13 War Movies on Hulu That Are Full of Action and History

Hulu has no shortage of great war movies. The platform is home to so many military films depicting some of the biggest moments in history, from the last months of America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan to the tragic events leading to the Srebrenica massacre during the Bosnian War. Many of these films include characters inspired by real people who changed the course of history. For example, “Red Tails” centers on a group of Black soldiers who helped the US fight against Germany during World War II. Meanwhile, “The Monuments Men” follows the famed art historians who were responsible for taking back countless artifacts stolen by the Nazis.

Other war movies on the platform portray fictional events but are set in the middle of real-life battles. So though they include made-up storylines and characters, they can still teach viewers a thing or two about history. If you’re interested in taking a look back at the past, here are some of the best war movies on Hulu that are available to watch right now.

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"Enemy at the Gates"

Enemy at the Gates” stars Jude Law as a Russian soldier named Vasily Zaitsev, who’s sent to fight in the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942. He’s a skilled sniper who’s responsible for single-handedly taking out countless German soldiers. As a result, the Germans send their own marksman, Major König (Ed Harris), to eliminate him. Because Vasily is seen as a hero, the Germans hope his death will crush the Russians’ morale and cause them to ultimately lose the fight.

Watch “Enemy at the Gates” on Hulu now.

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"1917"

1917” is a World War I film that follows two young British soldiers named William Schofield (George MacKay) and Tom Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) as they embark on a dangerous mission into enemy territory. Their task is to deliver an important message that could save 1,600 men from an ambush. However, with only a day left until the British are meant to attack the German army, the pair must race against the clock in order to save their fellow comrades, including Tom’s brother, Joseph.

Watch “1917” on Hulu now.

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"12 Strong"

12 Strong” is an adaptation of Doug Stanton’s 2009 book “Horse Soldiers,” which centers on a Special Forces unit that was deployed to Afghanistan following the Sept. 11 attacks and notoriously pursued the Taliban on horseback. In the film, Chris Hemsworth portrays the captain of the ODA 595 unit, Mitch Nelson, who was inspired by the real-life commanding officer Mark Nutsch. Mitch volunteers to lead the mission in Afghanistan after witnessing the fall of the Twin Towers live on TV.

Watch “12 Strong” on Hulu now.

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"The Last Full Measure"

“The Last Full Measure” is inspired by the true story of William H. Pitsenbarger, who was hailed as a war hero after sacrificing his own life to aid downed soldiers during the Vietnam War. In the film, Sebastian Stan plays Pentagon staffer Scott Huffman, who’s on a mission to posthumously award Pitsenbarger with a Medal of Honor. While learning more about the soldier’s life, Huffman uncovers a conspiracy involving a US senator who’s connected to the mission that cost Pitsenbarger his life.

Watch “The Last Full Measure” on Hulu now.

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"Retrograde"

“Retrograde” is an intimate documentary depicting the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan after two decades of war. The film captures the final nine months of the war and follows a young Afghan general named Sami Sadat, who’s defending his homeland along with his fellow troops and US Special Forces units. It’s also told through the perspective of the US Green Berets, as well as the civilians desperately trying to flee their country, which has been taken over by the Taliban.

Watch “Retrograde” on Hulu now.

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"Quo Vadis, Aida?"

“Quo Vadis, Aida?” focuses on the Srebrenica massacre, which involved the murder of more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslims in the town of Srebrenica in July 1995. They were staying at a UN “safe area” when Bosnian Serb troops, led by the war criminal Ratko Mladić, slaughtered them. In the film, the tragedy is seen through the perspective of a schoolteacher named Aida, who also works as an interpreter for the United Nations. When she senses danger on the horizon, Aida does everything she can to save her family in Srebrenica before it’s too late.

Watch “Quo Vadis, Aida?” on Hulu now.

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"The Monuments Men"

“The Monuments Men” is a film directed by and starring George Clooney. It tells the true story of a group of art historians who joined the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program during World War II to help recover pieces of art stolen by the Nazis. The film follows the group as they race against the clock to save priceless artifacts before they’re destroyed as part of Hitler’s Nero Decree.

Watch “The Monuments Men” on Hulu now.

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"Hell Hath No Fury"

Set during World War II, “Hell Hath No Fury” is about a French national named Marie DuJardin (Nina Bergman) who gets branded as a Nazi sympathizer. A mob of townspeople prepare to attack her, but Marie is rescued by a group of American soldiers. They promise they’ll let her live if she leads them to a secret stash of gold. However, with the Nazis and French Resistance also in pursuit of the treasure, it won’t be an easy task.

Watch “Hell Hath No Fury” on Hulu now.

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"Red Tails"

“Red Tails” is based on the true story of the Tuskegee Airmen, who were a group of Black American soldiers who served during World War II. The film begins with the Air Force suffering increasing losses in Europe, and as a result, a group of 13 Black cadets are called in to help the US fight against the German army in Italy. Despite being gifted pilots, the men were previously kept from fighting on the frontlines because they were seen as inferior to their white counterparts. However, after finally being given a chance to demonstrate their skills, the Tuskegee Airmen go on to prove everyone wrong and make history.

Watch “Red Tails” on Hulu now.

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"The East"

“The East” follows young Dutch soldier Johan de Vries (Martijn Lakemeier) during the Indonesian War of Independence following World War II. He’s sent to Indonesia to help liberate the population, and his squad is led by a captain known as “The Turk” (Marwan Kenzari). Although Johan initially signs on to the mission to help atone for his family’s past sins, he starts to question everything when he witnesses his commander’s brutal tactics in the fight against the resistance.

Watch “The East” on Hulu now.

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"Moffie"

“Moffie” is set in South Africa during the era of apartheid. The film follows a teenager named Nicholas (Kai Luke Brümmer), who’s embarking on his compulsory military service as a white man between the ages of 16 and 20. As he tries to endure his brutal training, Nicholas is forced to hide his sexuality or risk being labeled a “Moffie,” which is a homophobic slur in Afrikaans that’s meant to criticize men for appearing effeminate. The movie is based on the autobiography of the same name by André Carl van der Merwe.

Watch “Moffie” on Hulu now.

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"Shadow in the Cloud"

“Shadow in the Cloud” stars Chloë Grace Moretz as a pilot named Maude Garrett during World War II. She’s assigned to board a war plane in order to deliver important documents from New Zealand to Samoa. However, as the only woman on the flight, Maude isn’t exactly welcomed by the rest of the crew, who force her to spend the flight in the plane’s ball turret. As the group argue, something sinister lurks in the shadows just waiting to attack the group.

Watch “Shadow in the Cloud” on Hulu now.

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"WarHunt"

“WarHunt” isn’t your typical war film, given that it dives into horror. The film begins with a US military plane crashing in Germany’s Black Forest during World War II. Because the plane contains an important package, a team of American soldiers are sent to recover the cargo behind enemy territory. However, the mission turns out to be more dangerous than they expected after the team discover a supernatural force hiding within the forest. The soldiers must work together to survive and complete their mission.

Watch “WarHunt” on Hulu now.

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