The Few. The Proud. The United States Marine Corps celebrates its anniversary on Nov. 10, marking 250 years since its founding in 1775 during the American Revolution. The maritime land force — one of the six armed forces of the US military — was then known as the Continental Marines. Today, its members serve out of installations around the country and the world.
These movies and series on Netflix offer diverse looks at the Marine Corps: A docuseries that follows service members as they train for duty; a show based on the true story of a teen sent to boot camp during the ’90s; a biographical war drama from an Oscar–winning director; and a romance about a Marine and his “wife,” who are faking their relationship. Read on for more.
This four-part docuseries from director Chelsea Yarnell features unprecedented access to the US military’s “force in readiness” in the Pacific. Marines embeds with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit as its members undergo drills, exercises, and real-world prep. It also shows some more personal moments, with young Marines working together to become leaders while forming everlasting bonds.
Sam Mendes (American Beauty) directs this biographical war drama based on the 2003 memoir by Anthony Swofford. Jarhead follows Swofford (Jake Gyllenhaal) through his Marine Corps service, including boot camp, sniper training, and Operation Desert Storm. Jamie Foxx (Django Unchained) and Peter Sarsgaard (Shattered Glass) co-star.
Inspired by former US Marine Greg Cope White’s memoir The Pink Marine, Boots follows the directionless, closeted Cameron Cope (Miles Heizer) and his best friend, Ray McAffey (Liam Oh), as they enlist in the Marines and navigate boot camp alongside a diverse group of fellow recruits. This coming-of-age story — which takes place in the 1990s, when being openly gay in the military was illegal — is all about friendship, self-acceptance, and finding your place in the world. Oh, and push-ups. So many push-ups. Vera Farmiga (When They See Us, Halston) and Max Parker (Blood, Sex & Royalty) co-star.
This romantic drama stars Sofia Carson (My Oxford Year) and Nicholas Galitzine (Red, White & Royal Blue) as a faux couple who get married to receive spousal benefits from the military. Cassie (Carson), a bartender and singer-songwriter, needs the health insurance to afford insulin to treat her Type 1 diabetes, and Luke (Galitzine), a Marine two years sober, needs the higher salary to pay back his former drug dealer. Directed by Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum (Aquamarine), the movie is based on Tess Wakefield’s novel of the same name.
