There is no doubt that with the increase in streaming services, every platform must fight to create a compelling database of movies and television shows that not only feature an epic story but are diverse in genres. In the past couple of years, Hulu has quietly amassed an impressive collection of movies ranging from comedies and crime dramas to slice-of-life and high-octane action. However, its library of war movies from all eras is what makes it stand out. From tense dramas to thrilling historical docs, Hulu has you covered no matter what wartime tale piques your interest.
While it may not have as flashy an interface as some competitors, buried within Hulu’s deep archives are cinematic masterpieces just waiting to be put on. Whether you’re looking for a recent thriller like Hell Hath No Fury or a modern dramatization like 12 Strong, these movies can transport you to the exact environment of the time. They offer fascinating glimpses into key moments in history and celebrate the unsung heroes. Several movies secure their place in the category of innovative filmmaking as well. So without much ado, let’s dive into Hulu’s collection of fact and fiction-based war films.
10 Search and Destroy (2020)
Caught between moral decay and false accusations, the main character of Search and Destroy strips off the many ideologies surrounding men in the army. John Cutter is an American Ranger, who is unsuccessful in saving a family from being held captive by the opposing forces. Ukrainian Arms Dealer Igor Rodin becomes his worst enemy, leading him to lose his entire crew and be released from the army.
Living peacefully has never come to Cutter, so when his former boss presents him with an opportunity for revenge against Igor, he jumps at the chance. With heated sequences, incredible aerial action, and explosive narratives, Search and Destroy unfolds as an immersive tale about one man’s journey toward redemption. But don’t be fooled, because the movie has several humor-laden scenes to keep the mood light.
9 Red Tails (2012)
Directed by Anthony Hemingway and George Lucas, Red Tails is a spectacular movie inspired by true events that took place during World War II. Amidst the horror and violence that engulfed the countries fighting the war, it charts the US Air Force facing great difficulties in Europe, with men falling right and left.
That’s when thirteen African-American pilots are recruited as Tuskegee Airmen to fight and soar against the odds and hardships. Initially, these Black pilots weren’t seen as equal to their white counterparts regardless of their skills. But when given the chance, these men, led by Cuba Gooding Jr., show just how valuable they are. Epic in scope yet intimate in aspects of courage and teamwork, the movie brings the shadows of history to light.
8 Hell Hath No Fury (2021)
Movies that center around World War II portray the more inspiring and ultimately gracious side of it. But few movies end up being clever and dark at the same time. Hell Hath No Fury is the true story of a French national named Marie Dujardin, who wasn’t just involved with Von Bruckner but also branded as a traitor. When the American soldiers rescue her, they do so with a condition – that she would lead them to the Nazi gold buried in a cemetery.
Despite the Nazis and the French Resistance pursuing Marie relentlessly, she agrees for the sake of her life. War strains the bonds between the soldiers as well as their inner selves as the darkness only deepens. The movie isn’t high-budget or flashy, but it manages to leave an indelible taste with outstanding performances from Nina Bergman and Daniel Bernhardt.
7 The Last Full Measure (2020)
More often than not, the bravery and perseverance of those who showed great valor during the world’s dark times go unnoticed and remain buried – until years after. The Last Full Measure tells one such tale of William Pitsenbarger, a U.S. Air Force Pararescue medic, who worked tirelessly during the Vietnam War and illuminated the humanity lost during wartime. Despite putting his life on the line and saving 60 men in the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, his efforts remained unsung for thirty-four years.
But the movie brings forward Pentagon staffer Scott Huffman (played earnestly by Sebastian Stan), who is determined to get Pitsenbarger a Medal of Honor. In the process, however, Huffman finds himself untangling webs of bureaucracy and politics. The stirring war drama proves how purpose may emerge long after the “action is over.”
6 Shadow in the Cloud (2020)
Chloë Grace Moretz delivers an astonishing performance in Shadow in the Cloud as a pilot named Maude Garrett. Maude is tasked to take sensitive documents from New Zealand to Samoa during the Second World War. She has to fly on a B-17 Flying Fortress with a bunch of men who don’t entertain the idea of having a woman in the plane, so they suggest that she sit in the ball turret.
Ignoring the men’s crass behavior, Maude lies low but soon discovers a sinister presence in the plane, waiting to attack at any moment. Roseanne Liang is the director of this action horror film. Set in a claustrophobic cabin, the physical action and roaring emotion make for one adrenaline-fueled blockbuster.
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5 Retrograde (2022)
The United States’ 20-year war in Afghanistan was a grim time for both countries. With Afghanistan in ruins by the end of it, there wasn’t much the soldiers or the Army were willing to fight for. In such a time, when the Taliban troops vied to take over, an Afghan general and his corps stood tall to defend their home, with the U.S. special operations team fighting alongside.
Retrograde is an intimate and haunting documentary that films the nine crucial months of the Afghan War. Told through the perspective of the US Green Berets, Retrograde covers several aspects that went unnoticed, like the faces of men retiring from fields of duty and pain, civilians fleeing the country in fear, as well as the troops withdrawing into an uncertain tomorrow.
4 Quo Vadis, Aida? (2021)
Under the careful and sublime lens of Jasmila Žbanić, this empathetic and compelling portrait of a woman comes alive. Aida is a UN translator living in the small town of Srebrenica. Her job is to interpret codes but she strives to shield her family and loved ones every chance she can.
So when the Serbian army walks all over their town, it is Aida’s family among thousands of other survivors looking for a haven at the UN camp. Forced to negotiate impossible choices between family, humanity, and her survival, Quo Vadis, Aida? unfolds with jarring realism and throws you right in the face of complex trials faced by women during the war. Where even the aftermath of your choices could leave scars, is it better to fight for rescue or surrender in the face of death?
3 Moffie (2020)
Racism and homophobia extend beyond borders and reach the military as well. Set in 1981 in South Africa where men have to serve their mandatory two years in the military, Moffie tells the story of Nicholas van der Swart and his coming of age during the Angolan war. Knowing he was different from the very beginning, Nicholas tried his best to steer clear of any sort of trouble, but he was often bullied and ridiculed, and his sexuality was considered an “illness” that should be treated.
But when another recruit develops a relationship with Nicholas, it puts them both in grave danger. Cathartic in emotion and cinematography, this biographical war drama has stark depictions of the brutality faced by queer men at the time. The title itself is a derivation of a homophobic slur used to dehumanize man. Overall, the movie is intense and grueling.
2 Bless Me, Ultima (2013)
Antonio is but a young boy who harbors two worlds inside him. As the New Mexico sun beats down on him during post-World War II years, he finds himself conflicted between understanding what is good and what is evil. Bless Me, Ultima is a coming-of-age story that follows Antonio’s unlikely friendship with a pagan grandmother, whose mystic ways help the boy chart life’s spectrum of traits and truly perceive the world around him.
Based on Rudolfo Anaya’s 1972 novel of the same name, the film features the use of black powers and witchery while also showing the importance of tradition and how the young have the responsibility of carrying it forward. Set in a land holding memories of old violence, the movie tries to celebrate the reverence of a generation relying on faith and community for survival.
1 12 Strong (2018)
Captain Mitch Nelson is the main protagonist of the intense yet empathetic war drama. He leads Team Horse Soldier, a clandestine unit of twelve men, right into the volatile and dangerous Afghanistan for a secret mission following the September 11 attacks. The plan is to take down the Taliban and its al-Qaida allies with the help of the North. The team’s specialized skills and intuition guide the mission amidst political unrest and Afghanistan’s treacherous terrain where one wrong step could mean defeat.
But to punish the man responsible for taking thousands of lives, the men stay vigilant and resilient. Chris Hemsworth leads the movie, and his role is based on real-life commanding officer Mark Nutsch. Even though parts of 12 Strong are entirely fiction, the kinetic action and courage shown by these quiet professionals deserve immense praise.
