War backdrop

War movies

Gritty and poignant depictions of conflict, focusing on the bravery, tragedy, and humanity found on the battlefield.

Subgenres include: Age of Sail & Early Modern Warfare, 19th Century Wars, World War I.

20 Days in Mariupol

1. 20 Days in Mariupol

Documentary War Social & Political Documentary Modern Conflicts
8.6

20231h 34min

United States

Director: Mstyslav Chernov

As the Russian invasion begins, a team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol struggle to continue their work documenting the war's atrocities.

Themes

Documentation as evidence, Siege as reporting constraint, Mourning as social memory, War as external pressure, Journalist resilience under risk

Available on

Amazon Video
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Farha

2. Farha

Drama History War
8.0

20211h 32min

Jordan, Sweden

Director: Darin J. Sallam

Palestine, 1948. After the withdrawal of the British occupiers, tensions rise between Arabs and Jews. Meanwhile, Farha, the smart daughter of the mayor of a small village, unaware of the coming tragedy, dreams of going to study in the big city.


Quo Vadis, Aida?

3. Quo Vadis, Aida?

War Drama History Modern Conflicts Historical Drama
8.0

20211h 44min

Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Director: Jasmila Žbanić

Bosnia, July 1995. Aida is a translator for the UN in the small town of Srebrenica. When the Serbian army takes over the town, her family is among the thousands of citizens looking for shelter in the UN camp. As an insider to the negotiations Aida has access to crucial information that she needs to interpret. What is at the horizon for her family and people – rescue or death? Which move should she take?

Themes

Survival under duress, Genocide memory, Translator as information conduit, Human costs of conflict, 1990s context, Bosnian war tension

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Dara of Jasenovac

4. Dara of Jasenovac

Drama History War
8.1

20202h 10min

Serbia

Director: Predrag Antonijević

During the Nazi-occupied Ustasha regime "NDH" in former Yugoslavia during WWII, little girl Dara is sent to the concentration camp complex Jasenovac in Croatia also known as "Balkan's Auschwitz".


1917

5. 1917

War History Drama Action World War I
8.2

20191h 59min

United States, United Kingdom

Director: Sam Mendes

At the height of the First World War, two young British soldiers must cross enemy territory and deliver a message that will stop a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers.

Themes

Duty under fire, Resilience under hardship, Time pressure, Comradeship under peril, Survival under risk, Uncertainty of command

Available on

Netflix
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

All Quiet on the Western Front

6. All Quiet on the Western Front

War History Drama World War I Historical Drama
7.8

20222h 27min

Germany

Director: Edward Berger

Paul Baumer and his friends Albert and Muller, egged on by romantic dreams of heroism, voluntarily enlist in the German army. Full of excitement and patriotic fervour, the boys enthusiastically march into a war they believe in. But once on the Western Front, they discover the soul-destroying horror of World War I.

Themes

Patriotic fervor, Disillusionment with war, Illusion of heroism, Comradeship under stress, Reintegration anxiety, Horror of trench warfare

Available on

Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Number 24

7. Number 24

War History Drama World War II Historical Event
7.5

20241h 52min

Norway

Director: John Andreas Andersen

On the brink of the Second World War, a young Norwegian man's drive to resist the Nazis sets a new course for his future – and the future of his country.

Themes

Resistance under pressure, National duty and identity, Collective memory and legacy, Wartime sacrifice and impact, Quiet courage in crisis, Civilian contribution to war

Available on

Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Guy Ritchie's The Covenant

8. Guy Ritchie's The Covenant

War Action Thriller Modern Conflicts Military Action
7.5

20232h 3min

United Kingdom, United States

Director: Guy Ritchie

During the war in Afghanistan, a local interpreter risks his own life to carry an injured sergeant across miles of grueling terrain.

Themes

Loyalty under pressure, Debt and obligation, Covert alliances in war, Aid from locals, Survival through endurance, Ethical ambiguity in wartime

Available on

Netflix
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

In 1950, amidst the ravages of the Korean War, Sergeant Süleyman stumbles upon a a half-frozen little girl, with no parents and no help in sight and he risks his own life to save her, smuggling her into his army base and out of harm’s way.

Themes

Foster care dynamics, Secrecy and risk, Bonding across barriers, Duty versus compassion, Protection under war, Survival under upheaval

Available on

Apple TV
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Jojo Rabbit

10. Jojo Rabbit

Comedy War Drama Satire World War II
7.9

20191h 48min

New Zealand, United States

Director: Taika Waititi

Jojo, a lonely German boy during World War II has his world shaken when he learns that his single mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home. Influenced by a buffoonish imaginary version of Adolf Hitler, he begins to question his beliefs and confront the conflict between propaganda and his own humanity.

Themes

Underground resistance, Coming of age under oppression, World war ii influence, Jew persecution awareness, Imaginary friend dynamics, Single mother resilience

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
fuboTV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.