The 15 best war movies to watch on Netflix

The war film is one of the most common genres in the history of cinema, and has been since the beginning of the 20th century. From individual exploits to epics featuring entire armies, the 7th art has often been inspired by historical conflicts to tell extraordinary stories.

Netflix offers no less than 96 such films, according to Justwatch. There are both very realistic films, such as "Dunkirk" by Christopher Nolan, as well as freer interpretations of history, as in "Inglourious Basterds" by Quentin Tarantino.

In order to identify the best war movies to watch on Netflix in France, Business Insider France compiled this ranking based on the ratings given by IMDb users, as Netflix does not communicate which programs are the most appreciated by its users.

In case of a tie, the number of ratings was used to break the tie. The ranking is valid at the time of publication of the article and may have changed as the catalog evolved. It excludes animated films and documentaries.

Here are the 15 best war movies to watch on Netflix:

15. '13 Hours'

Synopsis: "Six elite security guards attempt to save the lives of members of the U.S. consulate following an attack by armed terrorists in Benghazi, Libya."

14. 'American Sniper'

Synopsis: "As he accumulates hit targets in Iraq, Chris Kyle, a heroic Navy Seals sniper, slowly sees his life slipping away."

13. 'Master and Commander: On the Other Side of the World'

Synopsis: "During the Napoleonic Wars, the captain of an English warship and his crew face off against a better-armed French privateer."

12. 'Zero Dark Thirty'

Synopsis: "Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, this gripping film traces the hunt for Osama bin Laden in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks."

11. 'Fury'

Synopsis: "During the final hours of World War II, Sergeant Wardaddy and his men embark on a high-risk mission across enemy lines."

10. '300'

Synopsis: "In 480 B.C., Leonidas, King of the Spartans, and his small army of 300 soldiers face more than a million men in the Battle of Thermopylae."

9. 'Saladin'

Synopsis: "At the height of the Crusades, the Sultan of Egypt and Syria sets out on a campaign to reconquer Jerusalem."

8. 'Beasts of No Nation'

Synopsis: "When civil war tears his family apart, a young West African boy is forced to join a group of mercenary fighters and becomes a child soldier."

7. The Last of the Mohicans'

Synopsis: "When he rescues the Munro sisters from a Huron ambush, pioneer Hawkeye finds himself caught up in a battle between the British and French."

6. 'The Fall of the Black Hawk'

Synopsis: "American forces attempt to capture two lieutenants of a Somali warlord, but the operation turns into a nightmare when their helicopters are shot down."

5. 'The Last Samurai'

Synopsis: "An American hired to teach the Japanese modern warfare techniques learns to respect the samurai he is ordered to annihilate."

4. 'Glory'

Synopsis: "During the Civil War, the first African-American regiment takes a stand on high ground against the Confederate army, amidst bloodshed and prejudice."

3. 'Dunkirk'

Synopsis: "In May 1940, soldiers and civilians attempt in a last-ditch effort to evacuate by land, sea and air the British Army and its allies surrounded at Dunkirk."

2. 'Lakshya'

Synopsis: "After a failed first try at the army, the son of a wealthy family re-enlists and shows courage by becoming an officer as a war prepares to break out."

1. 'Inglourious Basterds'

Synopsis: "In occupied Paris, the Jewish owner of a movie theater must host a Nazi preview, while a group of radical American soldiers plan a coup."