Alex Garland’s Warfare dominates streaming charts

Alex Garland’s film Warfare has become a major streaming hit. Co-directed by Garland—known for Ex Machina and Annihilation—the movie follows a U.S. Navy SEAL platoon on a mission and features several real-life SEALs from the Iraq War, including co-director Ray Mendoza. Mendoza is portrayed by Reservation Dogs star D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai.

Originally released in April by A24, Warfare has received strong praise from viewers, currently holding an impressive 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film’s cast is led by Woon-A-Tai alongside Joseph Quinn, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, and Kit Connor.

Since its recent debut on HBO Max, Warfare quickly climbed to the top of the streaming service’s “Top 10 Movies Today” list. It has surpassed titles like Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd’s comedy Friendship, as well as The Sitter (Unrated).

Other popular films on HBO Max’s Top 10 include The Conjuring series, Seven, Prometheus, and Jonah Hex.

The streaming success is a positive turnaround for Warfare, which underperformed at the box office, grossing just $33.6 million worldwide despite critical acclaim and a well-known cast. This is especially notable compared to Garland’s previous A24 film, Civil War, which earned over $127 million globally a year earlier.

With its newfound popularity on HBO Max, Warfare may attract a larger audience, helping to compensate for its disappointing theatrical run. Additionally, the film boasts a strong audience approval, with a Popcornmeter score of 93%, indicating widespread viewer enjoyment.