This Is Your Last Chance to Watch One of the Best War Movies I’ve Ever Seen on Netflix

The end of a month always means saying goodbye to some movies on your streaming service of choice.

While plenty of exciting new content is coming to Netflix in September, a great epic war film is leaving the platform.

Black Hawk Down will depart after August 31, and the Watch With Us team is recommending you check it out while you still can.

While not exactly a feel-good film, it’s an impressive cinematic feat with a stellar cast. Here’s why you should watch Black Hawk Down before it leaves Netflix.

Ridley Scott’s Direction Is Shockingly Visceral

Director Ridley Scott is known for his signature visual intensity, and Black Hawk Down is a stunning example of what he can do with a camera. The film places the viewer right in the thick of the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia, during which a Black Hawk helicopter was shot down, leaving soldiers stranded in the chaotic city as anarchy breaks out. It’s an overwhelming sensory experience — the sounds of gunfire, the crowded battlefields and the explosive violence lend disturbing realism to the story.

Handheld camera closeups, freeze frames, lens flares and other frenetic cinematic techniques make Black Hawk Down a unique movie experience that evokes the genuine panic of a war zone. Suspense and adrenaline are sustained throughout the whole film.

It Stars a Huge Ensemble Cast — Many of Whom Would Go On to Stardom

Black Hawk Down is one of those rare movies that really doesn’t have a lead character — instead, it’s a true ensemble piece that shows how military units form a living organism. Josh Hartnett has top billing as SSG Matt Eversmann, but the sprawling cast includes many stellar actors, some of whom were relative unknowns at the time. Black Hawk Down was Tom Hardy’s first film, for example, and also an early role for actors like Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Ewan McGregor, Ty Burrell and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.

The movie’s cast feels like a 2001 time capsule, and it’s fascinating to see how many of these young men would go on to become stars. More importantly, the cast’s chemistry is totally captivating to watch — you really feel their brotherhood and their determination to protect one another.

It’s an Unflinching Look at a Dark Time in American History

While many movies glorify war, Black Hawk Down focuses on one of the most famous military disasters in history. Though several characters have heroic moments, the whole event plays out tragically, with heavy losses on both sides. Though production began well before September 11, 2001, the film still resonates with the after-effects of the attacks — the fear of terrorism, the distrust of those around you and the feeling that urban centers were the most dangerous places you could be.

The movie also captures the contrast between the patriotism of the soldiers and the horrors of war — especially alongside the knowledge that their mission was ultimately unsuccessful. Like most of Scott’s films, it’s a thought-provoking drama with plenty of action and emotion that stays with you long after the film ends.

The last day to watch Black Hawk Down on Netflix is August 31. You can rent it on Prime Video or watch it for free with a Hoopla subscription.