It has been hailed by fans and critics as the 'best war film since Saving Private Ryan and Black Hawk Down' - and the Afghanistan-set drama is streaming on Netflix now10:53, 05 Jul 2026A relatively obscure war film is being celebrated as the 'best war drama since Saving Private Ryan and Black Hawk Down' - and anyone with a true love of cinema will understand just how exceptional that praise truly is.‌Within the war drama genre, this picture often flies under the radar, yet those who have experienced this epic masterpiece can't help but rave about it.‌Led by Mark Wahlberg, with strong supporting performances from Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, and Eric Bana, the film is being championed as one of the most visceral, gut-wrenching yet genuine, and deeply moving pieces of work you can watch.‌Lone Survivor is a 2013 action war drama based on the 2007 non-fiction book of the same name, written by former United States Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, alongside thriller writer Patrick Robinson.Luttrell and numerous other Navy SEAL veterans served as technical advisers throughout production, while various branches of the US Armed Forces provided their backing during filming. With such comprehensive first-hand knowledge involved, it's hardly surprising that audiences are praising the film's 'authenticity' and 'realness', reports Wales Online.‌Set during the Afghanistan conflict, Lone Survivor vividly recreates the United States Navy SEALs counter-insurgency mission 'Operation Red Wings', which saw a four-man SEAL surveillance and reconnaissance team sent out to track down Taliban commander Ahmad Shah.Penned and helmed by Peter Berg - whose war epic has garnered widespread praise since hitting cinemas - Lone Survivor raked in $154.8million worldwide from a $40million production budget.The film secured two Oscar nominations - Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing - at the 86th Academy Awards.‌Boasting a remarkable 87% audience approval rating compiled from over 100,000 reviews, Lone Survivor clearly resonated with cinema-goers.One critic said: "Lone Survivor is an amazing war film that explores the idea of brotherhood and sacrifice in some of the best ways we've ever seen, while another reviewer wrote, " while another reviewer noted, "The most harrowing combat film since Saving Private Ryan."‌Drawing further comparisons to Saving Private Ryan, another critic added: "Small in scale but just as intense, Lone Survivor's extended battle recalls the opening of Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan. like its hardy protagonists, it is determined to get the job done."Meanwhile, one reviewer compared it to another legendary war epic: "Not since Mark Bowden's Black Hawk Down has there been such a vivid account of a mission gone wrong."The picture may not be in contention for Oscars but it's a first-class modern war film: visceral, exciting and thought-provoking."‌Audiences were equally captivated, with one viewer saying: "Unbelievable. Movie rips your heart out."Another added: "War, action, history, American; those are my absolute favorite movie genres and Lone Survivor delivered all of them in the most powerful way.‌"It's not just a war movie, it's a raw, emotional tribute to the bravery, sacrifice, and brotherhood of those who serve. Gripping, heartbreaking, and unforgettable. Lone Survivor is a must-watch."Another fan wrote: "My favorite film of ALL TIME! I couldn't tell you how many times I have watched this film. The story of these soldiers is truly inspiring. Seeing what they had to go through portrayed by insanely talented actors that played their part PERFECTLY. The Directing, Acting, Casting, Editing and EVERYTHING is just excellent. If you have not seen this film. You NEED to watch it. You will truly be inspired."An IMDB reviewer praised it as the finest war film since Saving Private Ryan: "Easily the best War Movie since Saving Private Ryan, only an actual story. If you read the book and heard the interviews with the actual "lone survivor" you know that this movie got as close to the real events as possible.Article continues below"This movie is also the most visceral experience since Saving Private Ryan. After all is said and done this is a must see if there ever was one."Meanwhile, another IMDB review notes: "An emotional powerhouse film. This film is as good as Black Hawk Down and Saving Private Ryan, it is absolutely worth seeing on the big screen and I highly recommend it."Lone Survivor is streaming on Netflix now.