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Netflix 'War Machine' review: An explosive dad-action movie with a 'baffling' ending
- Streaming now on Netflix, War Machine is directed by Patrick Hughes and stars Alan Ritchson and Dennis Quaid, first published March 6, 2026.
- By design, Hughes says the film was born from a nightmare and combines military, sci‑fi, and survival thriller elements, drawing on films like Deliverance.
- Practical stunts drive the film's first hour, featuring Ritchson as 81 and action highlights like an alien walker attacking a U.S. Humvee and minutes-long car chases in under two hours.
- The reviewer concluded the review rating 2.5/5 stars, calling the ending baffling and mainly a sequel setup, with a film that drags and feels formulaic.
- Stephan James plays 7, a wounded candidate seeking emotional depth, while his profile grows with another role in I Play Rocky later this year amid Middle East conflict.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Alan Ritchson Pushed Himself to the Limit on ‘War Machine’ (And Needed Oxygen on His Next Film)
The ‘Reacher’ superstar joins director Patrick Hughes for a joint interview to discuss their new Netflix film and its mysterious sci-fi elements while showing off matching tattoos on their arms.
Prince George Citizen
From alien warfare to playing Carl Weathers, Stephan James wants to keep you guessing
TORONTO — When Stephan James sat down to read the script for Netflix sci-fi action flick “War Machine,” he wasn’t prepared for a full cardio workout. “My heart was racing the entire time,” the Scarborough, Ont.-born actor says. “I was sweating.
Netflix Just Quietly Released The Most Creative Sci-Fi Thriller Of The Year
NetflixThere’s a comfort in the familiar, especially with movies. When you start a sci-fi alien invasion movie, you know what to expect. When you watch a military thriller, you know there’s going to be a gritty hero with a tragic backstory trying to do the impossible. But Netflix’s latest thriller, War Machine, manages to combine both into a twisting tale of the military’s finest dealing with an extraterrestrial threat.War Machine was born from …
‘Absurd On Almost Every Level.’ See What Critics Are Saying About War Machine, Alan Ritchson’s New Sci-Fi Action Flick
Critics say Alan Ritchson's War Machine is "absurd on almost every level," but is that a good or bad thing? Check out what they think of the Netflix movie.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources lean Left
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