20 Must-Watch Memorial Day Movies to Honor and Reflect

Memorial Day is more than the unofficial start of summer—it is a national pause to honor the men and women who laid down their lives in defense of the United States. While many of us mark the long weekend with cookouts, parades, and family gatherings, setting aside time to watch a thoughtfully chosen film can deepen the day’s meaning.

The twenty films that follow span epic war dramas, intimate true stories, and home-front tales that show how service touches every corner of American life. Queue up one—or several—this Memorial Day weekend, and let each story spark reflection, gratitude, and conversation about the price of the freedoms we enjoy.

1. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Steven Spielberg’s unflinching D-Day opening thrusts viewers onto Omaha Beach before shifting to a rescue mission deep in occupied France. The film honors ordinary soldiers bound by extraordinary loyalty.
Why watch? Its raw realism and themes of brotherhood make it a Memorial Day essential.
Stream/Rent: Paramount+, Amazon, Apple TV

2. Band of Brothers (2001, Miniseries)

Based on Stephen E. Ambrose’s book, this ten-part series follows Easy Company from paratrooper training to V-E Day. Each episode ends with reflections from the veterans themselves.
Why watch? It highlights the long haul of service beyond any single battle.
Stream: Max (HBO)

3. Glory (1989)

The 54th Massachusetts—the Civil War’s first Black volunteer regiment—fights prejudice at home and the Confederacy in battle. Denzel Washington’s Oscar-winning performance is unforgettable.
Why watch? A reminder that sacrifice knows no color line.
Stream/Rent: Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV

4. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

Conscientious objector Desmond Doss rescues dozens on Okinawa without firing a shot. Mel Gibson’s film balances brutal combat with an extraordinary act of faith.
Why watch? It proves valor isn’t limited to those who carry weapons.
Stream/Rent: Hulu, Amazon, Apple TV

5. The Hurt Locker (2008)

A volunteer EOD tech in Baghdad disarms bombs under constant threat. Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the Best Director Oscar.
Why watch? It explores the psychology of modern warfare and the toll of repeated deployments.
Stream/Rent: Amazon, Apple TV

6. Black Hawk Down (2001)

Ridley Scott’s kinetic retelling of the 1993 Mogadishu mission honors soldiers who fought through an urban firestorm to bring each other home.
Why watch? A stark portrait of camaraderie under extreme chaos.
Stream/Rent: Hulu, Amazon, Apple TV

7. Flags of Our Fathers (2006)

Clint Eastwood recounts the men behind the iconic Iwo Jima flag-raising—and the costs of becoming national symbols overnight.
Why watch? It reveals how heroes on the battlefield struggle with hero status at home.
Stream/Rent: Paramount+, Amazon, Apple TV

8. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)

Eastwood’s companion film tells the same battle from the Japanese side, humanizing the enemy and underscoring shared sacrifice.
Why watch? Viewing both films together deepens understanding of wartime complexity.
Stream/Rent: Max, Amazon, Apple TV

9. A Few Good Men (1992)

A courtroom showdown over a Marine’s death raises questions of duty, honor, and blind obedience.
Why watch? Its famous “You can’t handle the truth!” scene remains a pop-culture landmark—and a meditation on military ethics.
Stream/Rent: Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV

10. 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016)

Michael Bay dramatizes the 2012 attacks in Libya, focusing on a small group of security contractors who fought to protect American lives.
Why watch? A modern reminder of courage under political and logistical strain.
Stream/Rent: Paramount+, Amazon, Apple TV

11. We Were Soldiers (2002)

The first major clash of the Vietnam War is seen through Lt. Col. Hal Moore and journalist Joseph Galloway. The film balances battlefield fury with home-front anxiety.
Why watch? It honors both the fighters and the families awaiting news.
Stream/Rent: Amazon, Apple TV

12. Patton (1970)

George C. Scott’s towering performance captures General George S. Patton’s brilliance and controversy from North Africa to Germany.
Why watch? A study in leadership, ego, and the burdens of command.
Stream/Rent: Peacock, Amazon, Apple TV

13. American Sniper (2014)

Clint Eastwood profiles Chris Kyle, the deadliest marksman in U.S. history, and the struggle to transition back to family life.
Why watch? It shows that the hardest battles often begin after coming home.
Stream/Rent: Max, Amazon, Apple TV

14. Platoon (1986)

Oliver Stone, himself a Vietnam veteran, directs a grunt’s-eye view of moral ambiguity in the jungle.
Why watch? Its honesty about internal conflict earned Best Picture and remains poignant.
Stream/Rent: Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV

15. Taps (1981)

Cadets barricade their military academy from closure, raising questions about indoctrination and idealism gone astray.
Why watch? A cautionary tale about youthful zeal and the cost of misplaced loyalty.
Stream/Rent: Amazon, Apple TV

16. Midway (2019)

Roland Emmerich’s spectacle recreates the pivotal Pacific battle with modern VFX and attention to historical detail.
Why watch? It celebrates a turning point achieved by intelligence, bravery, and chance.
Stream/Rent: Peacock, Amazon, Apple TV

17. Gettysburg (1993)

At over four hours, this epic reenactment captures the Civil War’s decisive battle with authenticity and sweeping scale.
Why watch? For those who want deep historical immersion on the holiday’s origins.
Stream/Rent: Amazon, Apple TV

18. The Longest Day (1962)

An all-star cast recounts D-Day from multiple Allied and German perspectives, filmed on actual locations in Normandy.
Why watch? A classic bridge between Hollywood spectacle and historical docudrama.
Stream/Rent: Hulu, Amazon, Apple TV

19. Lone Survivor (2013)

Mark Wahlberg portrays Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell’s harrowing fight for survival during Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan.
Why watch? It underscores the mantra “leave no man behind” in impossible terrain.
Stream/Rent: Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV

20. A League of Their Own (1992)

Not a war film but a home-front story: Women’s baseball players keep America’s pastime alive while the nation’s men fight overseas.
Why watch? Celebrates the broader societal effort—and Rosie-the-Riveter spirit—behind victory.
Stream: Prime Video

These films entertain, inform, and—most importantly—ask us to remember the price of the freedoms we enjoy. As you watch, take a moment at 3 p.m. for the National Moment of Remembrance or offer a quiet toast to the fallen. May their stories, echoed on screen and in our hearts, remind us that every long weekend of leisure was secured by great courage and sacrifice.