War Machine Is a Brutal Blast of Sci-Fi Action

War Machine

★ ★ ★

War Machine is a sci-fi action thriller about a group of Army recruits in the final stage of a special ops boot camp. Their final test is a simulated op in the forests of the Colorado Rockies. They quickly find themselves in an impossible battle with a virtually indestructible machine that’s really good at killing.

To make matters worse, because it’s supposed to be a training mission, they’re not carrying live ammunition. The machine is one of the most formidable foes I’ve seen on screen in some time, reminiscent of Arnold Schwarzenegger against an alien in Predator.

Alan Ritchson as #81
© 2026 Netflix

The film follows #81 (Alan Ritchson), who goes on a mission with his younger brother, Squad Leader (Jai Courtney). Squad Leader convinces #81 to sign up for an Army Ranger special ops program alongside him. They decide to sign up together, but their convoy is attacked, killing the rest of their squad. #81 carries Squad Leader back to the base, collapsing just shy of the gates. His brother dies and he signs up for the Ranger program in his honor.

The program is intense, and every week recruits are cut loose. After weeks of cuts, #81 and a handful of others make it to the final week. They must get through the simulated op, make it back to base and cross a finish line.

While in the forest, they encounter a large metal object. They hit it with explosives to make sure it’s neutralized. The object turns out to be a gigantic robot, now standing and ready for battle.

Robotic killing machine scanning for targets
© 2026 Netflix

This robot is a killing machine. It scans the area for life forms with blue laser light, then a red scan locks on a target. Even if you’re already dodging to get out of the way, you’re likely too late. The rounds that come from this thing’s guns explode limbs, chests and heads into mists of blood. If you’re able to escape its guns, it volleys several explosive balls in your general direction. Good luck surviving that!

This is the kind of killing machine Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines should have had. It’s menacing and scary, and kind of fun to see what other tricks it has up its sleeve.

The soldiers are highly trained, but even if they had real weapons on hand, they’d still be no match for this mechanical beast. This movie wouldn’t have been as fun if this thing were any less dangerous. It doesn’t care why you’re there. It’s just going to kill you. Like a Terminator, it won’t stop until you’re dead.

Ready for battle
© 2026 Netflix

The film has two main weaknesses.

First, despite a decent mix of characters, they don’t really form a tight bond. The only way they have any hope of survival is working together as a flawless unit. But #81 isn’t a willing leader—he just wants to get across the finish line. He’s not really a team player. His arc is given surface treatment at best.

Second, #81 suffers from severe post-traumatic stress after the attack that killed his brother. He feels guilt, remorse and the deep loss left by his brother’s death. But again, it stays surface level and feels pretty routine. It’s like there’s a choose-your-trauma randomizer for the stock troubled soldier character, and this one landed on ‘brother’s death.’

Been there, done that. There’s nothing fresh or original here.

Dennis Quaid as Sheridan and Esai Morales as Torres
© 2026 Netflix

The battle scenes are spectacular, and the robot just keeps coming. We manage to care just enough about the characters to want to see them survive. Otherwise, we’d start rooting for the mechanical beast because it’s just so damned cool.

It’s a fun little action flick, made for direct streaming. As a straight-to-Netflix action film, it’s at least a cut above others. Still, it leaves a lot of potential on the table. This movie has the makings of greatness, potentially up there with Predator and The Terminator. While it doesn’t reach greatness, it does make it to the finish line.