Warfare

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Warfare

R

Released Apr 11

1h 35m

Action

War

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

232 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Verified Ratings

Written and directed by Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland (Civil War, 28 Days Later), Warfare embeds audiences with a platoon of American Navy SEALs on a surveillance mission gone wrong in insurgent territory. A visceral, boots-on-the-ground story of modern warfare and brotherhood, told like never before: in real time and based on the memory of the people who lived it.

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Critics Consensus

Narratively cut to the bone and geared up with superb filmmaking craft, Warfare evokes the primal terror of combat with unnerving power.

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Audience Says

Warfare viscerally places you in the trenches with bone-crunching realism, honoring the soldier experience while simultaneously philosophizing on the impossibility of their sacrifice.

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Mark Kermode

Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube)

I say this as a compliment and not as a criticism, I wanted it to end.

Apr 25, 2025

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

Warfare, by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza, is the most forceful and unflinching depiction of combat since Edward Berger’s 2023 Oscar-winning All Quiet on the Western Front. It’s also one of the boldest and most formally daring.

Rated: 5/5

Apr 21, 2025

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Jake Wilson

Sydney Morning Herald

While conventional entertainment value may not be the film’s strength, Garland and Mendoza have taken some impressive risks in throwing many of the rules of drama out the window.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 19, 2025

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Alfred Castaneda

Shade Studios

Warfare is a profoundly emotional and sobering film that prompts viewers to contemplate the nature of conflict and the question, "What are we fighting for?"

Jul 30, 2025

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The first half is by far the strongest stretch.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 28, 2025

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Guillermo Troncoso

Screen Realm

A blistering, near-real-time reconstruction of a traumatic 2006 firefight, framed not through the lens of politics or traditional drama, but through the memories of Mendoza and those who served with him.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 27, 2025

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Meccassault

raw, well made, well acted ... but it ends a bit abruptly that left me a little bit like... that's it? It's worth a once over for sure. But, I probably won't revisit it. I love war esq./military films, too.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/26/25

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Robert U

Loved it as an OEF vet

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/19/25

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Juan

Went into this with no context whatsoever, so I was surprised that this was just a moment from a man’s actual experience when he was serving in the army. The way this was directed made you feel anxious and scared because you don’t know what’s gonna happen next. This was quite the film, not many war films like this, so this is a standout among the rest.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/18/25

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Bobby

Brutal realism that really feels like an authentic experience. Top tier acting, a must watch with great audio.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/16/25

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Vince Apilado

Warfare isn’t your typical action-packed war flick—it’s grounded, raw, and uncomfortably real. The story takes its time, and that slow pacing actually works in its favor. You feel every moment pass like you’re right there with the soldiers, never knowing what’s next. Standout performances from Will Poulter, Charles Melton, and D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai—they brought a presence that kept you locked in. Sound design was elite. The guns, the silence, the chaos—it all felt real. The scene where the Raptor sweeps the street, loud and menacing, was insane. My favorite moment? The failed evac, when their tank blew up and everything spiraled—pure intensity and panic that sets it apart from generic war movies. There’s not much music, and that’s the point. The quiet makes the tension heavier. Would I recommend it? To the right people, yeah. It’s not for everyone. But if you’re into realism, tension, and character-driven war stories, this hits hard.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/15/25

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katsusauce

Depressingly beautiful representation of what war truly looks like. Emotionally devastating in such a powerful cinematic experience.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/14/25

Full Review

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Ray Mendoza

Director

Alex Garland

Director

D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai

Ray

Will Poulter

Erik

Cosmo Jarvis

Elliott

Kit Connor

Tommy

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Synopsis

Written and directed by Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland (Civil War, 28 Days Later), Warfare embeds audiences with a platoon of American Navy SEALs on a surveillance mission gone wrong in insurgent territory. A visceral, boots-on-the-ground story of modern warfare and brotherhood, told like never before: in real time and based on the memory of the people who lived it.

Director: Ray Mendoza, Alex Garland
Producer: Andrew Macdonald, Mathew Penry-Davey, Allon Reich, Peter Rice
Screenwriter: Ray Mendoza, Alex Garland
Distributor: A24
Production Co: DNA Films
Rating: R (Intense War Violence|Bloody/Grisly Images|Language Throughout)
Genre: Action, War, Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 11, 2025, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 6, 2025
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos

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