War Machine (2026)

​“War Machine” stars Alan Ritchson, Dennis Quaid, Stephan James, Jai Courtney, Esai Morales, Keiynan Lonsdale, and Daniel Webber.  Released on Netflix on March 6, 2026, the film follows the Army Ranger recruits as they battle an otherworldly machine.

The film was directed by Patrick Hughes, who also directed films such as “Red Hill”, “The Expendables 3”, “The Hitman’s Bodyguard”, and “The Man from Toronto”.  Many films have depicted the U.S. Army surviving wars against opposing forces from another country, with some more grounded in reality than others.  But, in the world of Hollywood, there’s nothing more exciting or absurd than the army or the military confronting a fictional threat from another planet.  These types of movies blend the authenticity of military traditions with the typical, explosive sci-fi goodness to get people’s hearts pumping.  “Transformers”, “Battle: Los Angeles”, “Battleship”, the list goes on.  While some were anything but masterpieces, they occasionally deliver nonstop popcorn entertainment for those seeking a war film that isn’t based on a historical event.  Last weekend, Netflix added a new entry to that cinematic list, whose title may make people mistake it for a Marvel spin-off movie featuring James “Rhodey” Rhodes.  But it does feature Alan Ritchson battling a massive piece of alien tech, which should be enough to make the actor’s fans happy.  Is it enough to make its similar concept entertaining for those outside that group, or should it be kicked out of our planet?  Let’s find out. 

The story follows a Staff Sergeant (Ritchson) who attends a RASP course to become an Army Ranger following the death of his brother (Courtney).  As candidate number 81, the Sergeant excels at training, yet he refuses to bond with the other candidates or accept the role of team leader.  He is then tasked by Sergeant Major Sheridan (Quaid) and First Sergeant Torres (Morales) to perform a simulated mission with his given teammates.  However, their final exercise immediately turns into a fight for survival when they discover a massive, formidable machine that starts killing off the team one by one.  Realizing that the machine may be from another world, Staff Sergeant 81 and his remaining teammates must rely on one another to survive against their powerful adversary that’s anything but human.

You might be wondering why I decided to review “War Machine” instead of something in theaters like “Protector”.  Well, for starters, the trailer for “Protector” made it seem like another “Taken” rip-off, both in its premise and its quality.  Plus, its reviews didn’t seem too promising for Milla Jovovich’s struggling post-Resident Evil career, so I decided to skip out on that.  I may check it out once it's available on a streaming service, but until then, I couldn’t even be bothered to watch it in the theater.  I already suffered through “In the Lost Lands” last year, and I really don’t want to relive that torment with Jovovich’s attempt to become Liam Neeson.  Fortunately for me, I have Netflix to rely on in case something like that happens, with its latest original film being one of my top options.  Given its action-packed premise and Alan Ritchson’s involvement, “War Machine” felt like another movie that was made just for me, but is it actually worth watching for the streaming service’s subscribers?  That would depend on your expectations towards its execution.

If you’re expecting it to be the next “Saving Private Ryan” or the next “Dunkirk” regarding the storyline, this film is certainly going to be a tough sell for you.  While it contains the tactics you’d normally see in the genre, “War Machine” also fails to add anything new to its “military vs. alien” premise we’ve seen in “Transformers” and “Battle: Los Angeles”.  But, if a battle against an intergalactic machine is only what you’re craving, “War Machine” delivers on that concept without much else to offer, for better or worse.  I personally enjoy these types of war movies where military units fight or survive against an alien invasion, even if they’re not as well-written or impactful as the realistic ones.  They’re guilty pleasures that mostly deliver solid entertainment, emphasizing explosive, CGI-filled action over emotional narratives and character depth.  So, I was unsurprised to see that “War Machine”, not to be confused with David Michôd's film of the same name featuring Brad Pitt, was heading towards that similar approach, with some “Predator” vibes added in for good measure.

While this execution may not work for everyone, given its familiar premise, “War Machine” offers enough fun moments to deliver another thrilling addition to the sci-fi military catalog.  Given my experience with these types of films, I did not doubt that I would be entertained by a massive machine laying waste to its victims, and entertained I was.  The film does take a bit to get going, given its sluggish first act.  Through its formulaic tropes involving trauma and Patrick Hughes’ direction, the sections involving 81’s brother and the training sequences lack the emotional hook that other similar war movies achieved.  However, once the characters discover the machine, that’s when the real fun begins.  Those patient enough to wait out its first act would be rewarded with its nonstop, explosive, and grisly chase sequence, which puts 81's leadership and resilience to the test, even if its familiarity wears thin.

Patrick Hughes may not be the best filmmaker to emphasize the war genre’s storytelling.  However, he certainly knows how to make an action-packed premise engaging, especially when paired with suitable shots and thrilling violence.  It’s part of the reason I enjoyed his direction in “Expendables 3” and “The Hitman’s Bodyguard”.  “Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” and “The Man from Toronto” weren’t exactly my favorites, but they’re not without their moments that highlight Hughes’s vision.  “War Machine” has Hughes underscoring its gritty, violent tone rather than his blend of action and comedy in his previous movies, and the result is, debatably, his best since “The Hitman’s Bodyguard”.  Again, his approach to the character-driven scenes and genre formula is far from an achievement, particularly in the script he co-wrote with James Beaufort.  But, when it comes to the action and tension, Patrick Hughes has done a decent job in retaining the given stakes in the character’s lengthy escape from the alien machine.

The action scenes in "War Machine" are undoubtedly a blast to watch, particularly the chase sequence featuring the armored personnel carrier (APC), which stands out as the highlight. This scene captures the heart-pounding tension and explosive atmosphere that we often seek in classic popcorn entertainment. Although the iffy CGI effects may detract from its overall visual appeal, the APC chase is an exhilarating experience that showcases the film's intensity in portraying a terrifying pursuit by a formidable, unknown enemy.  Aside from the CGI, the other visuals were surprisingly decent, particularly the design of the machine. While it’s not very creative, the effects work well with the film’s grim, grisly scope.  As for the film’s cast, Alan Ritchson was the only actor who made a good impression as the lead.  It wasn’t anything special, but his decent portrayal of 81 helped add some engagement to the movie’s reflection of resilience amid the character's trauma.  Dennis Quaid and Stephan James were also solid in their roles as Sheridan and Staff Sergeant 7, respectively.

Overall, “War Machine” overcomes most of the narrative malfunctions to earn a Silver Star in its entertainment value and visual grittiness.  Its formulaic narrative may not earn itself a badge of honor from everyone, especially those wanting another masterpiece in the war genre.  However, it will likely satisfy people who enjoy watching “military vs. alien” content, with Patrick Hughes balancing its old-school action finesse akin to “Predator” with thrilling, explosive sci-fi violence.  Its first act can take a bit to get itself going, and a few iffy CGI effects can occasionally take viewers out of the immersion.  Besides those flaws, it’s a solid piece of cinematic machinery worthy of rivaling other films with similar thrill-a-minute concepts.  In terms of Alan Ritchson’s performance, entertaining action sequences, and decent visuals, the film is another diverting option on Netflix I wouldn’t mind watching again in the future.

B-