Modern Conflicts backdrop

Modern Conflicts movies

Late 20th/21st-century war stories: asymmetric combat, urban warfare, tech, and the cost of deployment.

Timbuktu

1. Timbuktu

Drama War Political Drama Modern Conflicts
7.1
20141h 36min

Overview

Just outside of the Malian city of Timbuktu, now occupied by militant Islamic rebels who impose the Sharia on civilians and inconvenience their daily life, a cattleman kills a fisherman.

Themes

Authority and accountability, Punishment and control, Religious coercion, Cultural survival under occupation, Civilian vulnerability in war, State-imposed rules

Available on

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

Overview

Virunga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is Africa’s oldest national park, a UNESCO world heritage site, and a contested ground among insurgencies seeking to topple the government that see untold profits in the land. Among this ongoing power struggle, Virunga also happens to be the last natural habitat for the critically endangered mountain gorilla. The only thing standing in the way of the forces closing in around the gorillas: a handful of passionate park rangers and journalists fighting to secure the park’s borders and expose the corruption of its enemies. Filled with shocking footage, and anchored by the surprisingly deep and gentle characters of the gorillas themselves, Virunga is a galvanizing call to action around an ongoing political and environmental crisis in the Congo.

Themes

Conservation under threat, Armed conflict pressure, Oil-driven exploitation, Watchful journalism, Biodiversity protection, Governance and corruption

Available on

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

Lone Survivor

3. Lone Survivor

War Action Drama Modern Conflicts Military Action
7.5
20132h 1min

Overview

Four Navy SEALs on a covert mission to neutralize a high-level Taliban operative must make an impossible moral decision in the mountains of Afghanistan that leads them into an enemy ambush. As they confront unthinkable odds, the SEALs must find reserves of strength and resilience to fight to the finish.

Themes

Trust under pressure, Survival under siege, Duty under fire, Camaraderie under risk, Moral decision in conflict, Loyalty amidst chaos

Available on

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

Tangerines

4. Tangerines

Drama War Tragic Drama Modern Conflicts
8.1
20131h 27min

Overview

War in Abkhazia, 1992. An Estonian man Ivo has stayed behind to harvest his crops of tangerines. In a bloody conflict at his door, a wounded man is left behind, and Ivo is forced to take him in.

Themes

Mutual restraint under threat, Shared humanity under fire, War pressure on hospitality, Honor amid conflict, Promises under duress, Temporary alliance against outsiders

Available on

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

How I Live Now

5. How I Live Now

Drama Action Thriller War Modern Conflicts
6.4
20131h 41min

Overview

An American girl, sent to the English countryside to stay with relatives, finds love and purpose while fighting for her survival as war envelops the world around her.

Themes

Trauma and resilience, Displacement and belonging, Survival under war, Family bonds under stress, Authority in crisis, Coming of age in chaos

Available on

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

Twice Born

6. Twice Born

Drama Romance War Historical Drama Bittersweet Romance
7.3
20122h 7min

Overview

Full-throttle melodrama about an ill-starred romance set against the backdrop of the siege of Sarajevo. A mother brings her teenage son to Sarajevo, where his father died in the Bosnian conflict years ago.

Themes

Trauma and resilience, Deception within family, Identity and belonging under conflict, Mother-child bond under crisis, War and family strain, Loss and memory of war

Available on

Google Play Movies
YouTube
Starz Apple TV Channel
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Act of Valor

7. Act of Valor

Action Thriller War Military Action Kidnapping & Captivity Thriller
6.4
20121h 50min

Overview

When a covert mission to rescue a kidnapped CIA operative uncovers a chilling plot, an elite, highly trained U.S. SEAL team speeds to hotspots around the globe, racing against the clock to stop a deadly terrorist attack.

Themes

Loyalty under pressure, Protective sacrifice, Teamwork under threat, Duty vs family, Covert operations ethics, Secrecy and escalation

Available on

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

Sniper: Reloaded

8. Sniper: Reloaded

War Action Thriller Drama Modern Conflicts
5.4
20111h 31min

Overview

Marine Sgt. Brandon Beckett, son of the U.S. Marine Corps' deadliest sniper, Thomas Beckett, must turn to his father's former protégé (Billy Zane) to track down and kill a mysterious sniper before he kills his next target.

Themes

Mentorship under pressure, Deception and coverups, Loyalties under conflict, Duty versus vengeance, Arms dealing conspiracy, Casualties of war

Available on

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

Incendies

9. Incendies

Drama War Mystery Coming-of-Age Drama Modern Conflicts
8.3
20102h 11min

Overview

A mother's last wishes send twins Jeanne and Simon on a journey to Middle East in search of their tangled roots. Adapted from Wajdi Mouawad's acclaimed play, Incendies tells the powerful and moving tale of two young adults' voyage to the core of deep-rooted hatred, never-ending wars and enduring love.

Themes

Betrayal and complicity, Familial legacy trauma, War induced displacement, Survival across borders, Moral ambiguity under conflict, Cyclical violence

Available on

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

Restrepo

10. Restrepo

War Documentary Modern Conflicts Social & Political Documentary
7.4
20101h 33min

Overview

Directors Hetherington and Junger spend a year with the 2nd Battalion of the United States Army located in one of Afghanistan's most dangerous valleys. The documentary provides insight and empathy on how to win the battle through hard work, deadly gunfights and mutual friendships while the unit must push back the Taliban.

Themes

Sacrifice and memory, Brotherhood under fire, Isolation and duty, Trust with local communities, Leadership under hardship, Endurance through danger

Available on

Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.