More Nail-Biting Thrillers
Munich: The Edge of War is an intriguing and suspenseful political thriller, set just before the events of World War II.
If you’ve finished streaming this one and are looking for alternatives – fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top 10 picks.
Of course for all the movies we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link so you can check out our full thoughts on that and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with.
So without further ado, we present 10 movies to check out when you’ve finished watching Munich: The Edge of War.
The Courier
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, The Courier is a decent espionage thriller, one that heightens its plotline thanks to its true story.
The plot here revolves around a cold war spy called Greville Wynne, who – alongside his Russian source – try to put an end to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
This is a tense, nail-biting thriller, one that refuses to relinquish its grip throughout the 1 hour 50 minute run-time.
Operation Finale
Operation Finale is essentially a psychological game of chess, played out through a team of secret agents, who set out to track down the Nazi officer who masterminded the Holocaust.
This an intense and intriguing re-enactment of the capture of Adolph Eichmann, although at times it does gloss over important points or moves a little too quickly.
However, if you’re looking for a lively and palpable thriller, this one’s well worth checking out.
Darkest Hour
Darkest Hour is a politically charged biographical drama about Churchill’s earliest days as Prime Minister. It also acts as a platform for a breathtaking performance from Gary Oldman.
The story takes place in May 1940, with the fate of World War II hanging in the balance. Churchill is left to decide whether to negotiate with Hitler or fight on, knowing it could doom the entire British Empire.
What the film lacks in outright excitement and action, it more than makes up for with a driven acting masterclass from an inspired Oldman.
Downfall
If Munich: The Edge of War depicted Hitler at his most volatile, Downfall switches the game up and shows Adolf Hitler at his most vulnerable.
Through the tale woven by Traudl Junge, the final secretary for Adolf Hitler, the film tells the story of the Nazi dictator’s final days in his Berlin bunker at the end of WWII.
There’s a great amount of characterization done to actually show Hitler as a proper, three-dimensional character rather than evil incarnate.
It’s a very important movie and an absolute must-watch when it comes to World War II dramas.
Thirteen Days
If you’re after a tense and thrilling political drama, Thirteen Days is definitely worth checking out.
The film takes place deep in the heart of the Cuban missile crisis, back in 1962. With photos gathered from a spy plane showing the possibility of nuclear missiles in Cuba, the US is on high alert.
The military are determined to go in for a full invasion of Cuba, while the Kennedy brothers push back and try to come to a peaceful solution that doesn’t result in WWIII.
Good performances and a really tense tone combine to make Thirteen Days a solid movie.
Bridge of Spies
Bridge of Spies may not be Spielberg’s best film, but it certainly packs one heck of a punch.
The story takes place during the Cold War, with an American lawyer recruited to defend an arrested Soviet spy in court. In turn, he’s then tasked with helping the CIA facilitate an exchange of this spy for the Soviet captured spy plane pilot, Francis Gary Powers.
This is an incredibly well made movie, and the scenes in Berlin are rife with suspense and tension. When it comes to political thrillers, this is another you should definitely check out!
Triumph of the WillÂ
Triumph of the Will is the infamous propaganda film put out by the Nazi regime back in 1935. This German black and white documentary film is a chilling but visually impressive picture that’s as important today as it was back then.
Essentially the film depicts the 1934 congress of the Nazi party, which was attended by close to a million Nazi supporters. There are a fair number of important leaders who give speeches, including Adolf Hitler himself, Rudolf Hess and Jelies Streicher.
If you’re looking for an important piece of history wrapped up in a heady, maddening propaganda movie, Triumph of the Will fits the bill.
Breach (2007)
Breach is an interesting and often understated political thriller. There’s a really nice undercurrent of drama.
The gist of the story centers on a name called Robert Hanssen. This religious Catholic is a loving husband, father… and top level traitor. When the FBI catch wind of this, he’s put on trial for selling secrets to the Soviet Union.
This is a solid drama with a powerful performance from Chris Cooper and a solid pacing.
Valkyrie
Starring Tom Cruise, Valkyrie is a lively and palpable political thriller, set deep in the heart of Nazi Germany.
During the height of World War II, the film here centers on a team of Nazi officers who come up with a plan to assassinate Hitler and destroy the Nazi rule. This is known as Operation Valkyrie.
This is a dramatic reenactment of that Operation and although it does have some flaws, the story is consistently engaging and there’s a really heavy dose of tension hanging over this one too.
A Call to Spy
A Call to Spy is a suitably different look at espionage in World War II. Specifically, the story centers on Churchill’s new spy agency – SOE.
The plot takes place right at the beginning of WWII, as a desperate Winston Churchill recruits female spies to the war cause. Specifically, they’re tasked with undermining the Nazi regime in France, leaving an unmistakable legacy in their wake.
With plenty of tension, drama and strong performances to boot, this is another decent World War II drama.
So there we have it, our 10 Movie picks to keep you busy after watching Munich: The Edge of War on Netflix.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
Great list – but you left out “Official Secrets”. Powerful movie about the Iraq War