Memorial Day Movies On Netflix: 5 Best Titles To Stream, Including 'We Were Soldiers' & 'The War' [VIDEO]
Unsure of what to do this Memorial Day? Netflix has plenty of movies and TV documentaries to choose from that are dedicated to the honor of soldiers from various wars.
Memorial Day is a way of remembering soldiers who lost their lives while serving in America's armed forces. The federal holiday has traditionally become known for parades, fireworks and barbecues, but there are other ways to observe the day. There are a great number of movies, documentaries and miniseries on Netflix about soldiers in different wars, many of which emphasize the sacrifice and bravery of those serving in the American military.
Here are the five best Memorial Day movies and shows on Netflix from their streaming collection:
We Were Soldiers (2002)
Mel Gibson stars Colonel Hal Moore in We Were Soldiers, which centers on the Battle of Ia Drang, the first major battle between the United States and Vietnam in the Vietnam War. The film also stars Madeleine Stowe, Sam Elliott, Greg Kinnear and Keri Russell.
Saints and Soldiers (2003)
This lower-budget World War II film tells the story of four U.S. soldiers who rescue a British airmen during the Malmedy massacre in the infamous Battle of the Bulge. Together they go on a trek to find their fellow Allies to give them vital information.
The Way Back (2010)
While not entirely featuring war itself as the main conflict, Way Back does center on soldiers who escape a Siberian gulag during World War II who proceed to traverse across the world. The film has similar war themes like bravery, honor and brotherhood, and stars such actors as Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris and Colin Farrell.
The Longest Day (1962)
If classic movies are more your style, The Longest Day is your best bet from Netflix's selection. The film stars John Wayne as Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin H. Vandervoort, alongside a cavalcade of stars like Henry Fonda, Sean Connery, Richard Burton and Robert Mitchum, and centers on D-Day on the beaches of Normandy during World War II.
Ken Burns: The War (2007)
This seven-part documentary series gives a full glimpse of World War II from the American perspective. The series includes several big-name actors voicing various articles and letters from wartime.
