For Memorial Day weekend, choose a film that fits the kind of remembrance you want: a historical battle, a documentary perspective, or a story about life after war. Memorial Day honors U.S. service members who died in military service; it is distinct from Veterans Day, which recognizes all who served. The Department of War describes Memorial Day as an annual day of remembrance observed on the last Monday in May and notes a national moment of remembrance at 3 p.m. local time. Department of War: Memorial Day
How to choose a Memorial Day movie
This selection is an editorial slate, not a ranked consensus. It spans combat and mission stories, historical units and battles, documentaries, and the effects of war on people returning home. If you are watching with family, check the film’s content and suitability for your group; Teach with Movies publishes age guidance for some titles, but that is one publisher’s recommendation, not a substitute for your judgment.
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![Memorial Day [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61AM3WtWNOL._SL160_.jpg)
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Memorial Day [Blu-ray] | $21.13 | Buy on Amazon |
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![Memorial day [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51gXCHiP-dL._SL160_.jpg)
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Memorial day [Blu-ray] | $26.18 | Buy on Amazon |
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Memorial Day | $8.80 | Buy on Amazon |
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DVD Memorial Day | $13.03 | Buy on Amazon |
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![Halloween [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41YoaIyANDL._SL160_.jpg)
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Halloween [Blu-ray] | Buy on Amazon |
- For documentary perspectives: start with Five Came Back or Legion of Brothers.
- For historical battles: consider Glory, Gettysburg, Flags of Our Fathers, or The Longest Day.
- For stories of service and what follows: try The Messenger, Alive, or Memorial Day (2011).
15 Memorial Day movies to watch
1. Saving Private Ryan
A World War II combat story included in both AARP’s Memorial Day roundup and Teach with Movies’ guide. Teach with Movies recommends it for ages 16 and older; that is the guide’s advice, not a universal rating or guarantee of suitability. AARP’s Memorial Day movie roundup · Teach with Movies’ Memorial Day guide
2. Five Came Back
This documentary series follows five Hollywood directors who made World War II training films and newsreels. It offers a way to explore the filmmaking and documentation of war alongside the stories of combat itself. AARP’s Memorial Day movie roundup
#1 Best Overall
- Factory sealed DVD
3. Glory
A historical drama about the first all-Black U.S. Army regiment and its Civil War battles. Teach with Movies recommends it for ages 14 and older; families should make their own suitability judgment. Hulu’s Memorial Day guide · Teach with Movies’ Memorial Day guide
4. The Messenger
This drama follows an Iraq War veteran assigned to notify families of service members’ deaths and his adjustment to life after war. Its focus on the difficult work of delivering casualty notifications makes it a more intimate choice than a battlefield-centered film. Hulu’s Memorial Day guide
5. Megan Leavey
Based on a true story, this 2017 film follows a Marine corporal and a military combat dog through deployments and missions. It is a choice for viewers interested in the bond between a service member and a working animal. Hulu’s Memorial Day guide
Rank #2
6. American Sniper
Clint Eastwood’s film is based on the story of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. Hulu’s guide lists it as requiring Hulu + Live TV, a qualification from that guide rather than a guarantee of present-day availability. Hulu’s Memorial Day guide
7. 1917
This World War I drama follows two British soldiers trying to prevent an attack. Hulu’s guide lists a SHOWTIME add-on requirement; check the service’s current listing, since access and plan terms can change. Hulu’s Memorial Day guide
8. The 12th Man
A World War II thriller about Norwegian resistance fighter Jan Baalsrud. Its resistance-story perspective provides a different setting from films centered on U.S. forces. Hulu’s Memorial Day guide
Rank #3
9. Das Boot
This series explores survival and the emotional toll of life during World War II. Choose it if you want a longer, episodic viewing experience rather than a single feature film. Hulu’s Memorial Day guide
10. Legion of Brothers
This documentary follows a small U.S. force sent on a secret mission after the September 11 attacks and reflects on prolonged combat. It is a nonfiction option for viewers looking beyond dramatized battle narratives. Hulu’s Memorial Day guide
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Hulu describes this film as following veterans who turn to adaptive athletics while recovering from battle wounds. Its focus is on recovery and rebuilding, rather than combat. Hulu’s Memorial Day guide
Rank #4
12. Flags of Our Fathers
A World War II film included in Teach with Movies’ Memorial Day list. It pairs well with another historical title if you want to build a double feature around the war’s battles and their remembrance. Teach with Movies’ Memorial Day guide
13. Gettysburg
This Civil War title appears in Teach with Movies’ guide, which recommends it for ages 10 and older. Treat that as the guide’s age advice, and consider the film’s length and subject matter when choosing it for younger viewers. Teach with Movies’ Memorial Day guide
14. The Longest Day
A World War II title included in Teach with Movies’ Memorial Day list. It is another option for a historical-film lineup alongside Flags of Our Fathers or Saving Private Ryan. Teach with Movies’ Memorial Day guide
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- Factory sealed DVD
15. Memorial Day (2011)
This particularly direct thematic choice links a World War II veteran’s memories with his grandson’s experience in Iraq. Apple TV identifies it as a 2011 U.S. film with a runtime of 1 hour 48 minutes. JustWatch’s U.S. listing reported DVD and Blu-ray purchase options when checked on July 11, 2026; physical-media listings can change. Apple TV listing · JustWatch U.S. listing
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to watch these films
Availability is not a permanent feature of a movie: it can depend on region, subscription tier, add-ons, and the date you check. Hulu’s guide, revised April 18, 2024, lists requirements such as Hulu + Live TV for American Sniper and a SHOWTIME add-on for 1917; those notes do not establish that every film on this list is currently available on Hulu. Confirm the title and plan requirements in your own region before settling on a watchlist. For Memorial Day (2011), JustWatch’s U.S. listing documented DVD and Blu-ray purchase options in its July 11, 2026 check.
Remembering the holiday’s purpose
The Department of War says the first national Decoration Day celebration was held at Arlington National Cemetery on May 30, 1868, and that federal law moved observance to the last Monday in May in 1971. It distinguishes Memorial Day, honoring those who died in service during peacetime and war, from Veterans Day, which recognizes all who served. The department also describes a national moment of remembrance at 3 p.m. local time. Department of War: Memorial Day
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
