I’ve been fascinated by “Warfare” for the previous couple of months. The warfare film hit theaters again in April (throughout the interval when “Sinners” was ruling the multiplex), and even all these weeks later, I’m nonetheless reflecting on its no-holds-barred method to displaying the depth and sheer terror of contemporary fight. It’s an actual gem not simply in 2025, however in the entire warfare style. This week, “Warfare” arrives on HBO Max and immediately turns into one of many streaming service‘s greatest new additions of the yr.
Co-directed by “Civil Battle” helmer Alex Garland, alongside Ray Mendoza, a veteran of the Iraq Battle, and formulated from the reminiscences of Ray’s fellow soldier who served on the frontline, “Warfare” seems to be one of the genuine warfare films ever made. Whilst a civilian, after watching it for the primary time, I felt like I’d simply been within the warmth of battle alongside its forged of troopers, who face traumatic conditions with steely willpower.
There’s so much to admire about this masterfully crafted movie, from its unflinching portrayal of war injuries, its deep commitment to accurately showing the realities of modern combat, and, I must mention, its truly incredible audio (one mid-movie explosion had my ears actually ringing and my heart-rate spiking). However, even now, the thing that stands out to me the most, even after reflecting on the flick for several months, is the fact that it’s all set in real-time. This technical decision elevates every aspect of “Warfare” and makes it one of the best war movies I’ve seen.
In “Warfare,” you feel each second tick by
After a short opening sequence, which sees the film’s forged of U.S. Navy SEALs having fun with a raunchy music video of their military base, “Warfare” switches gears to point out the identical group capturing an enemy home underneath the duvet of darkness. This claustrophobic house is to be a lookout spot.
The subsequent morning rolls round, and from right here, “Warfare” takes place fully in real-time. A minute within the film’s world means one minute of the runtime has elapsed. There aren’t any cutaways, flashbacks, or time skips. As viewers, we stick with Alpha One Platoon squad for each second as they face a devastating day, the place brothers are misplaced and enemies circle.
Take, for instance, a scene the place one of many troopers calls in an pressing extraction and is instructed a car is six minutes out. In lots of warfare films, the wait could be sped up for the sake of comfort — not in “Warfare.” The characters endure each second of the torturous six-minute wait. It feels lengthy for us viewers at residence. I can solely think about how determined that wait should have felt for the real-life troopers combating for his or her lives on overseas soil.
This choice to set “Warfare” in real-time provides a outstanding quantity of stress to virtually each scene. It even made me really feel actual nervousness on events, and I imply that fully as a praise. It’s all a part of what makes “Warfare” seem like an correct snapshot into the expertise of real-life troopers, and its impression on the film is extraordinarily vital.
And that’s just one reason to watch “Warfare”
“Warfare’s” real-time approach to storytelling is just one of several reasons it ranks within my top five favorite movies of 2025. Its expert pacing is another. Clocking in at 95 minutes, it doesn’t give you a moment of rest, and outside the aforementioned opening, it keeps the adrenaline levels high throughout. This would have been exhausting in a longer movie, but at just over an hour and a half, its length is perfect for its ambitions.
The story is intentionally minimalistic; there are no lengthy dialogue scenes where character reveal their backstories or hidden motivations. Instead, we are just shown a (tough) day in the life of a group of soldiers.
Some viewers may find the lack of a narrative hook disappointing, but I’d argue it’s very deliberate to the point that “Warfare” is making. The same is true of the lack of a big dramatic moment, or a sequence where one character bunkered down for an action hero-style last stand. This isn’t that sort of movie.
Credit to Garland and Mandoza for creating a war movie that functions as such an uncompromising look at conflict (at least according to actual military personnel, who have offered their perspective on the movie).
As the credits roll, we see shots of the soldiers the movie is based on (many of whom are anonymized), as well as Mendoza showing the cast, which includes Will Poulter and Charles Melton, actual military instructions and strategies on the movie’s set. It’s a fascinating insight into just how much care was put into “Warfare,” and it shows on screen.
Watch “Warfare” on HBO Max now
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