I’ve been thinking about “Warfare” for the last few months. The war movie hit theaters back in April (during the period when “Sinners” was ruling the multiplex), and even all these weeks later, I’m still reflecting on its no-holds-barred approach to displaying the intensity and sheer terror of modern combat. It’s a real gem not just in 2025, but in the whole war genre. This week, "Warfare" arrives on HBO Max and instantly becomes one of the streaming service's best new additions of the year.
Co-directed by “Civil War” helmer Alex Garland, alongside Ray Mendoza, a veteran of the Iraq War, and formulated from the memories of Ray’s fellow soldier who served on the frontline, “Warfare” appears to be one of the most authentic war movies ever made. Even as a civilian, after watching it for the first time, I felt like I’d just been in the heat of battle alongside its cast of soldiers, who face traumatic situations with steely determination.
