10 movies to watch on Memorial Day

Memorial Day is not just about having a day off. It is a day set aside to remember those who died while serving in the military. People visit cemeteries. They attend services. They gather with friends and family. Many also turn to movies that reflect the relevance of the day.

These are not just war films. They show what service means and focus on duty. These films deal with sacrifice and follow people who put everything on the line. Some of these stories come straight from history while others build on real events and add a personal layer.

Watching these films is not just about passing time. It is about connecting with the emotions they unfold. It is about thinking of the lives that shaped them. Some of the movies on this list are big on action while other slow down to express grief. A few offer hope in small ways.

All these films carry something real. They remind us of choices people made under fire, and show what it costs to protect others. Memorial Day deserves that kind of attention, and these 10 films help provide it. They matter just like the day does.

10 movies to watch on Memorial Day

1. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Saving Private Ryan (Image via Paramount Pictures)

This film begins with the Normandy Beach landing and follows a group of soldiers on a mission to find Private James Ryan. His three brothers have died in action and the mission is to bring him home. The group faces deadly ambushes and moral conflict as they move across war-torn France.

Tom Hanks plays the quiet and steady Captain Miller who leads them through chaos and doubt. The opening scene is still one of the most intense sequence ever filmed. Watching this on Memorial Day reminds you that real soldiers faced this exact horror for reasons far bigger than themselves.

2. The Last Full Measure (2020)

The Last Full Measure (Image via Roadside Attractions)

The story is based on real events that took decades to reach the public. William Pitsenbarger was an Air Force medic who stayed behind during a firefight to save wounded men. He saved over 60 people but lost his life during the rescue.

Years later a government official begins digging into why his Medal of Honor was never approved. The film moves between interviews and flashbacks to uncover the full truth. Watching this on Memorial Day makes you think about the value of service and how long it can take to properly honor someone who gave everything.

3. Top Gun (1986)

Pete Mitchell trains at the Navy’s elite fighter pilot school where his flying skills get tested against the best. He faces rivalry in the skies and grief on the ground when a teammate dies during a training mission. His journey is about growing up under pressure.

The movie includes actual fighter jet footage that gives it a grounded feel. Top Gun isn’t a combat film but it shows how service can shape ego and identity. Watching it on Memorial Day helps people reflect on the stress and pride of those who train for war even if they never go.

4. Apocalypse Now (1979)

Apocalypse Now (Image via Paramount Pictures)

Captain Willard is sent into the Cambodian jungle to track down a U.S. Colonel who has abandoned command and gone rogue. The mission pulls him deeper into madness as each stop along the river reveals more chaos and violence.

Francis Ford Coppola uses Vietnam as a backdrop for psychological unraveling. This is not about patriotism or heroics but about what war does to the soul. On Memorial Day, it works as a reminder that not all scars are physical. Some soldiers never return mentally even if they make it back home physically in one piece.

5. The Six Triple Eight (2024)

The Six Triple Eight (Image via Netflix)

This film tells the true story of an all-Black all-female battalion sent overseas in WWII. Their mission was to clear a massive backlog of undelivered mail that was hurting morale among American troops in Europe. They were given no recognition at the time.

These women worked in freezing warehouses with no heat while sorting millions of letters and packages. They were not celebrated, but they kept soldiers connected to family. Watching this on Memorial Day shows that service comes in many forms, and that quiet contributions are sometimes the ones that make the biggest difference.

6. Glory (1989)

The film follows the 54th Massachusetts Infantry one of the first Black regiments in the Civil War. Their commander is a white officer who wants to lead with honor while the men under him fight for the right to be seen as equal.

They face limited supplies low pay and constant racism but still volunteer for a suicidal assault on Fort Wagner. Their sacrifice helps shift public opinion and proves their loyalty under fire. Watching this on Memorial Day reminds you that military history includes people who had to fight two battles at the same time.

7. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

Desmond Doss enlisted in WWII but refused to carry a weapon due to his religious beliefs. Labeled a coward and almost discharged, he later served as a combat medic during the Battle of Okinawa where he rescued 75 wounded men.

He did it without firing a single bullet. The film shows his struggle for respect and his refusal to abandon anyone. His courage earned him the Medal of Honor. Watching this on Memorial Day shows that heroism is not about who you kill but who you save, and how far you are willing to go.

8. Black Hawk Down (2001)

Black Hawk Down (Image via Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing)

This film recreates the 1993 mission in Somalia where U.S. troops were sent to capture warlord operatives. Two helicopters were shot down and what was supposed to be a short mission turned into an all-day firefight through city streets.

The focus is not on politics but survival. The soldiers are young outnumbered and completely exposed. The camera never leaves their side. Watching this on Memorial Day reminds you that danger isn’t just in major wars. It can strike anywhere and these men fought hard even when the plan fell apart in every possible way.

9. American Sniper (2014)

This biopic follows Navy SEAL Chris Kyle who became the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history. The film covers his four tours in Iraq and the impact of combat on his family life. It shows the split between his battlefield precision and his emotional struggle back home.

Bradley Cooper trained extensively for the role and brings quiet control to a soldier constantly under threat. Watching this on Memorial Day shows what war does beyond the mission. It follows a man who made it back but never fully left the war behind. That truth makes it hard to ignore.

10. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Top Gun: Maverick (Image via Paramount Pictures)

Maverick is called back to Top Gun to train a new generation for a dangerous mission. Among them is Rooster, the son of his late friend Goose. Maverick is older and slower but still the best in the air.

He struggles with loss and leadership, and with proving that his experience counts. The flight scenes are real and demand attention. Watching this on Memorial Day shows what it means to pass on lessons and keep people safe, even if it means risking yourself. The mission is simple. Come back alive. That makes all the difference.