Ben Affleck's iconic 2000s war drama is coming to Netflix in October

It's already been a big year for Ben Affleck on Netflix. The award-winning actor and director starred in his first Netflix original movie, The Rip, alongside his best friend and frequent collaborator Matt Damon. No surprise here, the movie stars helped the thriller become one of the streamer's biggest new movies of the year, but Affleck's reign on Netflix isn't over yet.

Before the star releases his latest directorial effort Animals, which is aiming to best The Rip as one of Netflix's most popular new movies, one his most iconic movies from the 2000s will be touching down on the streaming service. Following the 25th anniversary of the 2001 film Pearl Harbor, the movie is making its way to Netflix as a must-watch throwback this fall.

Pearl Harbor being added to Netflix in October 2026

One week before the release of Animals, Netflix adds Pearl Harbor on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. The movie will be available to stream on Netflix in the United States on the first day of October along with the streamer's usual batch of new movie additions, and given Affleck's starring role in the Michael Bay war drama, it's sure to be one of the titles audiences flock to rewatch.

From director Michael Bay and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, Pearl Harbor weaves a fictionalized tale of the attack on the titular naval base in Hawaii during World War II on Dec. 7, 1941. The movie traces the events of the attack, war, and aftermath from the perspective of the love triangle between Rafe (Ben Affleck), Danny (Josh Hartnett), and Evelyn (Kate Beckinsale).

Pearl Harbor hit theaters in May 2001 and became a major blockbuster, bringing in over $449 million worldwide against its $140 million budget. Despite being a box office hit, the movie wasn't particularly well-received and holds a 24% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Naturally, moviegoers enjoyed the film a lot more than critics, and it remains a favorite among fans.

Despite its critical failure, Pearl Harbor managed to score four Academy Award nominations, though in the technical categories, not acting, writing, or directing. The movie ultimately won the Oscar for Best Sound Editing, but it was also nominated for six Razzie Awards. In the end, Pearl Harbor didn't win any Razzies, which you could say is a win in and of itself.

No matter what critics or awards might have to say about Pearl Harbor, the movie's legacy stands for itself. Although it's a retelling of a devastating time in history, the movie's central love story remains one that fans of the movie continue to hold onto all these years later. It doesn't hurt that the movie's led by three movie stars that we still love watching on our screens to this day.

As previously mentioned, one week after Pearl Harbor arrives on Netflix, the streaming service will debut Affleck's latest directorial effort Animals. The movie, which also stars Affleck, releases in limited theaters and streams worldwide on Friday, Oct. 9. Affleck leads the political thriller as a mayoral canditate delving into a world of crime when his young son goes missing.

Get ready for a Ben Affleck takeover on Netflix with something old and something new dropping on the streamer in October 2026!

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