Warfare‘s streaming release date has now been revealed following its glowing critical reception. Written and directed by Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland, the gritty war film released theatrically in April.
Starring D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Joseph Quinn, Charles Melton, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, and Finn Bennett, among others, Warfare chronicles the true story of one platoon of Navy SEALs as they carry out a dangerous mission in Ramadi, Iraq. Garland and Mendoza took a unique approach to the material, reconstructing the event exclusively from the memories of the participants.
Following its theatrical run and its launch on VOD platforms, A24 now confirms that Warfare will arrive on HBO Max in the U.S. on Friday, September 12. The war movie will also premiere on HBO linear on Saturday, September 13, at 8:00 p.m. ET.
What This Means For Warfare
Warfare reviews were glowing from critics and audiences alike. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film’s critics’ score and Popcornmeter score are the same at a strong 93%. This positive reception, however, didn’t translate into major success at the box office.
Made on an estimated budget of $20 million, Warfare ended its theatrical run with a worldwide gross of $33 million. Using the standard Hollywood rule of thumb, the film could have been looking at a break-even point of roughly $50 million, meaning it could be considered a commercial disappointment.
Though Warfare may have struggled to replicate the success of Garland’s more divisive Civil War (2024), the streaming release means the movie is on the verge of connecting with far more viewers. With its positive reception, the film could end up becoming a viewership hit, especially if it can generate some word of mouth as an underseen тιтle.
Garland is an experienced writer and director and is already working on his next project: an Elden Ring movie adaptation. Mendoza, however, is a first-time director, meaning what his next project is could be more tied to Warfare‘s performance. Strong viewership on streaming could be beneficial when it comes to getting his next project off the ground.
Our Take On Warfare’s Streaming Release Date
Warfare made for an exceptional theater experience, with the sound mix especially benefitting from the format. Though the experience won’t be the same on home viewing platforms, the Garland and Mendoza movie is sure to still pack a punch. It’s a harrowing and stressful experience, and it marks a new take on a genre that can feel quite familiar.
It remains to be seen what Mendoza will do next, but he evidently has an eye for action and knows how to make it feel powerful for viewers. It will be exciting to see where he turns his talents next. For now, though, viewers should definitely check out Warfare when it arrives on HBO Max next month.
