Shubhabrata Dutta
War is a vast genre in movies that covers a wide variety of sub-genres, including romance, spy, action, and thriller. However, what makes war movies so appealing is the backdrop of a war that shows humanity at its worst while the plot addresses the good that still exists. Amidst all the tragedy we are subjected to, there lingers hope, and that is what we cling to with all our might. And the more tightly we cling to it, the more effective the movie is. We can say that war movies are like life itself; we search for the positive among the negative. Hulu has a compelling collection of war movies that will change your perspective on life.
12. Retrograde (2022)
Directed by Matthew Heineman, ‘Retrograde’ is a documentary that showcases the events during the final nine months of the War in Afghanistan that took place from 2001 to 2021 in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks for which Afghanistan was held responsible. It also explores the relationship between the U.S. soldiers and Sami Sadat, the then-general of the Afghan Armed Forces, and his troops as they fought alongside to defend their country from being taken over by the Taliban. It ended with the February 2020 US–Taliban deal. You can watch the film here.
11. The Good Traitor (2020)
A Danish biographical drama based on the actions of Henrik Kauffmann, the Danish ambassador to the United States during World War II. Kauffmann was the one who authorized the U.S. to defend the Danish colonies of Greenland, also known as the Greenland Treaty, from the Nazis one year after they occupied Denmark. His actions earned him the nickname “the King of Greenland.” Ulrich Thomsen plays the role of Henrik Kauffmann. You can watch the film here.
10. Benediction (2021)
If you are looking for a war movie that offers more than just experiences of war, ‘Benediction’ is an apt choice. Based on the life of Siegfried Sassoon, a British soldier/war poet who served in World War I, the movie is directed by Terence Davies. It explores the different phases of Sassoon’s life, from his time in the war to his criticism of it to his homosexuality to his search for inner peace and salvation by getting married. By expressing his feelings in the form of poems, Sassoon transcends war and puts into words the experiences of a troubled man who is searching for a way out without knowing how. The cast includes Jack Lowden as young Sassoon, Peter Capaldi as aged Sassoon, Tom Blyth, Kate Phillips, Calam Lynch, Ben Daniels, and Geraldine James. You may watch the film here.
9. Moffie (2020)
Set in the South African Border War that occurred from 1966 to 1990 in Namibia, Zambia, and Angola, the movie shows a white South African teenager named Nicholas van der Swart who has to sign up for the pro-apartheid South African Defense Force (SADF) for two years as a part of compulsory service and go up against the forces of the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN). The brutal physical and emotional experiences of Swart during the two years are what the movie showcases, with a special focus on his relationships and the secret of his homosexuality in a surrounding that smells of toxic masculinity. Directed by Oliver Hermanus and based on André Carl van der Merwe’s autobiographical novel of the same name, the cast of ‘Moffie’ includes Kai Luke Brümmer as Nicholas van der Swart, Ludwig Baxter, Ryan de Villiers, Hilton Pelser, Christiaan Schoombie, Martin Munro and Stefan Vermaak. Feel free to check out the movie here.
8. The East (2021)
‘The East’ is a Dutch movie directed by Jim Taihuttu that is set against the backdrop of the Indonesian War of Independence (1945-1949) and deals with the immortal dilemma that has been addressed by many other movies i.e. the conflict between duty and conscience. 20-year-old Dutch soldier Johan de Vries arrives with his squad to Indonesia, where they have to suppress a rebellion. But when they become a target, de Vries faces an overwhelming moral dilemma, to say the least. The cast of the movie includes Martijn Lakemeier as soldier Johan de Vries, Marwan Kenzari, Pras Teguh, Jim Deddes, Denise Aznam, Joenoes Polnaija, and Jonas Smulders. You can check out the film here.
7. Medieval (2022)
Turning the wheel of time backward even further, we arrive in the 14th century and meet Jan Zizka, a Bohemian military commander who existed for real. Directed by Petr Jákl, it shows how Zizka became the commander that he is today known as and what he had to go through to achieve this feat. This includes getting involved in dangerous politics, facing conflict, and showing courage in the face of fear. The cast of the movie includes Ben Foster as Jan Zizka, Michael Caine, Matthew Goode, Sophie Lowe, Til Schweiger, William Moseley, and Roland Møller. You can watch ‘Medieval’ here.
6. The Last Full Measure (2020)
‘The Last Full Measure’ is directed by Todd Robinson and is based on true events, showcasing the controversy behind the downgrading of martyred airman William H Pitsenbarger’s gallantry award from the Medal of Honor to the Air Force Cross. Pitsenbarger died in 1966, but not before saving more than 60 men during the Vietnam War. For decades, his loved ones have been vouching for him to be given the Medal of Honor, an award he should have gotten right in 1966, perhaps even before he died. Why he didn’t get the medal is what the movie answers. The cast of this movie includes Jeremy Irvine as William H Pitsenbarger, Sebastian Stan, Alison Sudol, Bradley Whitford, William Hurt, Samuel L. Jackson, and Ed Harris. You may watch the film here.
5. Shadow in the Cloud (2020)
After seven movies on this list, if you are wondering whether there’s more to war movies than guns, bullets, and explosions, this one will clear the air. Directed by Roseanne Liang, ‘Shadow in the Cloud’ is set in World War II and centers on Captain Maude Garrett, a pilot officer, who is onboard “The Fool’s Errand,” a bomber plane that is on its way to Samoa from New Zealand. Maude has one job, i.e., guarding a top-secret package that she doesn’t even know its contents. While it is expected that the derisive all-male crew (except for Maude) will face enemy planes, things take a more sinister turn as a gremlin targets the bomber. Now, Maude has to do what’s necessary to save her crew, keep her cargo safe, and, in the process, make it clear that she is not one to be ridiculed or trifled with. The cast of the movie includes Chloë Grace Moretz as Maude Garrett, Taylor John Smith, Nick Robinson, Beulah Koale, Callan Mulvey, Callan Mulvey and Ryan Cooper. You can stream it here.
4. War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
The third installment of the Planet of the Apes reboot franchise, ‘War for the Planet of the Apes’ serves as the sequel to ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ (2014) and is directed by Matt Reeves. Set two years after the events of ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,’ this film shows enhanced ape Caesar (voiced by Andy Serkis) taking up arms against the ruthless Colonel J. Wesley McCullough (Woody Harrelson) and his Alpha-Omega paramilitary faction after they kill Caesar’s eldest son Blue Eyes (voiced by Max Lloyd-Jones) and wife Cornelia (voiced by Judy Greer). Caesar has been trying to show his stand for peace, but unfortunately, his enemies aren’t willing to cooperate. He thus lets his feeling of vengeance take over and decides to take revenge for the death of his loved ones and all those he has lost. You can watch the film here.
3. Official Secrets (2019)
When a controversy based on true events surrounding a war must be depicted, the movie must be intense, including the performances. ‘Official Secrets’ hits the spot with Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, and Matt Smith in primary roles, all of them Academy-Award nominees. Directed by Gavin Hood, the movie tells the true story of Katharine Gun, a GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters, an intelligence gathering organization for the British Government) analyst who spilled the beans about the Iraq invasion of 2003 by exposing a US-UK joint illegal operation that spied on UN officials and blackmailed them into voting for the invasion and by extension war.
The risks, professional and personal, which she took while trying to prevent the war is what the movie chronicles. While she wasn’t successful and the invasion did occur, she managed to expose conspiracy at high levels of both the UK and US governments and proved how intelligence was manipulated to satisfy a personal motive. Alongside the ones mentioned above, the rest of the cast includes Katharine Gun, Matthew Goode, Adam Bakri, Rhys Ifans, John Heffernan, and Conleth Hill. You can stream ‘Official Secrets’ here.
2. Red Cliff (2008)
From director John Woo comes an epic war drama set against the backdrop of the Battle of Red Cliffs (208–209 AD). The battle was fought between southern warlords Sun Quan (Chang Chen) and Liu Bei (You Yong) and warlord Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi) of the Han dynasty and would end with Cao Cao’s defeat. The Han Dynasty came to an end in 220 AD, after which the Three Kingdoms period began in Imperial China. Merging facts and fiction, Woo was able to showcase an event that was a visual spectacle. Tony Leung plays the role of Zhou Yu, a military general who served under Sun Quan, while Takeshi Kaneshiro plays the role of Zhuge Liang, who was Liu Bei’s advisor. You can stream ‘Red Cliff’ here.
1. The Imitation Game (2014)
Directed by Morten Tyldum, ‘The Imitation Game’ is based on the life of British scientist/mathematician Alan Turing, who was majorly responsible for deciphering the German intelligence code called Enigma used during World War II. The film delves into his work during this period as well as his personal life, including his unrequited romantic feelings for his boarding school classmate Christopher, after whom he would name the very machine he made to break Enigma. Benedict Cumberbatch plays the role of Turing. The rest of the cast includes Keira Knightley, Allen Leech, Matthew Goode, Matthew Beard, Charles Dance, and Mark Strong. You can stream ‘Imitation Game’ here.
Read More: Best War Movies on HBO Max
