Exactly one year after Alex Garland’s dystopian thriller Civil War captured the nation’s attention, A24 returns with another harrowing tale—this time rooted in brutal reality. Warfare, out today (April 11, 2025), is a visceral war drama co-directed by Garland and former Navy SEAL Ray Mendoza. The film dives deep into the chaos of the Iraq War, offering an unfiltered look at a real-life 2006 mission during the Battle of Ramadi.
What sets Warfare apart isn’t just its combat sequences or high-profile cast—it’s the emotional core driving the story. Mendoza based the film on his personal experiences, particularly his friendship with fellow SEAL Elliott Miller, who lost his leg and much of his memory after an IED blast. In a strikingly personal move, Mendoza created Warfare not only to tell the story of a mission, but to help Miller remember the events that nearly took his life. The movie became a kind of cinematic therapy—a tribute and a healing mechanism.
Currently reviews for the movie are incredibly favorable, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 95% (Critics) and 93% (Audience).
Warfare Hits Theaters April 11: A24’s Brutal New War Epic Sets a New Standard
A Raw, Unfiltered View of Modern Combat
Unlike most war films, Warfare skips exposition and backstories. Instead, it thrusts the viewer into the middle of the action using immersive, documentary-style camerawork and real military jargon. There’s no emotional manipulation or sweeping music to telegraph how to feel. It’s war, raw and unvarnished.
Much like Black Hawk Down and The Hurt Locker, the film focuses on tight squad dynamics under pressure. But Warfare pushes further by removing the traditional narrative crutches—leaving audiences to piece together context just as a soldier might in the heat of battle. The result is a film that feels less like a Hollywood production and more like a firsthand experience.
Cast Brings Authenticity Through Training and Brotherhood
D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai leads as Mendoza, joined by Cosmo Jarvis as Elliott Miller. The cast also includes Will Poulter, Joseph Quinn, and Heartstopper’s Kit Connor. Before filming, the actors endured a grueling three-week Navy SEAL-style boot camp. This wasn’t just physical preparation—it was a psychological bonding process.
That camaraderie extended well beyond the production. In a symbolic gesture, the actors all got matching tattoos reading “Call on Me,” the title of the only song featured in the film. It’s a rare instance of method preparation resulting in a real, lasting brotherhood that mirrors the on-screen unity.
Critical Reception: Powerful, Painful, and Profound
With a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes, Warfare has earned early acclaim for its technical brilliance and emotional weight. Critics have hailed it as one of the most uncompromising depictions of modern warfare in recent memory. It’s not patriotic, it’s not anti-war—it’s simply honest. That honesty is already sparking conversations about how war is portrayed in media and the toll it takes on those who survive it.
What’s Next: Streaming and Awards Potential
As of today, Warfare is playing exclusively in theaters across the U.S. It is expected to hit digital storefronts by mid-May and will likely begin streaming on Max (formerly HBO Max) around August 2025.
Given the critical buzz and its unique creative pedigree—A24 backing, Garland’s eye, Mendoza’s authenticity—Warfare is already being floated as a major awards contender for next year. And with Civil War still fresh in cultural memory, Warfare solidifies A24’s position as a studio unafraid to tackle America’s hardest truths from radically different angles.
If Civil War was a speculative warning, Warfare is the grim reality we’ve already lived. And today, it hits harder than ever.
A Look Back At Civil War (2024)
Alex Garland’s film “Civil War” is a dystopian thriller that was released in theaters on April 12, 2024, in the United States. This A24 film stars Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, and Stephen McKinley Henderson. It tells the story of journalists traveling across a divided America during a modern civil conflict. After its time in theaters, “Civil War” became available for streaming on Max on September 14, 2024, and can also be rented or bought on Prime Video and Apple TV+.
The film premiered at South by Southwest on March 14, 2024, about a month before its wide release. Its unique story and themes sparked much discussion among critics and audiences. The movie imagines a future where American states have seceded, and rebel groups are moving towards Washington D.C.
- “Civil War” was released in theaters on April 12, 2024, and became available on Max streaming platform on September 14, 2024.
- The A24 film stars Kirsten Dunst and follows journalists traveling through a dystopian American landscape during a modern civil conflict.
- The movie premiered at South by Southwest before its theatrical release and can now be rented or purchased on digital platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV+.
The film “Civil War” emerged from director Alex Garland’s vision of a dystopian American future. This high-stakes thriller was produced by A24 and DNA Films, with filming primarily taking place in Atlanta, Georgia.
Creative Team
Alex Garland, known for thought-provoking films like “Ex Machina” and “Annihilation,” both wrote and directed “Civil War.” The movie features an impressive cast including Kirsten Dunst, who plays a war photographer navigating the dangerous landscape of a fractured America. Jesse Plemons and Cailee Spaeny also take on significant roles in this tense political thriller.
A24, the production company behind critically acclaimed films like “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” backed this ambitious project. The creative team aimed to create a realistic portrayal of journalists embedded with military units during a modern civil conflict.
Historical Context
“Civil War” doesn’t recreate the historical American Civil War of the 1860s. Instead, it imagines a near-future scenario where the United States has fractured into warring factions.
The film reflects contemporary political tensions and divisions in American society. Garland’s story follows journalists as they travel across a war-torn America toward Washington DC while rebel forces advance on the capital.
The movie explores how civil conflicts might manifest in modern times with current technology and media coverage. It examines the role of war correspondents and photojournalists who document such conflicts, often at great personal risk.
Release Information
“Civil War” had a strategic rollout across different platforms. The film initially debuted at a film festival before moving to theaters and later digital platforms.
Theatrical Release
“Civil War” premiered at South by Southwest on March 14, 2024. A24 then released the film theatrically in the United States on April 12, 2024. The international release followed a similar timeline, with the movie opening in the United Kingdom also through A24.
Before the theatrical release, A24 published an official trailer on YouTube to promote the film. The trailer provided viewers with information about the April 12 release date and helped build anticipation for the movie.
The film had a wide theatrical distribution, showing in cinemas across the United States and internationally. Various markets received the film at slightly different times, with countries like Belgium getting the film on April 9, and Singapore and the Philippines on April 10.
Streaming and Home Viewing
After its theatrical run, “Civil War” became available for home viewing through multiple platforms. The film was released for digital rental and purchase on services like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+.
For subscription streaming, the film debuted on Max on September 14, 2024. This gave viewers who missed the theatrical release an opportunity to watch the movie from home.
The digital release strategy followed the typical pattern for A24 films, with paid rental and purchase options becoming available first, followed by inclusion in a subscription streaming service. This approach allowed the studio to maximize revenue across different viewing platforms.
Viewers can now choose to watch “Civil War” through various services based on their preferences for rental, purchase, or subscription options.
