12 Best War Movies on Amazon Prime

War movies are one of the most popular genres in the cinematic world; they’re often full of engaging action, compelling storylines, and excellent acting.

If you’re like me and love a war movie, you’re undoubtedly wondering which are the best ones and where you can find them.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve binge watched the best war movies on Amazon Prime Video and hand picked my 12 favorite.

Whether you love watching war movies set in World War II, the American Civil War, or the Crusades, there’s a movie for everyone.

Read through this article and choose which movie you’ll start on first. You might have already watched a few of them, but that doesn’t matter… you can re-watch them again and again and never get bored.

The 2nd to last is my favorite, let me know when you get there if you agree…. no peeking!

How to watch these

Before we delve into the films, while all of these movies listed are available to watch on Amazon Prime, not all of them will be available to you, depending on your location.

If you want to access them all, you’ll need to use a VPN app to connect to other regions’ Amazon Prime libraries. These movies will be available in the UK/US and some other countries’ Amazon Prime movie libraries.

The best VPN for the job is ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN gives you super-fast connection speeds so you can watch all of the action in crystal clear HD without lagging.

Other services you should check out are NordVPN and Surfshark VPN. They all have a 30-day money back guarantee so you’re free to pick!

Right, now on with the movies.

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi

Director Michael Bay is well known for producing some of the best action movies of all time, with epic fight scenes and brilliant cinematography.

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi is no exception; it’s one of the best war movies on Amazon Prime and is based on a true event (as all the best war movies are).

This 2016 action-thriller tells the true event of the September 11, 2012, terror attack on the US diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya.

The movie focuses on six Special Forces operators who’ve been contracted by the CIA to protect the compound. While they’re protecting the compound, an intense 13-hour firefight breaks out when a group of militants attack.

Will this small security team make it through the night? You’ll have to stream it to find out.

It’s one of the best war movies on Amazon Prime, with an 82% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The movie stars John Krasinski, James Badge Dale, Max Martini, and Pablo Schreiber. Michael Bay did an excellent job with the cast.

Pearl Harbor

This WWII movie depicts the historic Japanese attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and the subsequent declaration of war by the United States.

The war epic is seen through the eyes of two best friends, Capt. Rafe McCawley (Ben Affleck) and Capt. Danny Walker (Josh Hartnett) who are serving pilots in the United States Air Force.

The film received mixed reviews on release, with criticism for its historical inaccuracies and depiction of events. Movie critic Roger Ebert said, “There is no sense of history, strategy or context, according to this movie”, and gave it 1.5 stars.

However, it was a box office hit, grossing over $450 million worldwide, not too shabby for a historically inaccurate movie. I guess everyone loved the action scenes… as I did.

Starring in the movie is Ben Affleck; he’s known for Dogma, Batman V Superman, Deep Water, Argo, The Accountant, and Justice League.

He’s joined by Josh Hartnett; he’s best known for The Faculty, Black Hawk Down, Lucky Number Slevin, Wrath Of Man, and 40 Days and 40 Nights.

Rescue Dawn

Rescue Dawn (not to be confused with Red Dawn) is a gripping true story about the incredible survival and escape of US Navy pilot Dieter Dengler.

When he’s captured by the local villagers during the Vietnam war, he is imprisoned and subjected to a series of brutal torture methods.

Dengler forms an escape plan with several other POWs and embarks on a daring escape out of the jungle.

But, as Dengler navigates the treacherous jungle and evades enemy forces, he and his fellow prisoners face countless challenges and setbacks, but his spirit and determination never falter.

It’s a powerful and inspiring tale of one man’s courage and resilience when the odds are stacked against him.

This movie stars Christian Bale, Steve Zahn, Jeremy Davies, Zach Grenier, and Marshall Bell.

The King’s Choice

The King’s Choice is an epic historical drama that tells the true-to-life tale of Norway’s King Haakon VII and his family during the Nazi invasion of 1940.

As the Nazi threat grows ever closer, King Haakon is faced with a difficult decision, flee the country and leave his people to the mercy of the invading forces, or stay and fight for the freedom and independence of his beloved nation.

When he chooses to stand his ground, he leads his people in a heroic resistance against the invading Nazis, earning him the nickname “The King Who Said No.”

Who doesn’t love a movie where the bad guys are Nazis?

Jasper Christensen stars in this movie as King Haakon, with Tuva Novotny as Queen Maud and Anders Baasmo Christiansen as Crown Prince Olav.

These three actors bring to life the gripping story of King Haakon, making The King’s Choice a must-see for fans of historical drama and war films.

Kingdom Of Heaven

Director Ridley Scott brings you this epic historical drama that follows the tale of a young blacksmith named Balian (Orlando Bloom) in Kingdom of Heaven. He’s tasked with defending the city of Jerusalem against the invading Saracen army.

Balian is joined on his quest by a group of skilled knights, including Tiberias (Jeremy Irons) and the fearsome warrior Godfrey (Liam Neeson).

As the city comes under attack, Balian must figure out the complex political landscape and make difficult decisions to protect his people and their way of life. But, to throw a spanner in the works, he falls in love with the beautiful Sibylla (Eva Green), the sister of the King of Jerusalem.

As tensions rise and the battle for the city reaches its climax, Balian must use all of his strength and courage to defend the “Kingdom of Heaven” and all who live inside it.

The movie also stars David Thewlis, Brendan Gleeson, and Michael Sheen.

I was lucky enough to catch this epic on the big screen. It’s one of the best war movies around and has a 72% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

1917

1917 is an intense war movie that follows the journey of two young soldiers, Schofield and Blake, as they embark on a seemingly impossible mission to deliver a message across enemy lines during World War I.

As the two soldiers navigate the treacherous landscape of the war, they are faced with countless dangers and obstacles. Whether it’s enemy soldiers or unexploded bombs, nothing stands in their way as they push forward to complete their mission.

1917 is a must-see film for anyone looking for a heart-pumping, edge-of-your-seat experience.

If you’re a fan of war films or want a heart-pounding adventure, 1917 is a film you don’t want to miss. This was another film I caught on the big screen.

Movie director Sam Mendes cast in this film is George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, and Richard Madden.

It’s set in the same era as “A Farewell To Arms”, which follows an American ambulance driver and English nurse who fall in love during WWI, starring Gary Cooper and Helen Hayes.

We Were Soldiers

Based on true events, We Were Soldiers is a 2002 war film that tells the story of the Battle of Ia Drang, which took place in November 1965 during the first phase of the Vietnam War.

This war epic is directed by Randall Wallace and stars Mel Gibson as Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore, the commanding officer of the United States Army’s 7th Cavalry Regiment.

It follows Moore and his men as they are sent on a dangerous mission deep into enemy territory. They’re outnumbered and outgunned by a determined enemy. But, despite the odds, Moore and his men fight bravely, managing to hold their own against the enemy.

However, it wasn’t without a cost, especially during the last days.

Mel Gibson is known for his roles in action Lethal Weapon and Braveheart and for his directorial work on films like “The Passion of the Christ”.

The Tomorrow War

The Tomorrow War is an action-packed, sci-fi war movie about a group of soldiers who’re sent into the future to fight in a “future war”. The enemy is a menacing alien that’s almost wiped out humanity.

But, as they fight in this future war, they soon realise that their actions may have unforeseen consequences on their own time.

Don’t panic; it’s not a complex story and isn’t as mind-bending as it sounds. It’s one of the best action movies I’ve seen in a long time. It has a brilliant storyline and epic fight scenes.

It reminds me of The Edge Of Tomorrow, which was directed by Doug Liman (known for The Bourne Identity) and could be a “made-for-TV sequel”, but it isn’t.

The film is headed by Chris Pratt (Jurassic World, Guardians of the Galaxy).

Director Chris McKay chose J.K. Simmons, Yvonne Strahovski, Theo Von, Jasmine Matthews, and Seychelle Gabriel to star.

War Horse

Director Steven Spielberg takes charge of this epic war story by Michael Morpurgo. War Horse follows Albert and his horse Joey as they journey from the idyllic countryside of Devon, England, to the battlefields of World War I.

Along the way, Joey is passed from owner to owner (between British soldiers), each with their own story and struggles, and he always remains a symbol of hope and strength.

Albert seeks to reunite with his horse and follows him across Europe.

Jeremy Irvine leads the movie, while War Horse also features a star-studded ensemble of actors such as Tom Hiddleston, who is known for his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Loki, and Peter Mullan, who has appeared in films such as Braveheart and Trainspotting.

War Horse is an emotionally charged war film based on history with a stellar cast and a moving storyline. It’s a must-see film for military movie fans.

This film has a 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Lincoln

Lincoln is a historical drama/war movie that tells the story of the final days/months of President Abraham Lincoln’s life as he fights to abolish slavery through the 13th Amendment and end the Civil War in the USA.

President Lincoln faces enemies domestically and from abroad who have vested interests in his country, and the outcome of this conflict will shape the future of the world as we know it. And as you know from history, he won.

The director Steven Spielberg cast Daniel Day-Lewis, and his take offers an intimate portrayal of one of America’s most iconic figures.

Daniel Day-Lewis is best known for his roles in There Will Be Blood, Gangs Of New York, The Last Of The Mohicans, and In The Name Of The Father.

The movie also stars Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, and Hal Holbrook.

It has a larger budget than the biopic “The Last Days Of Patton’s Life”, which showed the final weeks of the military general’s life (including his car accident), and it shows. Plus, the way Lincoln is portrayed is fantastic.

Excellent acting, story, and director… what more could you want?

The Thin Red Line

Based on the book of the same name, The Thin Red Line is a powerful and gripping war film that perfectly captures the intense and brutal reality of war through the eyes of the men fighting in it.

This war movie is set during World War II and focuses on a group of army soldiers serving in the Pacific Theatre, fighting against the formidable Japanese military.

As they battle the Japanese army, they’re forced to face their own fears, doubts, and moral issues.

It’s one of the best war movies that’ll remain with you long after the credits have finished. It’ll leave you with an appreciation of the sacrifices made by those who fought for their country.

Unlike Fear And Desire, which is set during the Korean War and was filmed on a shoestring budget. This movie has a star-studded cast with Nick Nolte, Jim Caviezel, Sean Penn, Adrian Brody, John Cusack, George Clooney, and John C. Reilly.

The director knew what he was doing with this one.

Without Remorse

After discovering a hit with Jack Ryan, Amazon decided to create a movie based on the Tom Clancy novel.

Without Remorse is an action-packed thriller about a US Military Navy SEAL named John Clark who sets out on a revenge mission after his pregnant wife is killed by a ruthless group of criminals.

As he delves deeper into the underworld, he discovers a sinister war-driven conspiracy that threatens to destabilise the entire country by throwing the USA into a war with Russia.

Clark must go head to head with the conspirators as he tries to prevent World War III from occurring, saving humanity and getting revenge for his wife’s murder.

This movie kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. It’ll definitely get your heart pumping.

The Guardian News said, “this is a film that certainly gives you bangs for your buck”. It’s one of the best war movies on Amazon Prime.

The director chose Michael B Jordan, Lauren London, Jodie Turner-Smith, Jamie Bell, Guy Pearce, and Brett Gelman to star.

The storyline shares loose similarities to Dawn’s Early Light, starring James Earl Jones, Powers Boothe, and Rebecca De Mornay. Dawn’s Early Light gave us comedies like Doctor Strangelove.

How many of these have you seen already and which are your favorites? Let me know in the comments section below as I am interested to know.