10 Best War Movies On Amazon Prime Video (2024)

Amazon Prime Video is loaded with great war movies, but these 10 are the best it currently has to offer. War movies, like any other genre of film, vary greatly in terms of their overall quality. Since this is such a popular genre, streaming services like Prime Video often have a huge catalog of war movies ranging from generic duds to thrilling masterpieces. Many of the streaming giants make their own original war movies as well, which similarly range from poor to excellent.

Prime Video has a strong mix of original films, classics, and recent hits in the war movie category. Prime Video's best movies in the war genre reflect that mix, boasting several of the best war movies from the last 20 years alongside the older, classic films. Prime Video has also made a modest number of original war movies, though most of them have fallen flat. Whichever of these categories they come from, these are the 10 best war movies currently available for streaming on Prime Video.

10 Guy Ritchie's The Covenant

Guy Ritchie's The Covenant stars Jake Gyllenhaal as U.S. Army Green Beret sergeant, John Kinley, and Dar Salim as Kinley's interpreter, Ahmed. The film follows Kinley and Ahmed's flight from Taliban insurgents after their unit is ambushed and killed, forcing the duo to trek through the Afghan terrain to reach the safety of the US airbase. The Covenant received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances and the depth of the narrative. This action-packed war film is thought-provoking and gripping, making it one of the best war movies on Prime Video.

9 Jarhead

Jarhead, another of Jake Gyllenhaal's best movies, follows the military career of Anthony "Swoff" Swofford from his training to his service in the Persian Gulf War. Though Jarhead had a disappointing return at the box office, the film has grown in popularity since its release, leading to a series of three made-for-television sequels. Critics praised Jarhead's performances and cinematography, especially that of Gyllenhaal as Swofford. Jarhead's talented cast also features Jamie Foxx, Peter Sarsgaard, Lucas Black, and Chris Cooper, helping it become one of the best war movies on Prime Video.

8 The Pianist

The Pianist is widely considered one of Adrien Brody's best movies, and it's easily one of the best war movies currently available on Prime Video. The Pianist, which follows the life of Polish Holocaust survivor, Władysław Szpilman (Brody), was widely acclaimed by critics, winning three Academy Awards, including Best Director for Roman Polanski and Best Actor for Adrien Brody. The Pianist was also lauded for its incredible screenplay, which also won an Oscar. This gripping film is thought-provoking and emotionally impactful, and it's a must-watch for Prime subscribers in search of a good war movie.

7 Paths Of Glory

Paths of Glory is a 1957 anti-war film that follows Kirk Douglas' Colonel Dax, who tries to defend the French soldiers under his command from being court-martialed for acts of cowardice after they refused to continue a suicidal attack during World War I. Paths of Glory was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry, speaking to its cultural impact. This gripping, classic war film is one of the most meaningful anti-war movies of the 20th century, conveying all the horrors and injustices of war without reserve. It's easily one of the best war movies on Prime.

6 The Train

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The Train is a 1964 war film set in 1944 at the tail-end of World War II. The film follows Paul Labiche (Burt Lancaster), a member of the French Resistance trying to stop the German Colonel, Franz von Waldheim (Paul Scofield), from transporting a train full of important art into Germany. The Train was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Story and Screenplay — Written Directly for the Screen, speaking to the quality of this riveting narrative. The Train's strong performances complement the script to create a truly engaging war movie that is loosely based on a true story.

5 The Auschwitz Report

The Auschwitz Report is based on the true story of Rudolf Vrba (Peter Ondrejička) and Alfréd Wetzler (Noel Czuczor), who go by Valér and Freddy respectively in the film after they manage to escape the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp and make a report on the camp's operation to members of the Red Cross. This gripping film takes an emotional toll as it shows the treatment of people in this notorious concentration camp, which was so horrible that the Red Cross members who heard their report did not believe it. The Auschwitz Report is a hauntingly entertaining film and one of the best war movies on Prime.

4 Shershaah

Shershaah is a 2021 Indian biographical war film that follows the experiences of Vikram Batra (Sidharth Malhotra) during the Kargil War between India and Pakistan. Shershaah received praise from both critics and audiences, especially for its performances, action sequences, and cinematography. Sidharth Malhotra plays both Vikram and his twin brother, Vishal, who narrates the film, recounting his late brother's life during a Ted Talk. This creative narrative is expertly produced in every facet, making it worth a watch for any fan of war movies.

3 No Man's Land

No Man's Land is a 2001 war film that takes place during the Bosnian War, and notably, the film won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. No Man's Land follows a pair of soldiers from opposing sides of the conflict who are trapped in No Man's Land between the trenches of the battleground. They are initially hostile toward each other, but end up finding some common ground for a time. This heartbreaking tale does not have a happy ending, but it is a gripping movie with a profoundly thought-provoking narrative.

2 Act Of Valor

Act of Valor is a 2012 American war film that follows a group of Navy SEALs attempts to track down a Chechen terrorist before he can kill thousands of innocent Americans. Their hunt takes them across the globe as they search for Mohammad Abu Shabal (Jason Cottle), the terrorist threatening them. While Act of Valor was not well-received by critics, it was a hit at the box office and has been consistently watched in various forms of home media. Act of Valor is an action-packed film that creates enough spectacle to overcome the lackluster writing, making it worthy of a watch on Prime Video.

1 Megan Leavey

Megan Leavey, starring Kate Mara in the title role, follows the true story of Megan Leavey, a young Marine with a combat dog named Rex. The film follows Leavey and Rex's two deployments in Iraq together, and her adoption of Rex after facial palsy made it impossible for him to continue his role in the military. This heartfelt film received generally positive reviews from critics for its uplifting and honest emotional tone. Megan Leavey's performances and irresistible narrative make it one of the best war movies on Amazon Prime Video.