Top 5 War TV Series to Stream on Netflix in December 2023

War movies have the capacity to get you right in the feels. Even if they're purely fictional, they can still bring home the horrors of war while demonstrating the bravery and sacrifice of soldiers.

These are the top 5 war series to watch on Netflix right now:

The Pacific (2010)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

1 Season, 10 episodes

Largely based on the memoirs of three US Marines who served in the Pacific War between 1941 and 1945, this miniseries is a companion to Band of Brothers.

The show follows the Marine Corps through the Pacific Theatre of Operations with a specific focus on Robert Leckie, Eugene Sledge and John Basilone, each of whom served in different regiments of the 1st Marine Division throughout the campaign.

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It won multiple awards and is widely considered one of the best series of the decade.

Band of Brothers (2001)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%

1 Season, 10 episodes

Still one of the most highly acclaimed war series, more than 20 years after its release. Band of Brothers is based on the book of the same name by US historian Stephen E Ambrose.

The show focuses on the lives and wartime experiences of members of Easy Company 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. Starting with their initial training and following them through to participation in major events, the book and show are largely based on interviews with veterans, but took some artistic license.

Medal of Honor (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%

1 Season, 8 episodes

Combining dramatic recreations of real-life events with archive footage and interviews, this anthology documentary reveals the story behind men who received America's highest military decoration.

Each episode details the bravery shown and sacrifices made by a different recipient of the Medal of Honor, with interviews, news reports and other veterans telling all.

It's heartbreaking and awe-inspiring in equal measure, and manages to get the tone just right so that it celebrates the lives of individuals without glorifying war. The critics loved it and so did the viewers.

The Liberator (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 69%

1 Season, 4 episodes

An adult animation, this 4-part miniseries is based on real-life events. It tells the story of maverick US Army officer Felix Sparks and his group of citizen soldiers. The action takes place during the Allied forces' Italian campaign which famously saw the troops battle for more than 500 days as they sought to March from Italy to France.

It's a heroic story that saw the unit receive a total of 8 combat awards for service. It's well told with a very character-driven narrative and has been described as evidence of why WWII stories remain evergreen. But the show has also come in for stick from some critics who thought it was a bit cliché at times.

Five Came Back

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%

1 Season, 3 episodes

A documentary series about film directors (John Ford, William Wyler, John Huston, Frank Capra and George Stevens) who produced films on the frontline during WWII. In this miniseries, their work is analysed by filmmakers including Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola.

The impact and legacy of each war film director is discussed, as well as their experience of life in the midst of war. Meryl Streep narrates the series which has been described as one of the best wartime documentaries available to stream. It's raw, realistic, and doesn't shy away from nor glorify the realities of war.