Credit: Netflix

The Fourth of July weekend is finally here, which means you’ve probably got at least one day with no plans except finding something good to watch on Netflix. And before anyone says Top Gun for the hundredth time… hear us out. Patriotism doesn’t always have to do with fighter jets; sometimes, real stories give you a better experience.

If you might’ve noticed, the hushed stories are more memorable. The ones about people who simply got on with the job or stood their ground when nobody was watching. Those are the films that stay with you.

That is exactly why this week’s Netflix movies feel perfect for the Fourth of July holiday. And don’t think that you don’t have war dramas. We have recommendations for that, along with an inspiring sports story and even a military romance. The one thing they all have in common is the spirit of patriotism.

So, after you’re done with your stack of firecrackers, pick your pick from these five Netflix films for your Fourth of July weekend.

Five best movies to watch on Netflix this weekend

Da 5 Bloods

War has a habit of following people home, and Da 5 Bloods proves exactly that. Spike Lee reunites four Black Vietnam veterans who return to Vietnam decades after the conflict. Their mission is to recover the remains of their old squad leader, Stormin’ Norman, played by Chadwick Boseman. Well… that’s only half the story. Buried in the jungle is a stash of CIA gold they left behind during the war, and they decide it is finally time to claim it.

Waiting for the kicker, here it is: Beneath the shootouts and treasure hunt, Da 5 Bloods keeps asking whether loving your country means accepting everything it has done. These men fought for America, came home, and still had to fight for respect. Spike Lee makes that point without saying a word by keeping the older actors in every Vietnam flashback instead of using younger versions. At first, you almost do a double take. Then it makes perfect sense. They may have left Vietnam decades ago, but Vietnam never really left them.

Mudbound

You know when people say there is no place like home? Well, Mudbound pretty much turns that idea on its head. Set in rural Mississippi just after World War II, it follows two families trying to rebuild their lives on the same bit of land. Then the soldiers come home. Jamie McAllan can’t leave the war behind no matter how hard he tries, while Ronsel Jackson comes back after fighting for his country only to be met with the very same racism he thought wearing the uniform might’ve changed. Sad, isn’t it?

And do you know what makes Mudbound such a good shout for the Fourth of July? It doesn’t pretend America has always got everything right. Instead, it’s about the people who kept pushing on even when the country let them down. Dee Rees became the first Black woman ever nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars because of this film, and once you’ve watched it, you’ll see exactly why.

NYAD

Now, imagine this: you are 64 years old, standing looking out at the ocean, and someone tells you that swimming from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage cannot be done. Most people would leave that. Diana Nyad? Not a chance. NYAD tells the true story of the marathon swimmer who refused to let her age tell her what she could or couldn’t do, with Annette Bening throwing absolutely everything she had into the role.

But don’t confuse it with just breaking the records. It’s about refusing to believe your best days are behind you, and we all need to hear that sometime or the other. Well, NYAD does the job for you. Jodie Foster played Bonnie Stoll, Nyad’s coach and best friend. The friendship between the pair is what really holds the whole film together.

Purple Hearts

A fake marriage between a struggling singer and a US Marine? Go on, admit it… it sounds like one of those ideas that’s got no chance of working. But Purple Hearts pulls it off. Cassie needs health insurance, Luke needs the money, and getting married solves both problems. Well… at least until real feelings start getting involved.

Before you write it off as just another romance, though, there is a bit more going on here. The film spends plenty of time looking at military life and the pressure that comes with it, especially for the families left behind. It had people arguing online after it came out and all, with debates over its politics and how it portrays the military. Here is a fun fact: Sofia Carson doesn’t just star in it; she helped write loads of the soundtrack, which is probably why the music fits the story so well.

The Six Triple Eight

History can be quite funny sometimes. It loves remembering the big names but forgets the small ones who make bigger contributions to anything. The Six Triple Eight sets about putting that right. Tyler Perry tells the true story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female unit sent overseas during World War II. Their job sounded simple enough on paper: sort years of undelivered mail for American troops. Easy? Not a chance.

These women were working through mountains of post while battling prejudice almost every step of the way, but they kept going because they knew those letters meant everything to soldiers miles away from home. The film shines a light on a story that loads of people had never even heard before. That’s what makes it such a great Fourth of July watch. Patriotism isn’t always about who is on the front line. Sometimes it’s about making sure somebody gets a letter from the people they love.