conflict. While trying to survive, they aim to reach the White House to interview the president before he is overthrown.
Alex Garland’s “Civil War” tells a simple but profound story, attempting to capture the reality of civil war through the objective lens of journalism. It creates a deeply unsettling and realistic portrayal of a war-torn America. The sound design, in particular, is incredibly effective, placing the audience right in the heart of the chaos with jarring gunshots and a tense atmosphere. Garland’s striking visual style is also on full display.
Critical reception to “Civil War” has been divided. Many praise the film’s immersive quality and thought-provoking narrative, which explores complex social and political themes. Others, however, find the film’s ambiguous political backdrop and uneven pacing less compelling. If you’re looking for a film that will leave you thinking long after the credits roll, Civil War (2024) is definitely worth checking out.
In Oliver Stone’s Oscar-winning Vietnam War drama Platoon, Charlie Sheen stars as Chris Taylor, a disillusioned recruit who confronts the brutal realities of combat. Leaving behind his university life, Taylor arrives in Vietnam in 1967, only to find his idealism quickly replaced by the harsh realities of war. Torn between two conflicting sergeants, one good and the other evil, Taylor witnesses the brutality of war and the duality of human nature.
Drawing from director Oliver Stone’s own encounters in Vietnam, Platoon avoids simple moralizing to offer a gritty, firsthand look at war. Supported by exceptional performances, the film is powerful, painful, and must-see. It stands as one of the most realistic and genuine war movies created. In this portrayal, there are no heroes, only those who endure and survive. Platoon won four Oscars, including Best Director for Stone.
In the 1950s, fear and violence escalate as the people of Algiers fight for independence from the French government. It is a story of Algiers revolting against the French Foreign Legion.
The Battle of Algiers offers a documentary-like portrayal of a nation’s struggle against colonization, immersing viewers in the front lines with authentic intensity. It goes beyond a film, delving into the harsh realities of war, oppression, and violence. This film refrains from vilifying or glorifying either side, striving for an objective portrayal of the harsh realities. Viewers won’t find solace or validation. Instead, it consistently evokes a sense of sorrow. A masterpiece of dramatic reality in cinematic history, it’s a must-watch – a movie shouldn’t be overlooked.
The film is an adaption of the Pierre Bouelle novel. British POWs are forced to build a railway bridge across the river Kwai for their Japanese captors in occupied Burma, not knowing that the allied forces are planning a daring commando raid through the jungle to destroy it.
The Bridge on the River Kwai earned seven out of eight Oscar nominations including the Best Picture. This unconventional war epic provides a gritty and intricate exploration of what happens when Japanese POW camp prisoners build a railway bridge. It’s an extraordinary examination of wartime fervor and the downfall of pride. Few action films boast a better ensemble cast.
Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning telling of the World War II battle at Dunkirk in which 330,000 Allied troops had to be evacuated.
In May 1940, Germany advanced into France, trapping Allied troops on the beaches of Dunkirk. Under air and ground cover from British and French forces, troops were slowly and methodically evacuated from the beach using every serviceable naval and civilian vessel that could be found. At the end of this heroic mission, 330,000 French, British, Belgian, and Dutch soldiers were safely evacuated.
In Dunkirk, Christopher Nolan tells three stories from the Battle of Dunkirk, covering a week on the beach, a day on the water, and an hour in the air. It’s a rare war film that centers on loss, yet it remains uplifting as it portrays perseverance and heroism despite defeat. This World War II epic is technically impressive and stands out for its unique timeline, making it one of a kind. The film won three Oscars, including Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Film Editing.
The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house next to the camp.
The Zone of Interest is a highly skilled and hyper-realistic film that tells a powerful story. It strikingly contrasts the peaceful home life of a couple with the horrific genocide happening just beyond their fence. By suggesting the horrors of the concentration camp indirectly through sound and imagery rather than showing them directly, Glazer creates a deeply disturbing and thought-provoking movie. It warns us that terrible things can happen unnoticed in ordinary places, and pretending not to see them is the same as agreeing with them.
Navy S.E.A.L. sniper Chris Kyle’s pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and turns him into a legend. Back home with his family after four tours of duty, however, Chris finds that it is the war he can’t leave behind.
Chris Kyle, the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history, reportedly killed 160 enemies while serving as a Navy SEAL in Iraq. The film American Sniper offers a cinematic and emotionally charged portrayal of his life. Despite its artistic liberties, the movie powerfully explores the life of a dedicated man and evokes strong emotions about service members and their families. Kyle’s experiences ignited national conversations about heroism, patriotism, and the enduring impact of war on veterans.
Staff Sgt. William James, Sgt. J.T. Sanborn and Specialist Owen Eldridge are members of a bomb disposal unit in Baghdad. As their tour of duty enters its final weeks, the men face a set of increasingly hazardous situations, any of which could end their lives in an explosive instant.
Winner of the 2008 Best Picture Oscar, The Hurt Locker explores the Iraq War’s turmoil by following a bomb disposal unit led by SSgt. This film offers both exhilarating suspense and a thought-provoking look at the war’s impact. The movie secured six Oscars, with Director Kathryn Bigelow making history as the first woman to win Best Director. Jeremy Renner also received a Best Actor nomination for his role.
High-flying drama about the “fighting 99th” – the first squadron of African American U.S. Army Air Corps – overcame racist opposition to become one of the finest US fighter groups in World War II.
This HBO Original film faced criticism for clichéd dialogue and slow scenes, yet the public generally had a positive view. It’s an inspiring tale of bravery and determination with a strong cast. The film highlights a lesser-known aspect of the war, shedding light on a group often overlooked, and weaves a touching narrative around it. While a bit predictable and melodramatic, it remains genuinely inspirational.
A drama based on the life of Solomon Perel who suppresses his Jewish heritage to avoid certain doom at the hands of the Nazis. Jewish teenager Salek is separated from his family when they flee their home in Germany after Kristallnacht. He ends up in a Russian orphanage for two years, but when Nazi troops reach Russia he convinces them he is a German Aryan, and becomes an invaluable interpreter and then an unwitting war hero. His deception becomes increasingly difficult to maintain after he joins the Hitler Youth and finds love with beautiful Leni, a fervent anti-Semite.
Notably intense, this film intricately portrays a boy’s relentless struggle for survival, even at a great price. It’s an incredible story, the kind that only true stories can provide. It is based on Solomon Perel’s memoirs that unfolds uniquely. Through a chain of extraordinary events, Perel managed to survive the challenges of the war.
Farmers from a village exploited by bandits hire a veteran samurai for protection, who gathers six other samurai to join him teach the people how to defend themselves, and the villagers provide the soldiers with food. A giant battle occurs when 40 bandits attack the village.
Seven Samurai stands as one of Director Akira Kurosawa’s finest works, earning two Oscar nominations upon its release. This epic adventure classic weaves a captivating narrative, unforgettable characters, and breathtaking action scenes that contribute to its status as one of the most impactful films ever created. Centered around the bond among warriors and the virtue of sacrifice, it has served as inspiration for numerous war films that followed.
Mel Gibson directs and stars in this rousing 1995 Best Picture Oscar-winner about 13th-century Scottish patriot William Wallace, who leads his countrymen in a rebellion to free his homeland from the tyranny of King Edward I of England.
Braveheart isn’t a typical war film. It starts with Wallace as a rebel with a small group, but it transforms into a massive medieval war where he leads thousands to victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. The film’s themes of motivation and dedication remain relevant across centuries. This relatability, along with Gibson’s direction and Wallace’s screenplay, makes Braveheart a timeless classic.
An epic look at the Battle of Thermopylae in which 300 Spartans held off the massive Persian army. In 480 B.C. a state of war existed between Persia, led by King Xerxes, and Greece. At the Battle of Thermopylae, Leonidas, king of the Greek city-state of Sparta, leads his badly outnumbered warriors against the massive Persian army. Though certain death awaits the Spartans, their sacrifice inspires all of Greece to unite against their common enemy.
Opinions on the historical epic 300 may vary among critics and audiences, but its technical excellence is undeniable. Serving as a technical marvel, the film faithfully translates Frank Miller’s comic-book depiction of the Battle of Thermopylae onto the screen. Directed by Zack Snyder, it’s a powerful, intense, and grand work. Following its unexpected box office triumph in the United States, the film holds the potential for a lasting impact.
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