Best War Movies Streaming on Paramount+ Right Now

With nearly a thousand films in its library, Paramount+ may not offer as much content as streaming services like Netflix or Prime Video, but they offer significant quality over quantity, with some of the biggest box office hits of recent years and critically acclaimed films. That quality applies to its war movie offerings as well.

The following are the best war films currently available on the Paramount+ service. We’ve included films in which war and combat are prominent themes and not just action films that feature gunplay. These films also explore a soldier’s experiences in war, a perspective that separates the genre from traditional action.

15 Tropic Thunder (2008)

Tropic Thunder, starring and directed by Ben Stiller, is one of the most remarkable comedy films of the 21st century. It follows an ambitious director who is making a war film based on the memoirs of a Vietnam War veteran, ‘Four Leaf’ Tayback, but the production is falling behind the schedule despite the film featuring an ensemble of A-list prima-donna actors: Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller), Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black), and Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.).

In a desperate situation, the filmmaker drops the cast in a Vietnamese forest, hoping to find some realism, but they are unaware that the area is controlled by a heroin-producing gang that is also heavily armed. Are these actors capable of making it out of there alive?

A Comedy that Will Truly Shock You

Tropic Thunder is a brilliantly written comedic war film that gets better on subsequent viewing. With modern comedy growing increasingly stale, this film offers something unique. Furthermore, despite boasting a dream cast consisting of Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, and Ben Stiller, the writing and directing aspects of the film are what makes it so remarkable, it’s well worth a watch.

14 Braveheart (1995)

Braveheart is an epic historical drama film starring and directed by Mel Gibson, who portrays Sir William Wallace, a Scottish warrior who led a rebellion against King Edward I of England in the 13th century. After losing a loved one to English soldiers, Wallace rallies Scottish warriors to liberate their homeland from Edward I’s tyranny. Despite being oppressed by the massive English army, the mighty warrior puts everything on the line with the assistance of Robert the Bruce (Angus Macfadyen).

Iconic For a Reason

Braveheart is one of the greatest war films of all time, bolstered by being based on historical events. Sure, it has shortcomings in terms of historical accuracy, but it’s a rousing spectacle that induces sophisticated emotional swirls throughout its three-hour runtime. Aside from boasting a stellar ensemble such as Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, and Angus Macfadyen, the film also has incredible character development, epic battle sequences, and provides a visually stunning experience.

13 Tigerland (2000)

Tigerland is a war drama film directed by Joel Schumacher that takes place in 1971 in Fort Polk, Louisiana. The plot revolves around a platoon of recruits that arrive at a Louisiana training camp for infantry training, led by Jim Paxton (Matthew Davis), an aspiring writer-soldier who wants to experience everything, and Roland Bozz (Collin Farrell), a cool Texan who frequently gets into trouble for his generosity as a leader. As they prepare for their first training of the week, they realize that the Louisiana swamp may be more dangerous than the war itself.

A War Movie With a Character-Based Plot

Despite being filmed in Florida, Tigerland is a fairly authentic classic that is often defined as a war movie with no actual war in it. The film focuses on the struggles of emerging soldiers, providing viewers with a deeper insight into what they would face before the war and how it traumatizes them. It is a character-driven drama that is gritty and heart-wrenching but a bold attempt by Schumacher, which works surprisingly well for any audience.

12 Flags of Our Fathers (2006)

Flags of Our Fathers is a poignant film helmed by Academy Award Winner Clint Eastwood. During World War II, the American government discovered that most of its war treasury was empty due to the public’s distrust of their forces. To raise finances for the war, the government brings three survivors of Iwa Jima and introduces them as war heroes despite their initial defeat. Will these honorable soldiers play along with the government’s lies as they rise to new levels of fame and status after the war?

Tension and Emotions Run High

Oftentimes, when you fictionalize a tale about historical wars, you run the risk of inaccuracy and subsequently dishonoring the memories of these warriors. However, Clint Eastwood’s Flags of Our Fathers portrays the concept in such a way that viewers are left to judge their actions, making it extremely intriguing. Moreover, it is difficult to find fault with any of Clint Eastwood’s films and Flags of Our Fathers, which is packed with drama and action, is no exception.

11 Freedom’s Path (2022)

War is a genre that evokes a wide range of emotions, including tears, smiles, laughter, and more than anything, grief. Brett Smith’s 2022 feature debut, Freedom’s Path, is a historical war film that combines all the aforementioned elements. In the movie, William is a Union soldier who flees the battlefield in the hopes of getting away from the ensuing violence, and he eventually finds sanctuary on the Underground Railroad run by a young, heroic Black man named Kitch. Apparently, Kitch is a member of a secret group consisting of freed slaves and William’s unannounced appearance sets a slave catcher on their trail.

A War Movie With Heart

Freedom’s Path is a beautiful war drama told from the perspective of a young and naive soldier, and it also delves into the issue of slavery, which is often overlooked in modern war films. In addition to the incredible cinematography and the novel take on civil war, the entire ensemble delivers outstanding performances, making this an exceptional war film that should not be missed.

10 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016)

Michael Bay is well known for his over-the-top action films and the Transformers franchise, but in 2016, he went in a different direction, telling the true story of heroism in the War on Terror. 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi depicts the terror attack on an American consulate in Libya on Sep. 11, 2012. The film focuses on the small group of CIA military operators who protect U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and his staff from Islamic extremists who attempt to infiltrate their compound on one harrowing night.

The film stars John Krasinski as CIA contractor Jack Silva, a role far different from his role as Jim in the sitcom The Office, and it proved he was capable of being a serious leading actor in film. James Badge Dale (24, The Departed, 1923), Pablo Schreiber, and David Denman all co-star as the operators fighting with him, in a film that stands apart from Michael Bay’s usual blockbusters.

Intense and Immersive

The bombastic action style that has become a Michael Bay trademark is still here, but there is an underlying emotional gravity and urgency. Outstanding performances by the cast highlight the real-life heroism and sacrifice of those involved. Movie critic Dan Buffa called the film “a truly visceral experience,” adding “When you left the theater, you felt a piece of shrapnel sticking out of your heart.”

9 Black Hawk Down (2001)

Black Hawk Down is based on the true story of the disastrous U.S. military mission in Somalia in 1993, in which over 100 U.S. Army Rangers were ambushed by the army of a local warlord. With two Black Hawk helicopters down, and the soldiers pinned down in the middle of Mogadishu, a frantic rescue mission is undertaken to save them before their position is overrun. Josh Hartnett plays an Army Ranger in the midst of the battle, who leads his fellow soldiers to the Black Hawk crash site in search of survivors.

From Master Director Ridley Scott

The terrible personal cost of war, particularly in modern urban warfare, is captured with harrowing accuracy in Ridley Scott’s film. You likely won’t recognize most of the famous actors in the cast, as the chaotic battle scenes make them almost indistinguishable, which is the point. Individuality is lost as each soldier is in a fight for their lives, and the lives of those around them. The film won two technical Oscars, and Scott earned a nomination for Best Director.

8 Devotion (2022)

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Devotion flew under the radar of many moviegoers during its theatrical run in November 2022. The film is based on the true story of Ensign Jesse Brown, the first African-American Navy pilot. Set during the start of the Korean War, the film follows Brown (played by Marvel actor Jonathan Majors) as he is paired with Lt. Tom Hudner (Top Gun: Maverick star Glen Powell) as his wingman. Two very different people became close friends, and the outbreak of war tested their friendship in ways they didn’t foresee.

A Rarer Korean War Movie

Devotion takes place during the Korean War, a conflict rarely depicted in Hollywood or covered in history books. That alone makes the film a unique viewing experience, and the added layer of racial inequality gives the film emotional gravity, thanks to an excellent performance by Majors. The flight sequences are superb, with an authentic feel and strong camera work.

7 The Four Feathers (2002)

The Four Feathers

Release Date

September 8, 2002

Cast

Wes Bentley , Mohamed Bouich , Campbell Brown , Daniel Caltagirone , James Cosmo , Andy Coumbe

Based on the classic novel by A.E.W. Mason, The Four Feathers is set during the late 1800s in the Sudan, where British troops are sent to quell an uprising. Heath Ledger plays a British officer who resigns his commission and is subsequently accused of cowardice. When he learns his friends are facing certain death in a Sudanese siege, he single-handedly sets out to rescue them.

Worthwhile For Heath Ledger Alone

A fantastic cast elevates the more pedestrian elements of the film, directed by Shekhar Kapur. Strong performances from Yellowstone star Wes Bentley and Oscar nominees Kate Hudson and Djimon Hounsou highlight this tale of honor, loyalty, and duty, themes often lost in today’s cynical world. The film boasts stunning battle sequences, with cinematography by Robert Richardson, who won Oscars for his work with Martin Scorsese (The Aviator, Hugo) and Oliver Stone (JFK).

6 Gladiator (2000)

Set in 180 A.D., Gladiator tells the story of a Roman general (Russell Crowe) who is betrayed by the Emperor’s son (Joaquin Phoenix) and sets out on a path of revenge as a powerful gladiator. As he attempts to restore justice to Rome, he finds allies in a fellow gladiator (Djimon Hounsou) and the Emperor’s daughter (Connie Nielsen). The film is filled with incredible action scenes, including the film’s opening battle, featuring hundreds of warriors in the forests of Germany.

A Genre-Defining Classic

Ridley Scott crafts yet another genre masterpiece. Russell Crowe was never better in a career-defining, Oscar-winning role as a general who became a slave, and then became a gladiator who defied an empire. A mix of old-school Hollywood epic and gritty historical adventure, Gladiator won five Oscars, including Best Picture. Crowe took home the Best Actor Oscar, and as good as he is, he was matched by Best Supporting Actor nominee Phoenix, who plays the Emperor’s power-hungry son Commodus. Hans Zimmer’s iconic music is still one of the most memorable scores ever written.

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5 Hamburger Hill (1987)

Hamburger Hill is a visceral film about the real-life battle in the A Shau Valley in Vietnam in 1969, which lasted ten days and became one of the bloodiest, costliest battles of the war. Dylan McDermott, Don Cheadle, and Tim Quill lead an outstanding cast as members of the 101st Airborne’s 187th Infantry, who are tasked with taking a hill from the North Vietnamese at any cost.

A Difficult But Rewarding Watch

Made with an eye for realism, Hamburger Hill is not an easy watch. It pulls no punches in its depiction of the futility and insanity faced by troops in Vietnam, particularly in the utter insanity of having so many Americans die for an ultimately useless objective. The film is a marked departure from other Vietnam films of the era, which romanticized the conflict in an attempt to rectify the treatment of returning soldiers. Ironically, both succeeded in changing how America saw the war and the troops, despite the radically different tactics.

4 Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Steven Spielberg’s World War II masterpiece Saving Private Ryan opens with a harrowing sequence, recreating the Normandy landings on D-Day. A group of soldiers, led by Capt. Miller (Tom Hanks), sets out on a mission to bring a mother’s last surviving son home from the war. The task is not easy, as the son, Pvt. James Ryan (Matt Damon) is lost behind enemy lines, with the Germans bearing down on them. More than two decades after its release, the film is still a towering cinematic achievement.

A Legendary Installment in Spielberg’s Body of Work

By 1998, Spielberg’s directing style had matured somewhat from his 1980s blockbusters, but Saving Private Ryan still features his signature tent-pole sequences. Here, however, his directing hand was more nuanced, and the action sequences display the harsh realities of war and its cost. Tom Hanks gives an iconic performance, and the rest of the cast is fantastic. The final scene can still bring viewers to tears, and it is a travesty that the film lost the Best Picture Oscar to Shakespeare in Love.

3 Top Gun (1986)

Set at the Navy’s fighter pilot school in California, Top Gun blended outstanding pre-CGI visuals with a rousing underdog story. Navy pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) and wingmate Nicholas “Goose” Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards) are chosen to attend the Navy’s Fighter Weapons School, a.k.a. “Top Gun.” A training accident sends Maverick on a personal spiral, just as an international incident puts him on a path to a showdown against an enemy country piloting Russian MiG fighters.

Empty Blockbuster, Propaganda, or Art? You Decide

Top Gun may be considered summer blockbuster fluff to some film snobs, but Tony Scott’s film was more than the best Air Force recruitment film ever made. It captured the mood of a nation finding its place on the world stage once more, and willing to use its military might to do so. Tom Cruise captured the confidence and hopefulness of the Reagan era, and regardless of the clichés, Top Gun is a heck of a lot of fun.

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2 Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Read Our Review

Top Gun: Maverick was Hollywood’s first runaway blockbuster to emerge from Hollywood after the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s the rare sequel that’s actually better than the original film. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, now a training pilot, is called back into service to train a new generation of Navy pilots for a dangerous mission. Things get complicated, however, when he learns one of the pilots is the son of his former wingman, Goose.

An Epic Comeback

Even though it follows many of the same beats as the original film, Top Gun: Maverick manages to feel fresh by addressing its age. The brash cockiness that defined Maverick in the first film is still there, but there is now an undercurrent of both age-crafted wisdom and regret. Val Kilmer’s appearance is bittersweet, and Cruise proves that he’s more than a persona. Top Gun: Maverick dared to make movies fun again, and it succeeded.

1 We Were Soldiers (2002)

We Were Soldiers

Release Date

March 1, 2002

Runtime

2h 18m

Based on the true story of the first major battle of the Vietnam War, We Were Soldiers follows Lt. Col. Hal Moore (Mel Gibson) and 400 American soldiers, who find themselves pinned down by thousands of Viet Cong soldiers in the Ia Drang Valley in 1965. As the troops fight for their lives in the “Valley of Death,” their families back home begin to receive word of their desperate situation.

An Epic Tale of Emotion and Combat

Mel Gibson reunited with Randall Wallace, who wrote his Oscar-winning masterwork Braveheart, and together, the two crafted one of the best Vietnam epics ever made. The supporting cast is superb, with Sam Elliott, Greg Kinnear, and Barry Pepper also appearing. The battle scenes focus less on gunplay, and more on the human element. It gives the film much more emotional gravity, and a richer viewing experience overall, in what could have been a pedestrian war film.