Beginning with the patriotic propaganda films of World War II,war movieshave evolved over the decades into one of cinema’s most acclaimed and popular genres. Ranging from inspiringbiographiesto devastating emotionaldramas, these films entertain, educate, and inform audiences about the horrors of war and the bravery of everyday people in the face of dire circumstances. These days, thanks to streaming services, audiences enjoy unprecedented access to some of the best war movies from around the world and of all time. But that’s a huge volume of films we’re talking about, making it quite difficult to separate the best from the rest. Luckily, there’s a way around that problem:Rotten Tomatoes.
Most viewers are familiar with the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes and their scoring system. The “Tomatometer” system, which calculates a score based on the number of positive reviews a movie or show has received from recognized critics, is not withoutflaws, but it is a fairly reliable and widely used tool. And getting a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score is an honor equal to any major award — a sign that the movie you’re about to watch is as good as it gets. Read on to discover our selection of war movies with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score that you can stream right now across platforms.
For more recommendations, be sure to check out our lists of the best movies with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score onPrime Video,Max, andNetflix.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on streaming services in the US.
‘Breaker Morant’ (1980)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.8/10
Breaker Morant
Based onKenneth G. Ross’s eponymous 1978 play,Breaker Morantis anAustralianhistorical war drama about the 1902 court martial of the titular soldier and two others for war crimes committed in South Africa during the Second Boer War. The film was directed byBruce Beresford, who also co-wrote the screenplay withJonathan HardyandDavid Stevens. The movie starsEdward Woodwardas Morant, withJack Thompson,John Waters, andBryan Brownin key roles.
Breaker Morantpremiered in Australia in March 1980, receiving widespread praise from critics for its pacifist anti-war message. The film earned numerous accolades as well, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay and 10 Australian Film Institute Awards, including Best Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Leading Actor, and Best Supporting Actor. Though the movie is relatively less well-known outside Australia,Breaker Morantis a masterfully crafted and brilliantly acted war drama that still holds relevance today, over 40 years after it first hit theaters.
Watch on Tubi
‘Grave of the Fireflies’ (1988)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.5/10
Grave of the Fireflies
A 1988 animated war drama produced byStudio Ghibli,Grave of the Fireflieswas written and directed byIsao Takahata. Based onAkiyuki Nosaka’s 1967 semi-autobiographical short story, the film follows Seita and Setsuko, siblings orphaned by the Allied bombing of Kobe, Japan, as they desperately struggle to survive. The movie’s original voice cast includesTsutomu Tatsumi,Ayano Shiraishi,Yoshiko Shinohara,Akemi Yamaguchi, and more.
Though only moderately successful at the box office,Grave of the Fireflieswas universally acclaimed at the time of its premiere. A highly emotional character drama that explores the unforgivable cost of war on the lives of the innocent, it’s a film with beautiful art, complex characters, and a story that will break your heart. Though the movie reportedly was not developed as an anti-war film,Grave of the Firefliesis arguably one of the most compelling statements ever delivered against the pursuit of war, not to mention one of the greatest animated films ever made.
Watch on Netflix
‘Kajaki: The True Story’ (2014)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.1/10
Directed byPaul Katisin his feature debut,Kajaki: The True Story(released in North America asKilo Two Bravo) is a British war docu-drama based on the Kajaki Dam incident in Afghanistan. Written byTom Williams, the movie follows a small unit of British soldiers tracking Taliban activity who find themselves trapped in a forgotten Soviet-era minefield. The film starsDavid Elliot,Mark Stanley,Scott Kyle,Benjamin O’Mahony,Bryan Parry,Liam Ainsworth, and more.
A fact-based war movie that focuses on a contained and suspenseful true story,Kilo Two Bravopremiered in 2014 to critical acclaim and earned several accolades, including a BAFTA Scotland Award and a nomination for aBritish Academy Film Award. The film has some great performances, direction, and writing, as well as an underlying message about the long-term impact of war. The events of the film aren’t caused by enemy combatants — they’re the consequence of an older conflict, a fact that emphasizes how the physical hardware of modern warfare can continue to cost lives long after the actual fighting has ended.
‘Ivan’s Childhood’ (1962)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.0/10
Ivan’s Childhood
Directed byAndrei Tarkovskyin his feature debut,Ivan’s Childhoodis a 1962 Soviet war drama inspired byVladimir Bogomolov’s 1957 short story “Ivan”. The film stars child actorNikolai Burlyayevas the titular Ivan, a young boy whose parents are killed by the invading German forces during World War II. Also released asMy Name Is Ivanin the US, the film was part of a new generation of Soviet war films that critiqued the human cost of war instead of glorifying it like earlier propagandist movies. Besides Burlyayev, the movie also starsValentin Zubkov,Evgeny Zharikov,Irma Raush, and more.
Ivan’s Childhoodwas an internationally acclaimed and commercially successful film at the time of its premiere, receiving widespread praise from critics and launching Tarkovsky’s exceptionally successful career. The film was chosen as the Soviet Union’s entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and though it was not ultimately nominated, it did win several other accolades, including theVenice Film Festival’s Golden Lion prize. A surreal, moving film that is both thematically deep and artistically executed,Ivan’s Childhoodis arguably one of the greatest movies of all time.
Watch on Plex
‘Narvik’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 6.6/10
A Norwegian historical war drama directed byErik Skjoldbjærg,Narvikrevolves around theWorld War II Battles of Narvik, a conflict between Nazi invaders and Norwegian forces that famously ended in Hitler’s first defeat. Set in 1940, shortly after the German invasion of Norway, the film follows the story of a fictional couple, Norwegian soldier Gunnar Tofte (Carl Martin Eggesbø) and his wife, Ingrid (Kristine Hartgen), whose lives are torn apart by these historic events.
Released in Norway in December 2022,Narvikwas a huge commercial success, becoming the country’s highest-grossing theatrical release of the year. Subsequently released on Netflix, the movie has received near-universal acclaim from critics and audiences from around the world. Praised for its intense, emotional narrative and the perspective it brings to this important chapter of real history,Narvikis a powerful war drama with stunning visuals and suspenseful direction, all culminating in a bittersweet yet realistic ending.
‘Number 24’ (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.5/10
Directed byJohn Andreas Andersen,Number 24(stylized asNr. 24) is a Norwegian biographical war film based on the life of World War II resistance fighterGunnar Sønsteby. Narrated in flashbacks to Sønsteby’s youth, the film follows the story of the Norwegian resistance group known as the Oslo Gang, who worked under British command to sabotage Axis forces during the German occupation of Norway.Sjur Vatne Breanstars as the young Sønsteby, withErik Hivjuplaying an older version of the character who narrates his story to a group of schoolchildren.Lisa Loven Kongsli,Magnus Dugdale,Benjamin Myhre, and more appear in supporting roles.
Number 24premiered in Norway in 2024 to highly favorable reviews and box office success, becoming the country’s highest-grossing domestic film of the year. Released internationally on Netflix in January 2025, the movie drew high viewership and became one of the streaming service’s top 10 non-English films. A tense wartime drama,Number 24explores the life of one of Norway’s most decorated war heroes with a clear-eyed narrative that doesn’t shy away from addressing the moral compromises made by the resistance in service of their greater goal.
‘One of Our Aircraft is Missing’ (1942)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.0/10
One of Our Aircraft Is Missing
A British wartime film,One of Our Aircraft Is Missingwas written and directed byMichael PowellandEmeric Pressburger. Set in German-occupied Netherlands during World War II, the film follows a British bomber crew that is trapped behind enemy lines and must figure out a way back to safety with the help of sympathetic Dutch citizens. The movie starsGodfrey Tearle,Eric Portman,Hugh Williams,Bernard Miles,Hugh Burden,Emrys Jones,Googie Withers, andPamela Brown.
Though it was originally a propaganda film commissioned by the UK’s Ministry of Information to boost domestic morale,One of Our Aircraft is Missingisn’t just nationalistic fluff; it’s a genuinely well-rounded wartime adventure movie. The film has earned widespread acclaim and received numerous accolades, including two Academy Award nominations. Featuring a genuinely entertaining story and a well-crafted production,One of Our Aircraft is Missingmay not be a very well-known movie today, but it is one of the most celebrated British films of all time and a must-watch for fans of WWII cinema.
‘The Bombardment’ (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.3/10
The Bombardment
A Danish World War II drama loosely inspired by real events,The Bombardment(also known asThe Shadow in My Eye) was written and directed byOle Bornedal. Set in Copenhagen, the film follows the interconnected stories of ordinary residents who are all connected in one way or another to a local Catholic school. When a Royal Air Force plane crashes nearby, the school is misidentified as a target and bombed by Allied forces, placing all their lives in jeopardy.Alex Høgh Andersen,Fanny Bornedal,Danica Curcic,Alban Lendorf,Caspar Phillipson, and more star in significant roles.
The Bombardmentpremiered in Denmark in October 2021 to highly positive reviews. The movie has received praise from critics and viewers for its grounded, character-driven narrative. However, the film has also been criticized for some of its historical errors and inaccuracies, and though based on true events, it is not a completely factual account. That being said,The Bombardmentis still a compelling wartime drama that explores the everyday human cost of war.
