Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Back away from the grill, put down the Bud Heavy, and turn on some classic war movies to accompany your Memorial Day weekend. In honor of this day of remembrance, we’ve rounded up the most patriotic American characters on film, including those based on real-life soldiers. Some old, some brand new to VOD; it’s a meld of drama, heart-stopping thrillers and, yes, there are a few featured characters who made us laugh despite the grim circumstances. Without further ado, here are the most patriotic Americans in film on streaming listed in order of just how much they love their country.
DIRECTOR: Terrence Malick
HEROIC PATRIOT: Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, George Clooney and the rest of those who starred as the infamous troop who fought at Guadalcanal during WWII.
[Where to stream The Thin Red Line]Everett Collection
DIRECTOR: Barry Levinson
HEROIC PATRIOT: Robin Williams as DJ Adrian Cronauer who took over the U.S. Armed Forces radio station and showed a different side of the war in Vietnam.
[Where to stream All Quiet on the Western Front]Everett Collection
DIRECTOR: Kathryn Bigelow
HEROIC PATRIOT: Jeremy Renner as Sergeant First Class William James: a soldier with a calling for dismantling bombs.
[Where to stream The Hurt Locker]Photo: Everett Collection
DIRECTOR: Stanley Kubrick
HEROIC PATRIOT: Peter Sellers and that guy who rode the bomb to his death at the end.
[Where to stream Dr. Strangelove]Everett Collection
DIRECTOR: Tony Scott
HEROIC PATRIOT: Tom Cruise as Maverick, an outspoken Navy fighter pilot who shakes things up at the academy.
[Where to stream Top Gun]Photo: Everett Collection
DIRECTOR: Quentin Tarantino
HEROIC PATRIOT: Brad Pitt as Lt. Aldo Raine along with the rest of the Basterds and Melanie Laurent as Shoshanna. Taking down Hitler was no easy task in Tarantino's hyper-violent historical WWII reimagining, but boy, was it more epic than watching the Nazi leader commit suicide behind a bunker.
[Where to stream Inglourious Basterds]Everett Collection
DIRECTOR: Peter Berg
HEROIC PATRIOT: Mark Wahlberg as Marcus Luttrell, who in real life was left stranded with his team amidst a mission to kill Taliban leader Ahmad Shah.
[Where to stream Lone Survivor]Photo: Everett Collection
DIRECTOR: Clint Eastwood
HEROIC PATRIOT: Bradley Cooper as the deadliest sniper in American history, Chris Kyle. Director Eastwood is no stranger to political narratives as well, directing both Flags of Our Fathers as well as Letters From Iwo Jima.
[Where to stream American Sniper] Photo: Everett Collection
DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg
HEROIC PATRIOT: Tom Hanks. First fighting in Vietnam as Forrest Gump then traveling back in time to storm the beach at Normandy as Captain Miller in Steven Spielberg's war drama. Thanks Tom, we know we can always count on you.
[Where to stream Saving Private Ryan]Everett Collection
