If you are looking for a documentary, “Zulu” isn’t it. But if you want a brilliant and enthralling war movie, seek ye no further.

Other answers note the various inaccuracies in the film. But some of them are essential to the story. For example, the fact is that the British regiment was not predominantly made up of Welshmen. But that impression is deliberately given to set up the scene shown above, when the soldiers steady their nerves by belting out the Welsh anthem “Men of Harlech.”

Now, that just didn’t happen (the sing-off and the battle on the second day, that is). Not only didn’t the British engage the Zulus in a sing-off, they didn’t fight the Zulus on the second day at all. IRL, the Zulus took a look at the makeshift fortress by the light of day, and shoved off.

But that wouldn’t be much of an ending, would it? So the film sets up the armed choir competition and the final Zulu assault, repelled by the redcoats and their Martini-Henry rifles which, luckily, don’t jam.

Didn’t happen, but who cares? Makes a hell of a climax.