World War II has been a fascinating subject for storytellers ever since the conflict ended, with plenty of exciting films produced over the years that pull from the era. The heroics of the Allies, the struggles of the survivors, and the undeniable villainy of the Nazi armies are a perfect recipe for action-heroics. While the specific approach may vary from film to film (as well as the authenticity and historical accuracy), World War II action movies have been a staple of the big screen almost since the war ended.
The best examples of the action subgenre find a dark sense of humor and an unrelenting sense of humanity amid the chaos, showcasing humanity at its toughest and grittiest. While some of these movies aren’t necessarily the most accurate (with titles like Dunkirk, Patton, Letters from Iwo Jima, and Das Boot being good showcases for the dramatic potential of that approach), all the films featured on this list find the right balance between bombastic action and historical fact. Here are 10 action-packed World War II movies and where you can find them on Netflix, HBO Max, and Apple TV+.
The Dirty Dozen (1967)
The quintessential World War II action movie, The Dirty Dozen is an absolute blast even nearly sixty years after it debuted. Based on the 101st Airborne Division dubbed the "Filthy Thirteen," the film follows a ragtag group of convicts who are sent on a potential suicide mission ahead of the D-Day invasion.
With a gruff edge to offset the likable main cast, the film is brutal in a way films of the era simply weren't. Someone looking for a dignified and honorable look at wartime tactics will want to look elsewhere. However, the exciting action is hard to turn away from, and the natural grunge of the approach benefits from the harsher edges. A dark but fitting counterpoint to other films like The Great Escape (1963), The Dirty Dozen has the same kind of rough-and-tumble energy and effortless cool that helped make westerns of the same era, like The Magnificent Seven (1960) or The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly (1966), so memorable.
Overlord (2018)
A Wolfenstein movie in all but name, Overlord is bombastic and bloody in the best of ways, and it’s perfect for someone who wants a World War II action epic but also has a taste for the horror genre. Focusing on the remnants of an American paratrooper squad who stumble upon Nazi experiments to create mutated soldiers, Overlord is a wild twist on the standard war action epic that uses the absurd (including some very good and gory body horror) to tell a compelling story about desperation and resolve under the most extreme of circumstances.
While history purists might balk at the zombified enemies that the heroes have to shoot down, anyone who has ever chuckled at the chaos of Army of Darkness (1992) or the ridiculous nature of zombie nazis in Dead Snow (2009) needs to check out this gruesome action film.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)
Guy Ritchie’s tribute to a real-life platoon of dangerous soldiers, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare may be one of the coolest examples of the World War II movie. Anchored by a Henry Cavill performance that showcases exactly why fans spent years clamoring for the Man of Steel (2013) actor to become the next James Bond, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare focuses on his squad of unpredictable soldiers (along with a handful of spies hiding in plain sight) as they enact a plan to severely weaken the German domination of the Atlantic Ocean.
Elevated by a snappy and snarky script that never feels anything less than reverent to the heroics of the real-life people who inspired the story, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare has a dark sense of humor that never becomes as bleak as some of the other dark comedies in this genre.
Sisu (2023)
Effectively The Punisher (2017) by way of World War II, Sisu is a bloody blast from start to finish. Taking cues from the likes of John Wick (2014), Sisu focuses on a Nazi platoon trying to make their way out of Finland, who end up infuriating the worst person possible. The film follows Aatami Korpi as he gradually reveals how dangerous he really is, with plenty of creatively bombastic and gruesome fates awaiting the Nazis who ran afoul of his efforts to live his life.
If you’re squeamish around violence and gore, this isn’t the movie for you. However, there’s a certain level of visceral vindictiveness in the film’s slaughter of a particularly detestable group of Nazi soldiers, lending an almost video game-esque sense of fun to the proceedings. Gritty in the same way that modern “one man army” action movies like Atomic Blonde (2017) or Nobody (2021) are, Sisu is a wild ride that’s also just a great example of pure streamlined action entertainment.
Inglorious Basterds (2009)
Arguably Quentin Tarantino’s best film, Inglourious Basterds is harsh, hilarious, and unforgettable. With a focus that shifts between a French Jewish woman’s plans for revenge and the titular band of roughneck American soldiers, Inglorious Basterds bounces back gleefully from dark comedic turns and bursts of ultraviolence.
While films like Schindler's List (1993) are powerful for their unflinching depiction of the horrors of war, Inglourious Basterds leans into the bombast to make a point about depictions of violence in media. Deliberately taking liberties with history for the sake of an entertaining yarn, Inglorious Basterds might annoy audiences who specifically love shows like Band of Brothers (2001) for its accuracy and authenticity. But if you’re someone who loved Kill Bill (2003) or Django Unchained (2012), then Tarantino’s best revenge flick is the perfect movie for you.
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
With one of the most unforgettable opening battles in cinematic history, Saving Private Ryan stands tall amongst the World War II movie genre. After a brutal depiction of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, the film becomes a tight-knit road trip through occupied France as a platoon of Americans searches for a specific young soldier to send back.
Dramatic, heartbreaking, and even inspiring at times, Saving Private Ryan is Steven Spielberg at his absolute best, with a mastery of tone and tenor that allows the film to land with a powerful weight even as it retains a gung-ho sense of action. The exact opposite of his more meditative work with Schindler’s List, both films are works of a true master of his craft—and Saving Private Ryan has never quite been matched since.
Kelly's Heroes (1970)
The funniest film on this list, Kelly’s Heroes does World War II by way of Ocean’s Eleven (2001). Focusing on a group of soldiers who decide to use the ongoing war as a distraction while they rob a bank full of Nazi gold, Kelly’s Heroes is as much a social satire about the challenges of being a soldier in a larger machine as it is a heist film set against the backdrop of a world war.
With a staggering cast of Hollywood legends like Clint Eastwood and Donald Sutherland deploying their charms to the best of their ability, Kelly’s Heroes is wildly entertaining and unrelenting with its twists and turns on the genre conventions. While a more dramatic take on the underlying themes can be found in the nearly perfect wartime drama The Bridge over the River Kwai (1957), Kelly’s Heroes brings a bit of unexpected comedy to the wartorn landscapes.
Defiance (2008)
While most films about the Jewish population targeted in World War II are focused on the horrors and indignities suffered by that community, Defiance is a hard-edged showcase for Jewish resistance in the face of overwhelming adversity. Focusing on three brothers who take charge to protect their people, Defiance is bolstered by three terrific lead performances from Daniel Craig, Jamie Bell, and Liev Schreiber. All three showcase their action movie chops in some intense firefight scenes while never forgetting the humanity at the core of the story.
Defiance may have a harsher touch and tone than a lot of the movies on this list, it is an exciting action movie when it wants to be and a compelling drama when it needs to be.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
One of the best action-adventure movies of all time, Raiders of the Lost Ark is a timeless showcase of Harrison Ford’s charisma, Steven Spielberg’s talents, and the universal appeal of seeing Nazis get punched in the face. A riff on the adventure serials that Spielberg and George Lucas grew up on, Raiders of the Lost Ark is funny, romantic, horrifying, and exciting all at the same time.
Filled to the brim with characters and lines that have become part of the collective culture, it can be easy to forget just how entertaining the film remains over forty years since it came out. One of the best pure blockbuster films ever made, Raiders of the Lost Ark is perfect for anyone who loves a genre-blending adventure movie.
Greyhound (2020)
A more deliberate kind of war movie than many of the bullet-heavy epics on this list, Greyhound is a rich and meaty showcase for a different kind of story. Tom Hanks shines in another World War II movie, this time as a US Navy commander whose boat struggles to protect a convoy from constant U-Boat attacks.
Deliberate in its pacing and realistic in its portrayal of naval battles in the era, Greyhound doesn’t trade thrills for accuracy. Instead, the film finds the perfect balance between its more reserved heroes and its depiction of wartime conflict, with plenty of excitement and dread alike found in the tension between naval combat. Slower than some of the other films on this list, Greyhound is no less thrilling in its depiction of the challenges of war and the cost of victory.
