Happy Memorial Day! Here Are the Most Patriotic Films, TV Shows to Watch
Memorial Day typically signals an outdoor celebration filled with friends and summer activities, but in some cases, all anyone wants to do is kick back with a good movie or TV show. What better way to spend the holiday than by streaming the most patriotic projects the entertainment industry has to offer?
One such film that immediately comes to mind is Captain America: The First Avenger. No superhero is more passionate about the red, white and blue than Cap (a.k.a. Steve Rogers). In the 21st century, it’s difficult to imagine anyone but Chris Evans embodying the U.S.A.-loving leading man, but the actor almost never stepped into the costume at all.
“In doing movies one at a time, if all of a sudden you decide you don’t want to do it anymore, you’re afforded the opportunity to take a step back and recalibrate,” Evans explained during an April 2016 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! “When you have a giant contract, if all of a sudden you’re not responding well? Too bad. You’ve got to suit up again. That was scary.”
The Avengers star admitted that he turned down the part “a few times” due to fear. “It ended up just kind of clicking to me in the way of looking at it as whatever you’re scared of, push yourself into it,” he added.
For a true story of American war veterans, look to Captain America star Sebastian Stan and his 2019 film The Last Full Measure. The Bucky Barnes actor plays a government official investigating William H. Pitsenbarger (Jeremy Irvine), a U.S. Air Force Pararescueman whose heroism wasn’t acknowledged for decades.
While Captain America and The Last Full Measure are patriotic in a more traditional sense, Parks and Recreation gives viewers not only people to root for but also loads of laughs. Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope is perhaps the most patriotic fictional character to ever make her way to the screen, with her love of her hometown, Pawnee, fueling practically everything she does.
“Leslie Knope is the child of ‘Yes We Can,’ you know,” the Saturday Night Live alum told The Washington Post in April 2012. “She’s the person who believes that, no matter how much power you have, you can make a difference, you can contribute, you can change things. Her kind of blind spot is how slow and hard it is. How slow change happens.”
Scroll down to see more movies and TV shows to stream on Memorial Day.
Based on a true story, Sebastian Stan stars as a Pentagon staffer investigating a Medal of Honor request for William H. Pitsenbarger (Jeremy Irvine), a U.S. Air Force Pararescueman who saved over 60 men during the Vietnam War. (Hulu)
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Inspired by true events and based on the C.S. Forester book The Good Shepherd, this World War II movie shows Captain Ernest Krause (Tom Hanks) as he leads a dangerous mission to get 37 ships across the Atlantic to deliver much-needed soldiers and supplies to Allied forces. (Apple TV+)
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Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monet portray the real women who helped the U.S. become the first country to send a man to the moon in this Oscar winner. (Disney+)
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Any Captain America will do in a pinch, but the first film in the series shows Steve Rogers’ roots as a soldier who won’t stop fighting for his country. (Disney+)
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Leslie Knope has a wide-eyed optimism about local government that is inspiring, and her hijinks with her friends are fun to watch too. (Peacock)
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Soldiers in Iraq find the dynamic of their unit upended when a new sergeant takes command. (Showtime)
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The titular character goes above and beyond to keep terrorism from eroding not only the U.S. but also other countries. (Amazon Prime Video)
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Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger star in the 2000 film about a former soldier aiming to save his son after he is captured by the enemy. (Netflix)
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The president and his advisors attempt to run the United States as their personal drama interferes. (HBO Max)
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Tom Cruise portrays an injured Marine who returns from war to use his experiences to promote widespread change. (Showtime)
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Who said politics can’t be a riot? Julia Louis-Dreyfus earned countless accolades as Vice President Selina Meyer as she navigated Washington, D.C. (HBO Max)
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Kurt Russell’s performance as coach Herb Brooks, who leads the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team in the ‘80s, is iconic. (Netflix)
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Téa Leoni stars as Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord, balancing her family life with her duties within the government. (Netflix, Paramount+)
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