As a genre,war moviestend to be dark, gritty stories about traumatized people confronted with man-madehorrors, so it’s no surprise that some of the best works in the genre are those made specifically for an adult audience, with free reign to explore their painful subjects with total transparency. R-rated war movies have been among the most successful films of all time, both critically and commercially, andNetflixhas a sizable collection of such movies in its catalog. However, due to the sheer scale of the streamer’s library, it can be a bit difficult to find the truly great ones, so we’ve done the work for you. Read on to discover our handpicked list of the best R-rated war movies you can watch now on Netflix, ranging fromaward-winning classicsto recent hits, lesser-known international productions, and more.
For more recommendations, be sure to check out our lists of thebest R-rated films on Netflix, thebest R-rated shows on Netflix, and thebest war movies on Netflixin general.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.
Editor’s note: This article was updated April 2025 to include Black Hawk Down.
‘Black Hawk Down’ (2001)
Rotten Tomatoes: 76% | IMDb: 7.7/10
Black Hawk Down
A classic war film,Black Hawk Downis set in October 1993 and follows the many highly-trained US soldiers who were dropped into Mogadishu on an elite mission to save a pair of lieutenants. However, everything quickly starts to go wrong. A thrilling, blood-pumping war film with all the trimmings,Black Hawk Downis a visceral escape into a warzone that pulls no punches in its honest depiction of the hells of battle. Featuring stellar performances and eye-catching action sequences,Black Hawk Downis not to be missed. -Jake Hodges
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‘Fury’ (2014)
Rotten Tomatoes: 76% | IMDb: 7.6/10
Written, directed, and co-produced byDavid Ayer,Furyis a World War II movie that follows an American tank crew fighting in Nazi Germany during the final weeks of the war. The film features an ensemble cast led byBrad PittandLogan Lerman, withShia LaBeouf,Michael Peña,Jon Bernthal, and more. The movie is primarily centered on Norman Ellison (Lerman), an inexperienced typist clerk thrust onto the frontlines despite his aversion to violence who receives traumatizing mentorship from tank commander Don “Wardaddy” Collier (Pitt).
Furypremiered in October 2014 to largely favorable reviews and commercial success, grossing over $211 million worldwide. Featuring some amazing performances, including one of Brad Pitt’s most underrated roles,Furyis a compelling story about the horrors of war that largely treads familiar ground but makes the experience genuinely enjoyable through epic action and intense character drama. The movie received several accolades and was named one of the top 10 films of 2014 by the National Board of Review.
‘1917’ (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes: 88% | IMDb: 8.2/10
Directed bySam Mendes, who also co-wrote the screenplay withKrysty Wilson-Cairns,1917is set during World War I and follows British soldiers who risk their lives to deliver an important message to another battalion — with the lives of 1,600 men on the line. StarringGeorge MacKayandDean-Charles Chapman, the film features an ensemble cast that includesMark Strong,Andrew Scott,Richard Madden,Claire Duburcq,Colin Firth, andBenedict Cumberbatchin supporting roles.
1917premiered in 2019 to critical and commercial success, grossing over $446 million worldwide. The film received several accolades as well, including three Academy Awards (Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects) and two Golden Globes (Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Director).1917isn’t just a moving story about wartime heroism — it’s an epic audio-visual experience with great acting, gorgeous visuals, and masterful direction. The film was named one of the best movies of the year by both the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute.
‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | IMDb: 7.8/10
All Quiet on the Western Front
A war drama directed byEdward Berger,All Quiet on the Western Frontis an adaptation ofErich Maria Remarque’s eponymous novel.Berger also co-wrote the screenplay withLesley PatersonandIan Stokell,and the film starsFelix Kammereras a young German World War I soldier who finds his patriotic ideals shattered by the realities of war. The film also follows a parallel narrative (diverging from the source material) that explores the armistice negotiations that ended the war. Besides Kammerer, the movie also starsAlbrecht Schuch,Thibault de Montalembert,Daniel Brühl, and more.
All Quiet on the Western Frontpremiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, where it received universal acclaim. Subsequently released on Netflix, the film became one of the streamer’s most-watched movies. A hard-hitting examination of war and the trauma it brings to soldiers on either side of the line,All Quiet on the Western Frontis an expertly crafted production that brings its source material alive while adding a fresh perspective. The film received several accolades as well, including the Academy Awards for Best International Feature, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Production Design.
‘The Forgotten Battle’ (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.1/10
The Forgotten Battle
A Dutch war drama directed byMatthijs van Heijningen Jr.,The Forgotten Battleis set during the Second World War and revolves primarily around the Battle of the Scheldt in 1944. The film follows a Dutch Axis soldier, a British glider pilot, and a resistance woman from Zeeland as their paths become intertwined, leading to choices that shape the course of history. The movie starsGijs Blom,Jamie Flatters, andSusan Radderin the lead roles, withJan Bijvoet,Tom Felton,Coen Bril,Theo Barklem-Biggs, and more as supporting characters.
The Forgotten Battleoriginally premiered in December 2020 but was not released to the public until a year later, receiving its theatrical premiere in the Netherlands in June 2021 and streaming release on Netflix in October 2021. The film was highly successful both in theaters and on Netflix, becoming one of the streamer’s all-time top 10 non-English movies and the highest-grossing Dutch film of the year. An engaging and well-produced WWII epic that explores a lesser-known chapter of the war,The Forgotten Battleis a must-watch for history buffs and fans of great European cinema.
‘Number 24’ (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.5/10
Directed byJohn Andreas Andersen,Number 24(stylized asNr. 24) is a Norwegian biopic about the real-life World War II resistance fighterGunnar Sønsteby.Erik Hivjustars as an elderly Sønsteby recounting his story to a group of schoolchildren, withSjur Vatne Breanplaying the character’s younger version from during the war. The film follows Sønsteby’s exploits and those of other Norwegian resistance fighters who banded together to form a sabotage unit hindering the Axis forces.Lisa Loven Kongsli,Magnus Dugdale,Benjamin Myhre, and more appear in supporting roles.
Number 24premiered in Norway in 2024 and was released on Netflix in January 2025, receiving favorable reviews from both critics and audiences. The movie was Norway’s highest-grossing Norwegian production of the year and became one of Netflix’s most-streamed films as well. Exploring the life of one of Norway’s most decorated war heroes,Number 24doesn’t stoop to hero worship, instead presenting an honest portrait of determined people fighting for the greater good — even as circumstances draw them into morally gray situations.
‘Mosul’ (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes: 83% | IMDb: 7.1/10
Written and directed byMatthew Michael Carnahan,Mosulis a 2019 Arabic-language war action movie that revolves around the 2016 Battle of Mosul, in which Iraqi government forces and allies managed to liberate the city from ISIS control. Inspired byLuke Mogelson’sThe New Yorkerarticle “The Desperate Battle to Destroy ISIS,” the film follows Kawa (Adam Bessa), a young police officer who is rescued from insurgents by an Iraqi SWAT team. Joining his rescuers, Kawa finds himself thrust into a perilous and seemingly endless campaign surrounded by people who distrust him, slowly coming to realize what the team’s mission really is.
Mosulpremiered at the 2019 Venice Film Festival and was released on Netflix in November 2020, receiving largely positive reviews from critics and audiences. While American-made movies about violence in the Middle East have a general tendency to focus on Western perspectives,Mosulis a rare film that chooses the perspective of the actual people of the land. By doing so, the movie presents a compelling and grounded story that’s fresh, moving, and deeply impactful.
‘The Bombardment’ (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.3/10
Also known asThe Shadow in My Eye,The Bombardmentis a Danish World War II drama written and directed byOle Bornedal. Partly based on true events, the film revolves primarily around an incident in which a Royal Air Force plane crashed near a school, causing it to be misidentified as a target and bombed by Allied forces. Following the stories of several Copenhagen residents in the run-up to the tragedy, the movie starsAlex Høgh Andersen,Fanny Bornedal,Danica Curcic,Alban Lendorf,Caspar Phillipson, and more.
The Bombardmentpremiered in Denmark in October 2021 and was released internationally on Netflix in March 2022, receivinghighly positive reviewsfrom critics and fans. While the film has been criticized for its historical inaccuracies, especially by the family of one of the real-life people depicted in the movie,The Bombardmentis a haunting and effective drama that steps away from the front lines to explore the civilian cost of WWII. Through a narrative focused on ordinary people, most of whom have nothing to do with the war, the film provides a unique insight into a real-life tragedy that has become largely forgotten by the world at large.
‘Schindler’s List’ (1993)
Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 9.0/10
Schindler’s List (1995)
Directed and produced bySteven Spielbergand written bySteven Zaillian,Schindler’s Listis a historical drama film based onThomas Keneally’s 1982 novelSchindler’s Ark.Liam Neesonstars as the titular German industrialistOskar Schindler, a real-life individual who helped save over a thousand Jewish refugees during World War II by employing them in his factories. The film also starsRalph Fiennes,Ben Kingsley,Caroline Goodall,Jonathan Sagall,Embeth Davidtz, and more.
Schindler’s Listpremiered in 1993 to universal acclaim and box office success, receiving praise from critics and audiences for its tone, narrative, direction, music, cinematography, and performances. Filmed primarily in black and white, the film is as breathtaking as it is heartbreaking. Often hailed as one of the greatest films of all time, the movie received multiple awards, including seven Oscars, seven BAFTAs, and three Golden Globes. In 2004,Schindler’s Listwas inducted into the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as a “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” work of cinema.
