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July 27, 2026Sources cited
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Da 5 Bloods

Da 5 Bloods is a 2020 American war drama film directed by Spike Lee and released on Netflix.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Da 5 Bloods is a 2020 American war drama film directed by Spike Lee and released on Netflix. It follows four Black Vietnam War veterans who return to Vietnam decades later to recover the remains of their fallen squad leader and retrieve gold they buried during the war.

Plot

The story follows four veterans who revisit Vietnam long after their wartime service. They search for their squad leader’s remains and the gold they hid there during the war.

Production and release

Da 5 Bloods was directed by Spike Lee and released by Netflix in 2020. It was one of Lee’s major streaming-era films and was released directly on the platform.

Themes

The film explores the Vietnam War, trauma, friendship, greed, and the experiences of Black soldiers in American history. Reviews and synopses also describe it as a mix of war film, heist story, and political drama.

Cast

The main cast features Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Mélanie Thierry, Paul Walter Hauser, Jean Reno, and Chadwick Boseman.

Key facts

  • The film centres on four Black American Vietnam War veterans returning to Vietnam.
  • Their mission is to find their squad leader's remains and recover buried gold.
  • Directed by Spike Lee and released on Netflix in June 2020.
  • Cast includes Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and Chadwick Boseman.
  • The story combines war drama, heist elements, and political commentary.
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Canadian context

The film was available to Canadian audiences through Netflix and was widely discussed in Canada as part of Spike Lee’s filmography and as a war drama focused on Black American history.

Frequently asked questions

What is Da 5 Bloods about?
It follows four Black Vietnam War veterans who return to Vietnam to find their squad leader’s remains and recover buried gold.
Who directed Da 5 Bloods?
Spike Lee directed the film.
When was Da 5 Bloods released?
It was released on Netflix in June 2020.
What genre is Da 5 Bloods?
It is a war drama with heist and political elements.
Is Da 5 Bloods a Netflix film?
Yes. It was released by Netflix and is available on the platform.

References

  1. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/81045635
    Supports: Official synopsis, release year, genre, and cast
  2. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/da-5-bloods-movie-review-2020
    Supports: Film premise and thematic framing
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9777644/
    Supports: Plot summary and cast listing
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da_5_Bloods
    Supports: Director, release date, runtime, and awards context