War is hell, and countless movies prove it. Still, for all its hardship and horror, the war genre is extremely popular with audiences, with many of cinema’s all-time greatest efforts belonging to this occasionally harrowing genre. At their best, war movies achieve a good balance between showcasing the human spirit fighting against tyranny and showing the futility of armed conflict and its devastating consequences.
Of the many wars that humanity has fought, few are more prolific in cinema than World War II. The conflict, which pitted half the world against Nazi Germany and its allies, remains extremely present in modern pop culture, with at least one major movie dealing with the subject coming out each year. If you’re in the mood for a great World War II movie this weekend, then Netflix has you covered. The so-called King of the Streamers has a strong collection of war movies, covering the conflict from different perspectives and at different points in time.
‘Grave of the Fireflies’ (1988)
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Image via Studio Ghibli</figure>
Let’s begin with one of the most harrowing and heartbreaking movies you’ll ever watch. Brought to you by Studio Ghibli, 1988’s Grave of the Fireflies follows Seita (Tsutomu Tatsumi/Lucas Jaye) and his little sister, Setsuko (Ayano Shiraishi/Luna Hamilton), two Japanese orphans who are forced to fend for themselves in the waning days of the Pacific Theater in World War II. To really drive the point home, the film begins with the tragic ending and retreats the siblings’ steps as they attempt to survive.
Make no mistake, Grave of the Fireflies is one of the most heart-wrenching experiences in modern cinema. Based on the 1967 semi-autobiographical short story by Akiyuki Nosaka, the film focuses on the devastating consequences inflicted upon the most vulnerable during armed conflict. Seita and Setsuko suffer a cruel fate all because of a war they don’t understand and never would. The film shows the pain even beyond the siblings, but grounding the story on two helpless children whose bond is the one thing keeping them going makes Grave of the Fireflies one of the most powerful anti-war statements in cinematic history.
‘Anthropoid’ (2016)
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Image via LD Entertainment</figure>
Part war movie, part thriller, Anthropoid stars Jamie Dornan and Oscar winner Cillian Murphy as Czechoslovak soldiers Jan Kubiš and Josef Gabčík. The film dramatizes the real-life Operation Anthropoid, a coordinated attack by the Czechoslovakian Resistance to assassinate Reinhard Heydrich (Detlef Bothe), the acting Reichsprotektor of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and one of the main architects of the Holocaust.
Although mostly discarded at the time and largely forgotten now, Anthropoid is a masterclass in tension and an effective, highly entertaining depiction of one of World War II’s most crucial operations. Murphy and Dornan make for compelling leads, and director Sean Ellis fills every moment with a gripping approach that makes up for the rather uneven screenplay. Anthropoid is the perfect movie for all those who love to learn about new aspects of the conflict, spotlighting a courageous and ultimately successful operation that eliminated a high-ranking leader in the Nazi regime and turned the tide of war.
‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’ (2024)
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Image via Lionsgate</figure>
To end on a livelier note, we have Guy Ritchie‘s comedic war thriller The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Henry Cavill leads an ensemble cast as Gus March-Phillips, who assembles a team of roguish agents to sabotage Hitler’s fleet of German U-boats on the island of Fernando Po. Meanwhile, agent Marjorie Stewart (Eiza González) travels to the island to infiltrate SS Commander Heinrich Luhr’s (Til Schweiger) inner circle.
Because this is a Guy Ritchie movie, you can expect a lot of action and silly, macho humor filtered through the director’s distinctively English perspective. The ensemble cast, which also includes a scene-stealing Alan Ritchson, is the main selling point. The male crew shares a delightful chemistry, and it’s a hoot to watch them sabotage Nazis with unhinged glee. For her part, González has the more “serious” part of the plot, and she rises to the challenge, perfectly antagonized by a detestable Schweiger. Overall, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it makes for a very entertaining take on World War II.
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