Following the premiere of Alex Garland’s Warfare, the director is just one film away from completing an A24 war trilogy, and I really hope he follows through. Warfare is a 2025 movie released in April, which tells the true story of American Navy SEALs who have a concerning encounter in Iraq during the 2006 Battle of Ramadi. The movie stars various up-and-coming stars, including Will Poulter, Joseph Quinn, Charles Melton, Kit Connor, and Cosmo Jarvis. Since its release, Warfare has garnered positive reviews from critics and audiences alike.

Warfare is far from the first movie Garland has made, and it isn’t his first with A24 either. In 2002, Garland’s career began when he wrote the iconic horror film, 28 Days Later, which quickly became a cult classic. Later, in 2014, he tried his hand at directing with the sci-fi thriller, Ex Machina. Of the five movies Garland has directed, three of them have been distributed by A24. In this way, Warfare probably won’t be the last. Another Garland A24 film with similar themes could lead to an exciting trend that hasn’t really been done before at the company.

Alex Garland Has Made Two Great War Movies For A24 Recently

Why Garland’s War Movies Have Landed At A24

After Warfare, it is hard to ignore a new trend between Garland and A24: war movies. Warfare is a war film based on a true story, and condemns the violence of war, particularly in Iraq. As it turns out, a year before that, Garland wrote and directed another war film called Civil War, which followed a group of journalists in a dystopic America who are racing to Washington D.C. before rebels take control. In just two years, Garland has put out two war films with A24, which may tell different stories, but share very similar themes.

Garland’s newfound affection for war movies is interesting, but it is equally unique that both Warfare and Civil War landed at A24. Other Garland films have been backed by different production companies, so what is it about A24 that bodes so well for Garland and his war films? Most likely, it is the movies’ themes. These war films are not just depictions of combat, but are social and political commentaries. Through an artistic lens, Garland questions the American government and its violent actions. This fits in well with A24’s catalog of thought-provoking arthouse films.

Warfare & Civil War Are Spiritually Connected, Even If They’re Very Different War Movies

Warfare & Civil War Take On Different Goals

Although Civil War and Warfare share genres, many may argue that the movies are quite different. It is true that one is a true story set in actual warfare, while the other has more dystopian leanings in a crumbling country. However, at the end of the day, Civil War and Warfare are deeply connected by what they stand for. Both films offer up a version of reality wherein characters are forced to confront their beliefs. Their lives are put on the line by their country, and these individuals must figure out what they stand for.

That being said, Civil War and Warfare do have different stories to tell. This doesn’t necessarily push them away from each other, but instead, helps them complement one another. For example, Civil War sets a strong political tone, expounding on issues that are already arising in our country. Meanwhile, Warfare brings audiences onto the actual front lines with real soldiers. In this way, Garland uses the movies to change points of view while still looking at the same topic: war. Arguably, this makes Garland’s war movies better because they build upon each other.

How Alex Garland Can Continue Warfare & Civil War’s Ideas With Another Movie

Garland’s Third War Movie Could Be His Best Yet