Warfare (2025) Movie: All we know About Alex Garland & Ray Mendoza’s Intense Iraq War Drama
A24's Warfare has made waves following its recent Los Angeles premiere, leaving audiences stunned by its raw intensity and immersive storytelling. Co-directed by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza, this gripping war drama pushes boundaries with its real-time narrative, bringing viewers straight into the chaos of modern combat.
Unlike traditional war films, Warfare is built on the firsthand memories of those who lived through it, promising an authenticity rarely seen in Hollywood. With A24 expanding its slate of bold, unconventional projects, this film stands out as one of their most ambitious undertakings yet.
Curious about what makes Warfare so unique? From its gripping trailer to its all-star cast and everything in between, we’ve got all the latest details. Keep reading to uncover everything we know about this high-stakes war thriller—and stay tuned, as we'll keep updating with new information as it drops!
Release date & Where to Watch
The film is set for theatrical release in multiple regions, starting in Russia on Thursday, April 10, 2025, followed by the U.S. and Canada on Friday, April 11. Spain will receive the film on Wednesday, April 16, while Australia, Brazil, and Germany will see its release on Thursday, April 17.
The UK and Ireland follow on Friday, April 18, with a limited release in Mexico on the same day. Sweden will get Warfare on Friday, May 2, while Italy will have to wait until Thursday, June 12. The film has been rated R for intense war violence, bloody and grisly images, and strong language throughout.
Warfare premiered at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago on March 16, 2025, with a special screening that included a Q&A session featuring directors Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza, along with actor Will Poulter.
What is the plot of the Warfare film?
Warfare immerses audiences in the harrowing reality of modern combat, following a platoon of U.S. Navy SEALs stationed inside an Iraqi family’s home as they monitor U.S. troop movements through insurgent territory. What sets the film apart is its gripping real-time storytelling, heightening the tension and stakes while offering an unfiltered look at the experiences of American soldiers.
Drawing from Ray Mendoza’s own time as a Navy SEAL during the Iraq War, Warfare presents a raw and unflinching portrayal of a mission unfolding moment by moment in 2006.
Who’s in the cast of Warfare?
- D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Reservation Dogs) as Ray
- Will Poulter (Dopesick) as Erik
- Joseph Quinn (Gladiator 2) as Sam
- Cosmo Jarvis (Shogun) as Elliott
- Kit Connor (Heartstoppers) as Tommy
- Taylor John Smith (Where the Crawdads Sing) as Frank
- Michael Gandolfini (The Many Saints of Newark) as Lt. Macdonald
- Adain Bradley (The Bold and the Beautiful) as Sgt Laerrus
- Charles Melton (May December) as Jake
- Noah Centineo (The Recruit) as Brian
- Finn Bennett (True Detective: Night Country) as John
- Henrique Zaga (The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare) as Aaron
- Alex Brockdorff as Mikey
- Evan Holtzman (Hit Man) as Brock
- Aaron Mackenzie as Kelly
- Joe Macaulay as Mo
- Laurie Duncan as Pete
- Jake Lampert as Ted
- Aaron Deakins as Bob
Is There a Trailer for Warfare?
The trailer for Warfare offers a gripping glimpse into the intense and harrowing experiences of a Navy SEAL platoon during the Iraq War in 2006.
The trailer immerses viewers in the claustrophobic environment of an Iraqi family's home, where the SEALs are stationed to oversee U.S. military movements through insurgent territory. The initial calm is shattered by escalating tension and violence, highlighting the unpredictable nature of warfare.
A pivotal scene features the soldiers on a rooftop, scoping out targets. One soldier notes, "Alpha Two, we might have guys starting to move on our position," to which a colleague responds, "Copy. We're getting a build-up of activity here too.” Another says, "Yeah, I definitely see weapons at this point." This dialogue underscores the imminent danger and the soldiers' heightened alertness.
As the situation intensifies, the trailer depicts a barrage of gunfire and explosions. In a moment of urgency, a soldier calls for a medical evacuation, stating, "We have a severely wounded." The wounded soldier, in a state of panic, questions, "Who's severely wounded?" He replies, “It’s not you”. This exchange highlights the chaos and confusion inherent in combat situations.
Watch the official trailer below.
Check out the featurettes released by A24 below.
Catch a special look at Warfare, featuring behind-the-scenes clips and exclusive insights from the cast and creators. A24 has released an official first-look video where directors Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza discuss their inspiration for the film.
Stars D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Charles Melton, Joseph Quinn, and Cosmo Jarvis also reflect on the deep "brotherhood" they formed on set and what being part of this project means to them.
Warfare Critics Reviews
Warfare has sparked a range of reactions from critics, with some praising its intensity and others critiquing its approach.
Inverse highlights its gripping tension, stating, "Few American war movies have featured the kind of breathtaking tension Warfare instills — or the kind of eardrum-rupturing sound."
Empire describes it as "respectfully gruelling," emphasizing that "war is hell, and Warfare refuses to shy away from it. Free of the operatics of most supposed anti-war films, it’s all the more effective for its simplicity."
The Standard commends its execution, saying, "The sheer technical brilliance and strength of performances, cannot fail to connect when you take on the film on its own terms, as pure human experience in the most hellish of circumstances."
The Hollywood Reporter praises Garland’s work, stating, "Garland is working in peak form and with dazzling technical command in what’s arguably his best film since his debut, Ex Machina."
The Times calls it "a movie that’s as difficult to watch as it is to forget," describing it as "a sensory blitz, a percussive nightmare and a relentless assault on the soul."
However, not all critics are convinced. The Guardian argues that "Warfare really does show the punishing boredom of a soldier’s life. But it is weirdly obtuse and self-congratulatory, the shock of its ending softened by some bizarrely misjudged material over the closing credits."
Similarly, The Independent critiques its thematic depth, stating, "All Warfare has to offer, inevitably, is the violence itself, stripped from its source, like Men and Civil War before it. If the point is to warn us of its monstrousness, what can a film of this ilk offer if it bears no clues as to the origins of its birth?"
Filming Details
Warfare was filmed in London, England. In an interview with GQ last summer, Joseph Quinn revealed that the rising stars of the film were put “through the wringer” during production.
The cast trained at a 19th-century manor house 50 miles north of London, starting their days at 6 a.m. with a grueling boot camp, where they learned to “fire weapons, running with heavy things, lifting heavy things, and getting to know some brilliant people,” Quinn said. “There’s a team ethos in the SEALs that’s bleeding into our process,” he added.
Behind the Scenes
Warfare is directed and written by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza. Mendoza, previously a military advisor on Garland's Civil War, drew inspiration from his own experiences and the memories of those who lived through them. Produced by A24 and DNA Films, the film features Andrew Macdonald, Allon Reich, Matthew Penry-Davey, and Peter Rice as producers.
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