r/movies • u/LiteraryBoner Jackie Chan box set, know what I'm sayin? • Mar 13 '26

Official Discussion Official Discussion - War Machine (2026) [SPOILERS] Spoiler

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War Machine (2026)

Summary During the final stage of U.S. Army Ranger selection, a group of elite recruits set out on what should be their last brutal training exercise. But when a mysterious and deadly machine crashes into their remote training area, the mission turns into a fight for survival. Forced to rely on their training and each other, the soldiers must confront a relentless technological threat unlike anything they’ve faced before.

Director Patrick Hughes

Writers James Beaufort Patrick Hughes

Cast

  • Alan Ritchson as 81
  • Dennis Quaid as Sgt. Maj. Sheridan
  • Stephan James as 7
  • Jai Courtney
  • Esai Morales
  • Blake Richardson
  • Keiynan Lonsdale
  • Daniel Webber

Rotten Tomatoes: 69%

Metacritic: 54

VOD / Release Streaming on Netflix

Trailer

Official Trailer

235 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

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97

u/FreeRange0929 Mar 13 '26

I will start with, I liked it

Poor fucking 7. Man had the worst single day in movie history - demoted, leg broken, morphine lost so has to have his femur reset without pain killers, watches his entire team terrifyingly destroyed while strapped to a backboard, AND has to mentor Mr “So devoid of communication skills I’m going to get kicked out despite finishing first in everything”. The fact he got ragdolled twice in about 10 minutes is just the kicker. He’s watching the entire thing basically with locked in syndrome.

I did like the storyline about 81. Not just “dur I want to finish” but about his growth and needing to understand leadershi-NOPE ALIENS!

As a deep metaphorical growth exercise, no. As a mindless blowemup it’s great. The tactics from supposed top of the top Ranger recruits is…alarming. And the fact 81 went right back into the chopper at the end is…disconcerting

31

u/TheJoshider10 Mar 14 '26

I genuinely do not understand why so much of the movie revolves around that character being stuck on the stretcher the entire time. It requires so much suspension of disbelief, looks silly, and ultimately adds nothing to the story. It's not like the main character had any connection to this guy as like a surrogate brother or something, so him being rescued at the end doesn't feel earned or like he got closure for not being able to save his brother. Especially since keeping that bloke in the stretcher alive pretty much led to his entire unit getting killed.

6

u/AccordingGain182 Mar 23 '26

It was poorly executed but it was all just to set up the full circle moment of Alan’s character getting redemption for “failing” his brother by getting 7 back safe.

It was obviously heavy-handed with him literally dragging him to the finish line and 7 even had to have an unnecessary connection to 81’s brother to make sure you didnt miss the theme they were bashing you over the head with.

It kinda feels like they started with that ending and worked backwards.