The 10 best war documentaries on Netflix for history buffs

The 10 best war documentaries on Netflix for history buffs

The streamer covers everything from the rise of the Ottoman Empire to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

By Will Harris, Published on August 17, 2025 12:00PM EDT

Wars documented, from feudal Japan to WWII to contemporary Ukraine. Credit: courtesy netflix.

It may be impossible to put any war into its full context, or to truly appreciate the cost, the purpose, or the meaning of it. All a war documentary can do is try to offer some sense of perspective. If there are lessons to be learned from armed conflict, the best war documentaries will find them.

Netflix has its fair share of great war docs in its library, covering everything from the distant past of feudal Japan to the all-too-urgent battles still being fought today. Here are Entertainment Weekly’s picks for the 10 best war documentaries on Netflix:

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Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan (2021)

‘Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan’. courtesy netflix

The word “samurai” is thrown around a lot in popular culture, but this six-part series gets down to the brass tacks of what it actually means. Covering the era of feudal Japan from 1551 to 1616, the series features a mixture of authors, historians, and other academics who offer commentary on the stories unfolding on the screen, including dramatic reenactments.

Mind you, even though you obviously know you’re watching reenactments, you should prepare yourself for a decent amount of blood and gore. (The age of samurai was not, it must be said, an age of subtlety.)

Where to watch Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan: Netflix

Director: Stephen Scott

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