Alex Garland’sWarfareis finally here, and it perfectly recaptures one of the best parts of A24’s $127 million hit from 2024.Warfareseems to be a far cry from many of A24’s other movies, with it being a grounded war movie following a group of American in Iraq. However,Warfaredoes have a key parallel with one ofA24’s biggest box office hits.
2025’sWarfarecomes from director and real Iraq War veteranRay Mendoza as well as co-director Alex Garland, the director of sci-fi hitsEx MachinaandAnnihilation. The film tells the true story of a group of American soldiers who became trapped in a home that was being used for a military operation during the Iraq War. Surrounded by enemy troops, the soldiers have to figure out how to get their wounded out of the battle without sustaining any more injuries.
AlthoughWarfareis based on the real memories of Iraq War veterans, it shares a key similarity with a movie that is about an entirely fictional war:Civil War. Alex Garland’s previous movie beforeWarfarewas 2024’sCivil War, which follows a group of war journalists who travel to Washington D.C. in order to interview the President in the midst of a second American Civil War. The divisive film had many viewers questioning its politics, but the film’s realism was praised across the board.
Is A24’s Warfare Based on a True Story?
Warfare is being praised for its dedication to a realistic portrayal of modern warfare, leaving many questioning whether this film is based on a true story.
Civil Warwas tasked with showing what the United States would look like if another Civil War broke out, and it does an excellent job. The film realistically shows how the country would fall apart, as well as how the people within it would continue to operate. AlthoughWarfareoffers a very different kind of realism, the grounded tones of both films clearly show Alex Garland’s directorial fingerprints.
Warfare & Civil War’s Realism Makes Them Stand Apart In The Genre
Alex Garland Doesn’t Shy Away From The Horrors Of War
War movies are a dime a dozen, which is whyWarfareandCivil War’s realismmakes them so special. So many war movies almost seem propagandistic, with them never delving into the horrors of war. These movies leave out the tragic aspects that plague every war, in favor of making more digestible war stories that don’t leave audiences questioning anything.
Where To Watch Warfare: Showtimes & Streaming Status
Alex Garland’s Warfare is almost here, and here is where viewers can see his upcoming 2025 Iraq War film that he co-directed with a former Navy SEAL.
WarfareandCivil War, however, don’t shy away from the dark parts of war. They instead act as warnings, highlighting the cost of it.Civil Warclearly lays out the horrendous actions that would underlie a civil war, and it is hard to argue that anyone will leaveWarfarewanting to enlist.
