Happy anniversary, America! This Fourth of July, the land of the free and the home of the brave is ringing in the big 250. In honor of the milestone celebration, Netflix is launching USA 250!, a curated collection of captivating stories that define the American spirit.
Available throughout the month of July, the page features 11 subcollections of movies and shows that honor and amplify the full scope of the American experience. That includes star-studded presidential tales, compelling historical documentaries, powerful immigrant stories, and action-packed Westerns set on the American frontier. And don’t forget the many titles that laud the country’s food, music, and sports, as well as the cultural touchstone that’s come to define the American summer season: the blockbuster movie.
No matter where you’re from or what you’re into, there’s truly something for everyone. Read on for a sampling of these new and noteworthy patriotic picks worth adding to your list.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, this five-part historical documentary reexamines the improbable achievement that was the nation’s founding, as well as the radical question at the center of the American Revolution: Can a people govern itself? Directed by Brian Knappenberger (Turning Point), the sweeping series features a wide range of voices from across the political spectrum and presents uniquely bipartisan and deeply informed conversations about the origins and future of American democracy.
Among the standout depictions of US history is this limited series, which stars Michael Shannon as James Garfield, the underdog congressman who became the 20th American president in 1881. Based on Candice Millard’s 2011 nonfiction book Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President, the four episodes chronicle Garfield’s improbable rise, and then his abrupt fall at the hands of Charles Guiteau (Matthew Macfadyen), Garfield’s fanatical admirer and eventual assassin. Betty Gilpin, Nick Offerman, Bradley Whitford, and Shea Whigham also portray real-life figures.
Be sure to stream the documentaries that zoom in on key moments in American history. This five-part docuseries is a cohesive chronicle of the Sept. 11 attacks on the US, offering illuminating perspectives and personal stories of how the catastrophic events of that day changed the nation’s history. This documentary also examines the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 and Afghanistan’s astonishing collapse back into the hands of the Taliban just weeks before the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
It’s a fact: Americans love to watch football. This Sports Emmy Award–winning docuseries hones in on the biggest quarterbacks in the game, offering intimate moments with them as well as their families, friends, and trainers. Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins, Marcus Mariota, Joe Burrow, and Jared Goff are the focus of the show’s two seasons. Likewise, the series Receiver centers on the quarterbacks’ top counterparts, including Davante Adams, Justin Jefferson, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
This unforgettable story captures the spirit of America’s pastime. The Boston Red Sox went 86 years between World Series wins, and The Comeback recalls how they overcame the “curse of the Bambino” to triumph in the 2004 Series. Covering the epic clash with the New York Yankees, sweep against the St. Louis Cardinals, and more, this documentary celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Red Sox’s big comeback to become the most-titled team of the millennium.
Queue up this powerful drama that explores what it means to chase the American Dream. Tzi Ma (Wu Assassins) plays Pin-Jui, a man who reflects on the lost love of his youth and his long-ago journey from Taiwan to America — all as he begins to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Angela (Christine Ko). This intimate immigrant tale is written and directed by Alan Yang (Master of None) and is loosely based on the experiences of his family.
This heartfelt reimagining of the beloved 1975 sitcom stars Justina Machado as Penelope Alvarez, a US Army Nurse Corps veteran who’s grappling with her return to civilian life in Los Angeles and her status as a newly single mother raising a teen daughter and tween son. The Cuban American matriarch is getting a little “help” from her old-school mom (Rita Moreno), her new boss (Stephen Tobolowsky), and her rich landlord (Todd Grinnell).
This acclaimed drama from Spike Lee (She’s Gotta Have It) is among the films that highlight the various branches of the US military. It follows four veterans — played by Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis, and Isiah Whitlock Jr. — who return to Vietnam to find the remains of their fallen squad leader (Chadwick Boseman) as well as buried treasure. While these characters aren’t direct portrayals of specific veterans, the movie is based on the accounts of numerous real-life Black soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War, and it includes actual photographs, archival footage, and statistics.
Delivering a three-year backlog of mail — totaling approximately 17 million pieces — to American soldiers fighting overseas during World War II sounds like an impossible task. Not only was the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion the sole Black Women's Army Corps unit stationed in Europe at the time, but these 855 women were also given just six months to complete this daunting task. Tyler Perry directs the depiction of the unique military contribution, starring Kerry Washington as the 6888th’s leader, Major Charity Adams.
Saddle up for a good ol’ Western. Jack O’Connell plays Roy Goode, an outlaw on the American frontier who’s desperate to escape his vengeful mentor. He ends up in a New Mexico town that’s populated almost entirely by women. The cast of the miniseries is packed with familiar faces, including Michelle Dockery, Jeff Daniels, Merritt Wever, Sam Waterston, and Scoot McNairy. It’s written and directed by Scott Frank, who went on to create the hit series The Queen’s Gambit.
This modern Western drama is all about land, love, and legacy. The series follows three ranching families in the titular small town as their lives are strained by loss, relationships, and tests of loyalty — all set against the sumptuous backdrop of Texas Hill Country. At the center of the soapy show are stoic rancher Staten Kirkland (Josh Duhamel) and community leader Quinn O’Grady (Minka Kelly), who fight to keep their beloved hometown alive — and discover that the simmering spark between the longtime friends burns brighter than ever. And more is on the way: Season 2 arrives July 23.
