Alex Garland has emerged as one of the most versatile and interesting auteurs working today. He started his career as a novelist, rising to prominence with his book The Beach, drawing on his own experiences as a backpacker, which was adapted into the 2000 film directed by Danny Boyle and starring Leonardo DiCaprio. From there, Garland transitioned to screenwriting and wrote several scripts that were directed by Boyle, 28 Days Later and Sunshine. He also wrote Never Let Me Go and Dredd.

Most of Alex Garland’s directorial outings have been for the indie studio A24. He made his directorial debut with Ex Machina, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. He went on to write and direct Annihilation, based on the 2014 novel of the same name, for Paramount, but returned to A24 for the horror movie Men and followed it up with Civil War, which made over $127 million worldwide and became A24’s second-highest-grossing film behind Everything Everywhere All at Once. Now, Alex Garland has a new A24 war movie in theaters.

Warfare Enters A24’s Top 20 Highest-Grossing Chart At The Domestic Box Office

Alex Garland Co-Wrote & Co-Directed The New War Movie

Warfare has entered A24’s top 20 highest-grossing chart at the domestic box office. Written and directed by Alex Garland and Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza, based on his own experiences, the film follows a platoon of Navy SEALs who embark on a dangerous mission in the wake of the Battle of Ramadi. Warfare‘s ensemble cast includes D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Mendoza alongside Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, Finn Bennett, Joseph Quinn, Charles Melton, Noah Centineo, and Michael Gandolfini.

Now, after releasing in theaters on April 11, Warfare has accumulated over $17 million, becoming A24’s 20th highest-grossing movie at the domestic box office, per The Numbers. From top to bottom, it ranks below Everything Everywhere All At Once, Alex Garland’s own Civil War, Uncut Gems, Lady Bird, Talk to Me, Hereditary, The Iron Claw, Babygirl, Moonlight, Heretic, Midsommar, Garland’s Ex Machina, The Witch, We Live in Time, The Disaster Artist, Priscilla, The Farewell, The Whale, and The Green Knight.

What Warfare’s Box Office Milestone Means For Alex Garland

He’s One Of A24’s Top Auteurs

With Warfare, Alex Garland now has three of A24’s top 20 highest-grossing movies domestically, cementing his place as one of A24’s top auteurs. Though Garland has expressed interest in stepping away from directing for the “foreseeable future,” he did write the upcoming 28 Years Later, directed by Boyle, and the sequel, The Bone Temple. Whether or not he returns to the director’s chair after Warfare, Garland’s influence within A24’s distinct creative legacy is already undeniable.

Source: The Numbers