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15 Best Civil War Movies On Netflix and Amazon Prime

There is absolutely no type or genre of movie you won’t find on Netflix or Amazon Prime. In fact, there are lots of Civil War Movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime – as these two streaming platforms host hundreds to thousands of titles for each movie genre, you know: From war movies to gangster/mafia movies, to romance, and even explicitly adult titles.

Today, we’ll review the best Civil War movies on both platforms. These are movies centered on revolutionary protests, coups, and interracial conflicts, which turn into full-blown wars. These movies have lots of action scenes, and for some, that’s what to watch.

The 15 Best Civil War Movies On Netflix and Amazon Prime

Just like our earlier list of best mafia movies, this list provides an insight into what’s worth watching, as long as civil war movies are the topic of discussion. The ranking (while influenced by my personal preference and from collective user reviews online) is done in no particular order.

1. Glory (1989)

Stream: Netflix | Prime Video
Runtime: 2h 2m
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
IMDB: 7.8/10
Google: 80%

Rated the all-time best civil war movie ever, Glory was first released in 1989, at a time when streaming was not a thing. The movie was added to Netflix’s library in January 2026, and it is also available for rental on Prime Video. The plot follows the story of the first all-Black volunteer company during the American Civil War.

Glory perfectly blended leadership struggles, racial tension, and battlefield courage into a compelling narrative, featuring renowned stars like Denzel Washington, Matthew Broderick, and Morgan Freeman. It’s an intense movie, with lots of action scenes; the entire 120 minutes is both intriguing and emotionally captivating.

2. The Horse Soldiers (1959)

Stream: Netflix | Prime Video
Runtime: 2h
Rotten Tomatoes: 81%
IMDB: 7.1/10
Google: 75%

Yeah, it’s an old one, but still “GOLD.” The Horse Soldiers is an epic war movie released way back in 1959; you can tell it doesn’t feature the sophistication of today’s war movies, but the plot is what you’d come to love.

Directed by John Ford and featuring actors John Wayne, William Holden, and Constance Towers, this movie tells a classic Western story of Union troops going deep into a Confederate territory to destroy a key railroad.

3. First They Killed My Father (2017)

Stream: Netflix | Prime Video
Runtime: 136 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
IMDB: 7.2/10
Google: 79%

Angelina Jolie got the director role in this classic war movie, based on Loung Ung’s memoir of the same name, chronicling a Cambodian family’s survival during the Khmer Rouge regime and civil war.

4. Civil War (2024)

Stream: Netflix | Prime Video
Runtime: 1h 49m
Rotten Tomatoes: 81%
IMDB: 7/10
Google: 69%

The name already tells it all, but it’s not just about the name; this is one of the most intriguing, recently released Civil War movies. It is the story of a modern dystopian who takes on a divided America, fronted by sponsored journalists, and the situation escalates into an internal war.

Every scene in this movie speaks a language of action, and it attempts to tell of a perceived near-future, fractured America, where balance is on the razor’s edge. Featuring top acts like Cailee Spaeny, Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, and Jesse Plemons. This movie dominated PrimVideo’s top 10 charts months after release and ranks second due to massive current popularity.

5. Free State of Jones (2016)

Stream: Netflix | Prime Video
Runtime: 2h 19m
Rotten Tomatoes: 48%
IMDB: 6.9/10
Google: 81%

This one is another tough one to go with, even though it doesn’t have a very acceptable Rotten Tomatoes rating. It is the story of a confederate deserter, a Mississippi farmer-turned-outlaw, who leads a rebellion against the South, creating a breakaway state.

Yeah, this one is a grounded, politically driven Civil War story. A recommended watch choice for viewers who want a Civil War-era story with rebellion, loyalty, and moral conflict at the center. The fight scenes are equally intense and worth watching.

6. The Beguiled (2017)

Stream: Netflix | Prime Video
Runtime: 1h 34m
Rotten Tomatoes: 79%
IMDB: 6.3/10
Google: 52%

When you’re the only guy in the midst of a lot of women, who have to protect you, you sure have to do their bidding to remain under the radar, undetected. The story of a wounded rival soldier seeking solace in an all-girls boarding school.

There’s a rollercoaster of emotions waiting for you here: tension, manipulation, power dynamics, and much more. Yeah, this is a set around a civil war, starring John McBurney as the wounded soldier.

7. Field of Lost Shoes (2014)

Stream: Netflix | Prime Video
Runtime: 1h 36m
Rotten Tomatoes: 51%
IMDB: 5.8/10
Google: 60%

Quite an emotional one we got here: The Battlefield of Lost Shoes. It’s the story of a group of young cadets forced into battle during the Civil War.

It centers on Virginia Military Institute cadets fighting at the 1864 Battle of New Market to defend the Shenandoah Valley. This movie is actually based on a true story, and that’s what makes it even more interesting.

8. Cold Mountain (2003)

Stream: Netflix | Prime Video
Runtime: 2h 36m
Rotten Tomatoes: 69%
IMDB: 7.2/10
Google: 82%

9. Sergio (2020)

Stream: Netflix | Prime Video
Runtime: 1h 56m
Rotten Tomatoes: 44%
IMDB: 6.2/10
Google: 63%

Here’s a more recent, yeah, not so recent, civil war-centered Netflix Original featuring Wagner Moura, Ana de Armas, and Brían F. O’Byrne. If you’ve followed most American war movies, you will know that their soldiers are often sent to Arabic countries for peacekeeping or classified missions; yeah, this one follows a kind of spinoff from that narrative.

So, it’s a Greg Barker biographical drama on a UN diplomat, Sérgio Vieira de Mello, during the 2003 Baghdad hotel bombing amid Iraqi civil strife. Sergio must have to play smart and fight for his life, amidst mixing his situation with emotional relationships and ties. This is more of a diplomatic movie, and it’s worth watching.

10. Beasts of No Nation (2015)

Stream: Netflix | Prime Video
Runtime: 2h 17m
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
IMDB: 7.7/10
Google: 82%

This one is shot in Africa, Ghana, to be precise. It is a hard-hitting drama featuring the all-rounder Idris Elba and a talented youngster, Abraham Attah. Also, this is a Netflix Original, so it’s not on Prime Video, but it’s a civil war movie you can’t afford to not watch.

It follows the story of a young boy who becomes a child soldier as his country experiences a horrific civil war. Abraham Attah, as Agu, got recruited into a rebel militia amid an African civil war. Idris Elba plays the ruthless Commandant. The 2-hour duration of the movie would be the best time spent of your day.

11. The Siege of Jadotville (2016)

Stream: Netflix | Prime Video
Runtime: 1h 48m
Rotten Tomatoes: 64%
IMDB: 7.2/10
Google: 82%

Here’s another Netflix Original, which is an adaptation of a book of the same title. It’s a Richie Smyth movie, which recounts the series of events between Irish UN peacekeepers holding off superior Congolese forces during the 1961 Katanga secession crisis.

Jamie Dornan leads the cast crew, and he was so good at it; commanding just a battalion of 150 men, he was able to withstand a siege by 3,000 Congolese troops led by French and Belgian mercenaries working for mining corporations.

12. The Endless Trench (2019)

Stream: Netflix | Prime Video
Runtime: 2h 27m
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
IMDB: 7.2/10
Google: 68%

13. Gods and Generals (2003)

Stream: Netflix | Prime Video
Runtime: 3h 39m
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
IMDB: 7.2/10
Google: 68%

You’re going to have to plan for this one; a 3-hour-long movie? That’s a long watch, but the point is, it’s quite an interesting movie. It is a movie on a large-scale Civil War, shot for viewers who love watching war movies, and also have a knack for history and learning.

This epic movie focuses on early battles and key Confederate leaders, particularly Stonewall Jackson. Filled with two-dimensional characters and pompous self-righteousness, Gods and Generals is a long, tedious sit that may get some viewers offended with the pro-Confederate slant.

14. Lincoln (2012)

Stream: Netflix | Prime Video
Runtime: 2h 30m
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
IMDB: 7.3/10
Google: 81%

If you love you some serious political hard-knocks and history, then you’d love this one. Lincoln, the movie, simply focuses on the life of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, and how he leveraged his political power to abolish slavery and reunite his country during the Civil War.

This movie tells about the last four months of the man regarded as America’s greatest President.

15. ’76 (2016)

Stream: Netflix | Prime Video
Runtime: 1h 56m
IMDB: 5.5/10
Google: 69%

’76 is a Netflix Original based on true events during the 1976 Nigerian Civil War, fronted by the Igbo warlord, Odumegwu Ojukwu. Starring legendary Nigerian actors like Ramsey Nouah and Rita Dominic. Notably, the historical account in ’76 went through a seven-month approval process at the Nigerian Military before filming started.

It majors on the 1976 Civil War story from the point of view of Bianca Ojukwu, who was pregnant at a time when her husband was accused of taking part in an attempted military coup and the assassination of General Murtala Mohammed. It’s quite an interesting watch and an eye-opener for history lovers.

What More?

These are Civil War movies with intriguing storylines and historical significance. Some of them are available on both Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, while others are available on only one of the platforms, Netflix or Prime Video. You can also purchase some of these titles as DVDs on Amazon.