Independence Day long weekend watchlist: 5 must-watch patriotic films and shows

This Independence Day long weekend, honor the spirit of freedom with a curated watchlist of inspiring biopics, thrilling dramas, and timeless patriotic films. These selections, featuring both classic and recent hits, offer a perfect mix of entertainment and national pride, making for a memorable holiday spent with family and friends.

On August 13, 2025, the Hindi spy thriller series, ‘Saare Jahan Se Accha’ will make its debut. The film, which is set in the 1970s, centers on Pratik Gandhi's character, a determined Indian spy who must outwit and outsmart his opponent across the border in a high-stakes game of tradecraft in order to destroy their nuclear weapons program. The series features an ensemble cast including Sunny Hinduja, Suhail Nayyar, Tillotama Shome, Kritika Kamra, Rajat Kapoor, and Anup Soni. Releasing just a day prior to the long weekend on Netflix, this serves as a perfect binge watch.

‘Neerja’ follows the story of a fierce 22 years old, flight attendant, Neerja Bhanot, who showed immense bravery on 5th September, 1986, during the hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi, Pakistan. Throughout the 17hours ordeal, she managed to alert the cabin crew, safeguard the passengers, and shielded everyone from the violent hijackers. Tragically, she lost her life while protecting three children. She managed to save 359 lives on board that day. The film is a tribute to Neerja’s courage and sacrifice. It can be viewed on JioHotsar.

‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’ is a military action movie that is based on the surgical strikes executed by the Indian Army in 2016 as payback for the Uri incident. The story follows Major Vihaan Shergill, who leads the operation as the retaliation for the 19 Indian Army soldiers, who were killed on 18 September, 2016, when four terrorists attacked Uri soldier base. The film shows the planning and executing of this wonderful covert operation lead by the Indian Army, where on September 29, the Special Forces breached the Line of Control (LoC) to strike terrorist camps in Kashmir, which is managed by Pakistan. The movie highlights the valor of the Indian Army and pays tribute to the soldiers who lost their life in the attack. It can be viewed on Zee5.

‘Raazi’ is a spy-thriller movie based on Harindar Sikka’s novel, Calling Sehmat, which is inspired by true events. The movie revolves around a young woman named Sehmat, who is recruited by RAW to spy for India during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. To achieve this task, she marries a soldier in the Pakistan military and relocates to Pakistan. Sehmat's journey is marked by deep moral and mental challenges as she seeks a balance between her personal relationships and her duty to her country. The movie highlights the courage and hard work of Sehmat and is made in remembrance of many such undercover agents who play a major role in the protection of our country but are never given the spotlight or recognition. It can be viewed on Apple TV Plus.

‘Kesari’ (2019) is a historical war drama starring Akshay Kumar, depicting the 1897 Battle of Saragarhi. It follows 21 courageous Sikh soldiers from the British Indian Army repelling 10,000 Afghan invaders, showcasing courage, sacrifice, and patriotism in one of history’s most remarkable last stands. The movie is one of the most gripping and spine-chilling narratives in our history. It can be viewed on Amazon Prime Video.