A solid list of films and series covering the rise, impact, and fight against ISIS (Daesh) includes both intense action dramas and gripping documentaries. Top Movies and Series About ISIS
(2019/2020): This high-stakes action film follows a renegade Iraqi police unit, the Nineveh SWAT team, as they wage a guerrilla operation to take back their city from ISIS.
(2020): A critically acclaimed Swedish thriller series on Netflix that intertwines the stories of an ambitious intelligence officer and a mother trapped in Raqqa.
(2018): A unique thriller told entirely on a computer screen, following an undercover British journalist who infiltrates ISIS's online recruitment channels.
(2017): A harrowing TV miniseries that examines the lives of four British citizens who travel to Syria to join the group. Girls of the Sun
(2018): A drama focused on a Kurdish female battalion preparing to liberate their town from extremists.
(2017): A survival drama based on the true story of Indian nurses stranded and captured by terrorists in Tikrit, Iraq. Essential Documentaries ISIS: Rise of Terror
(2016): A detailed look at the origins of the Islamic State and the fateful turning points in the Iraq War that led to its ascent. City of Ghosts (2017)
: A powerful documentary about "Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently," a group of citizen journalists risking their lives to expose ISIS atrocities.
Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS (2017)
: National Geographic's deep dive into the Syrian Civil War and the power vacuum that allowed the group to grow. Once Upon a Time in Iraq (2020)
: An acclaimed documentary series featuring firsthand accounts from civilians, soldiers, and journalists during the conflict.
(2024): A recent documentary following a young Yazidi woman and her brothers as they adjust to life after being liberated from ISIS captivity. Watch Caliphate | Netflix Official Site
Most cinematic portrayals of ISIS fall into two categories: high-intensity action "docudramas" or deeply personal documentaries that focus on the human toll of the conflict Top-Rated Films and Series
Based on critical reception and audience impact, these are currently considered the most effective portrayals of the conflict: Mosul (2019)
: This Netflix-backed film is highly rated (8.1/10 on IMDb) for its realism. It follows an Iraqi SWAT team fighting to reclaim their city from ISIS, praised for its all-Iraqi cast and focus on local perspective rather than "Americanized" heroics. Once Upon a Time in Iraq (2020)
: This documentary series holds a rare 9.0/10 rating. It uses firsthand accounts from Iraqis—including a former child soldier and a woman who lived under ISIS—to provide a comprehensive, heartbreaking history of the region's collapse. Caliphate (2020) : A critically acclaimed Swedish thriller available on
. It explores the radicalization process and the reality of life in Raqqa through the interconnected stories of three women. Four Daughters (2023)
: A powerful, "metafictional" documentary about a Tunisian family whose two oldest daughters left to join ISIS. It received significant acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival for its unique blend of reality and reenactment. Proper Review: What Makes These "Better"?
A "better" ISIS movie typically avoids the pitfalls of low-budget action tropes and focuses on authentic narratives: Mosul (2019)
Films and documentaries about ISIS often focus on the group's rise in Iraq and Syria, its recruitment tactics, and the harrowing stories of those who lived under or fought against its rule. Essential Documentaries
Documentaries provide the most direct look at the group's origins and the humanitarian toll of their actions. Once Upon a Time in Iraq (2020): A PBS Frontline
special that features the voices of ordinary Iraqis, offering a comprehensive look at the war and the vacuum that allowed ISIS to emerge. City of Ghosts
(2017): Directed by Matthew Heineman, this critically acclaimed film follows the activist group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently as they risk their lives to document ISIS's atrocities from within its "capital". Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS
(2017): A National Geographic production that chronicles the descent of Syria into chaos and the specific events that fueled the group's growth. Sabaya
(2021): A harrowing film that follows a group of rescuers risking everything to save Yazidi women held as sex slaves in the Al-Hawl camp in Syria. Four Daughters
(2023): An Academy Award-nominated documentary that uses actors to help a Tunisian family re-enact the story of two daughters who radicalized and left to join the group. Feature & Action Films
These films dramatize real events or use them as backdrops for high-stakes narratives.
(2019): This Netflix action drama tells the story of an Iraqi SWAT team's desperate guerrilla campaign to reclaim their home city from the group. Profile
(2018): A "screenlife" thriller (told entirely through a computer screen) about an undercover British journalist who attempts to bait a recruiter online, only to find herself being drawn in. Take Off
(2017): A highly-rated Indian film based on the real-life ordeal of Malayali nurses trapped in Tikrit during the 2014 takeover.
(2014): An Oscar-nominated drama depicting the stifling reality for a family living under jihadi control in Mali. Notable Series Caliphate
(2020): A Swedish Netflix series that masterfully intertwines the stories of a mother trying to escape Raqqa and a student in Sweden being radicalized. The State
(2017): A four-part miniseries that follows four British citizens who travel to Syria to join the group, showing their initial idealism and eventual disillusionment.
Hell On Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS - Apple TV
It depends entirely on your mood:
My personal pick: The Mummy (1999). It has re-watchability. The terror group films are important, but you’ll only watch them once. The goddess films? You’ll watch them every Halloween.
Correction Note: If you actually meant to ask for a list of terrorism-related films ranked best to worst, drop a comment below. But if you stumbled here looking for the Egyptian goddess, welcome—you’re in for a much better time.
What’s your take? Are you Team Documentary or Team Sandal Epic? Let me know in the comments.
To understand ISIS through film, it is helpful to distinguish between cinematic dramas that explore the human impact of the conflict and investigative documentaries that detail the group's origins. Standout Feature Films and Series
These works focus on the radicalization process and the lived experience within the "Caliphate." Caliphate (2020) : A high-stakes
series following an impending ISIS attack on Sweden, intertwining the lives of a mother trapped in Raqqa, a student, and an intelligence officer. Mosul (2019)
: An action-drama based on a true story about an elite Iraqi SWAT team fighting to liberate their city from ISIS militants. The State (2017) : A scripted mini-series
that provides a sobering look at four British citizens who travel to Syria to join the group. Layla M. (2016)
: A Dutch drama exploring the radicalization of a young woman in Amsterdam who moves to Syria, only to face the harsh realities of a male-dominated world. Profile (2018)
: A unique "Screenlife" thriller about a British journalist who goes undercover online to investigate ISIS recruitment tactics. Essential Documentaries
For a factual breakdown of the group’s rise and the geopolitical fallout, these documentaries are highly regarded: Once Upon a Time in Iraq (2020) : Widely considered one of the best documentaries
on the subject, it uses personal testimonies to trace the path from the 2003 invasion to the rise of ISIS. The Secret History of ISIS (2016) PBS Frontline
investigation into how the U.S. missed warning signs during the group's early formation.
Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS (2017)
: A comprehensive look at the Syrian Civil War's role in creating a power vacuum for extremist groups. City of Ghosts (2017)
: Follows the "Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently" activists who risked their lives to document ISIS atrocities from within the city. International Perspectives Take Off (2017)
: An Indian film recounting the true story of Malayali nurses captured by terrorists in Tikrit, Iraq, in 2014. Timbuktu (2014)
: Though set in Mali, this acclaimed film depicts the quiet resistance of a community under the rule of jihadist extremists. Terrorist / Islamic State Movies - IMDb
Note: The keyword refers to the terrorist group ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). Given the sensitive nature of the topic, this article focuses on cinematic portrayals of counter-terrorism, special forces operations, and the geopolitical conflict rather than propaganda.
Sometimes you want quality tension without the full documentary bleakness. These films balance realism with genre pacing.
The search query “ISIS movies list better” is ambiguous. It could mean two very different things: 1) A request for better (more accurate, higher quality) films about the terrorist group ISIS, or 2) A request for movies where the fictional character Isis (from TV or mythology) is portrayed better. Given the geopolitical weight of the first interpretation, this essay focuses on how to find superior, responsible, and insightful films about the Islamic State (ISIS).
Many documentaries and dramas sensationalize violence or spread misinformation. To find a “better” list, you must look for films that prioritize context, journalism, and human storytelling over propaganda or gore.
Genre: Drama Director: Milad Alami
The Premise: This film tells the story of a brother and sister who flee the threat of ISIS and end up in a Swedish refugee center. As they navigate their new life, they encounter a member of the extremist group who recognizes them, holding power over their fate in the sanctuary of Sweden.
Why it is essential: Most films about ISIS take place in the Middle East. Hawa Hawaii explores a different angle: the exportation of fear. It illustrates how the trauma and power dynamics of the Caliphate follow refugees into Europe, creating a psychological thriller where the battleground is the mind of the survivor.
Why it’s better: This documentary was Oscar-nominated for a reason. It follows Dr. Amani and her team operating an underground hospital in the besieged area of Ghouta (though related to the Syrian regime and ISIS pockets, it captures the ISIS-era chaos).